I also am not a fan of Leupold scopes and would not even consider buying one stand alone new. I do have 2 of them, one is the compact ss 3x9 which just does not gather/make use of light in the wee hours of the morning or evening. In other word it is useless till sun rise and after sun set andsome times even really cloudy days, our season allows a half hour before and after sun rise and set.

Second one is a varX 3. Placed in on a Ruger 77 243 cal.shot it a dozen times or so then placed it in the gun safe. about 6 months latter I got it out to try some new hand loads and it would not adjust point of aim.
Sent it back and no questions asked they say it is fixed. Haven't put it on any thing yet to see.

Best scope I own for the dollar is a Weaver K4. I paid $5.00 for it at a yard sale, placed it on my T/C plains rifle on 1987, has had thousands of rounds go off under it and has never been touched since the first sight in.

Any way check here for a used scope to save somemoney
http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/814usedscopes.htm
and remember many have a life time warrenty evenLEUPOLD.

Al