Leica Rifle Scopes-- any rumors?

02 February 2007, 12:19

mho

I talked to a journalist last night, who happened to have seen a pre-production series of these. Apparently, it is common to make such series available to a selected audience for testing prior to the product launch.

Not that I gained a lot of info, but just the tidbits I did manage to pick up (note, this is all third hand information, so take it for what it is):
- manufactured in Leica's Portugese manufacturing facility (Leica has manufactured in Portugal for decades).
- 30mm main tubes
- reticles in 2nd optical plane
- possible introduction date: fall of this year.

Sorry, that is about as much (or as little) as I have.

- mike

02 February 2007, 12:33

scubapro

Leica has never made scopes so far and if they should start now: Why should they be better than the "old" manufacturer???

I have seen the new Swaro Z6 and I was really surprissed from it: Take that, itÂ´s the best scope You could buy at the moment. With far distance!!! And wait till April: there will be the illumintaed ones...

Klaus

03 February 2007, 12:25

IanF

quote:
Originally posted by scubapro:
Leica has never made scopes so far

Klaus

I could swear that I read a Boddington article where he was equipped by Leica - Bino's AND scopes!

This was at least a couple years ago!

Rgds Ian

03 February 2007, 15:57

mho

Leica sold a series of scopes manufactured by Leupold a few years back.

- mike

03 February 2007, 17:21

Pete E

IIRC, I think Leupold assembled scopes for both Leica and Steiner...I also seem to remember that the Leica ones were a flop and had serious reliability problems...

04 February 2007, 21:04

Tumbleweed

quote:
Originally posted by Pete E:
IIRC, I think Leupold assembled scopes for both Leica and Steiner...I also seem to remember that the Leica ones were a flop and had serious reliability problems...

I have a Leica 1.75-6 that's been getting pounded pretty hard on a very light .375 H&H, and it's as good as the day it went on (I'm not sure when; at least 4 or 5 years ago, I'd say)- it's been perfectly reliable, and utterly repeatable. Count the clicks, and there you are.

Actually, it was my understanding (from the advertising of the day) that their selling point was enhanced ruggedness for use on big bores. This one's been doing well, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

04 February 2007, 21:27

scubapro

quote:
Originally posted by mho:
Leica sold a series of scopes manufactured by Leupold a few years back.

- mike

I am not sure if it was Leupold, but Yes - they donÂ´t produce them on their own...

My advice, eve if it is higher priced: Take a Swarovski!!!

04 February 2007, 21:28

bwanamrm

I have the same scope as Tumbleweed mounted on a .416 Rem Mag and have had no issues with it.

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

04 February 2007, 22:30

IanF

Cheers folks - I thought my total recall was slipping!

Rgds Ian

10 February 2007, 02:34

Adrian Parham

I have two 1 3/4 by 6 Leica scopes with 30 mm tubes. One is on a Rem. M700 AWR in .375 the other a M70 in 300WSM. Both have been flawless. They were produced by Leupold to Leica specs. and that works for me. I also have both Leica and Swarovski binos and both are superb.

11 February 2007, 00:57

griff

Scubapro,
swaro are indeed one the best,unfortunately they have one serious fault, don't like suppressors!

regards
griff

12 February 2007, 12:08

scubapro

quote:
Originally posted by griff:
Scubapro,
swaro are indeed one the best,unfortunately they have one serious fault, don't like suppressors!

regards
griff

as we are not allowed to use some, I can not test that, but whatÂ´s not working with them & suppresors?

By the way they have another fault: Their price... :-) (but thatÂ´s just on the first view on the second I would say, that they are worth every cent - hope that I could say this again in 30 or 40 years of them...)

Klaus

12 February 2007, 12:22

griff

Scubapro,
the design of how the reticule is held in place will not stand the effect a suppressor has,reverse recoil for want of a better description..
The price is an all together matter!
I was told a few years ago, that swaro did not sell to their dealers a scope that cost more than Â£250.. we will never get the low down on just how much the inital cost is!!

regards
griff

12 February 2007, 13:10

Claret_Dabbler

quote:
Originally posted by griff:

I was told a few years ago, that swaro did not sell to their dealers a scope that cost more than Â£250.. we will never get the low down on just how much the inital cost is!!

regards
griff

Griff, I would expect that to be true. With manufactured goods in general in Europe, factory back door price is typically 25-30% of final retail price - certainly for any product going through a wholesaler or importer. The Wholesaler will put 75-100% markup on when he sells to a retailer. The retailer will do the same again. Hence a Â£250 scope becomes a Â£500 scope becomes a Â£1,000 scope. Because the European market is so fragmented, they can get away with it. I would expect Swarovski's actual manufacturing costs to be in the region of Â£175 for this unit.

Seems that these levels of markup are not applied in the USA.