skeeter 7MM

BC, I am totally with you on the confused part as my buddy owns a shop and he was told by his Loopy Rep the VX III is 1-piece while the VX II is 3.

My email to Leupold was basically;

"I was under the impression the VX III was enhanced with some features(listed them) but the tube design was similar to the replaced Vari X III that being 1 piece. It has recently come to my attention that VX III may in fact be a 3 piece design similar to the VX II, can you please confirm if VX III is 1 Piece or not? I have searched your website and publication for specs related to the tube and can not find any clarification.

As a side note I think this information should be included on your public website and brochures as many sportsman consider tube design when choosing quality optics.

Thank you for your quick response on this matter "

I would hope Dan Loza was being truthful, but it does raise questions to why 2 seperate answers from the same department[].

In any regard I will not be buying a VX III until it has been around for a while to provide long term durability and improvements. I will either stick to the Vari X III or be looking at other manufacturer's. The Conquest had some bumps to begin with but now they have a product most will quickly recommend both in price and function. Leupold unless a lot has changed will pull through with another solid product, they have to as too many have come to rely on the likes of the rock solid Vari x III. It may not be the brightest scope but I can say without reservation it is the one of the best hunting scopes I have ever owned and it never cost me a low light shooting opp. so I don't see it as unqualified on any Biggame setup. I know better are available for higher price but for my usage it was never a short coming.

bigcountry

I wrote them again. Here is the bullcrap answer they gave. I asked specifically the construction changes from the VariX III and the VX III and the difference from VXII and III and VariXII and III. They will not be more specific than this.

Leupold Customer Service
Product Specialist Group
Phone (503) 526-1400
Reference Call #

Caller: - Mark
Summary: scope options

Mark,
We recommend the VX III for the optimum performance in low light
hunting conditions. The optical differences between the two scopes in
question relate mostly to light transmission and low light performance.
There will be no difference in the ability to handle heavy recoil.

Garth
Support CallID: %#%01cf36ea-f571-4323-ac6e-26a99e827b37%#%

goose7856

Now I have never owned a Leupold, but almost every hunter knows someone who does. They seem pleased, but now after reading these articles, I may have to inform them that the quality is decreasing and the price just keeps rising. It sounds as if Leupold is doing what every other manufacteuor (in any field of business) is doing. It works great right when you get it, but they are not built as "rugged", so in half the time as the older models , they break!! I know they have a lifetime warranty, but if the parts don't work then they might as well just give a brand new scope to you for free??!! (I DONT THINK THATS GOING TO HAPPEN!!) I have just bought a Nikon Buckmaster 4-12x50. Its the new model that has come out. I have yet to mount the scope and sight it in, but when looking through it and comparing it to I think it was a 3-9x40 VariX II, I think mine has a larger field of view (I guewss because of the larger lens??), and is just as clear maybe even clearer. Some people may argue about the size........but I don't give a flip. I hunt out a stand, so once I'm in, I'm staying in. That is one of the two reasons I bought a new scope, even though I am only 15, I saved up money, and have bought a $330 scope for $270. Then I had enough money to buy a used rangefinder (Nikon 800, bought for $99). Oh, the reasons were to gain light gathering ability (I was tired of not being able to see the deer clearly with my Redfield Widefield. That and I had to just get a little higher power for those longer ranged shots (I only had a 2-7 to begin with). My opinion is that Leupold is a great brand. But I do not see them as being the "best" (other than Zeiss, Kahles, Swavorski, and Docter Optics). Nikon offers many products, that can easily be caompared to the Leupold's. Actually I will say that Nikon all in all has just as good of scopes or better scopes, for about $200 less (or even less). I think the only area that leupold excels is for the LPS series of scopes. Those things are unbelievable, if the advertising is correct. 99.65% light transmission, and the thing that surprised me is the 3.5-14x50. For one thing you don't see that kind of magnification very often, and Leupold normally does not make very many scopes with 50 mm lens. I have never comapred LPS to a Nikon Gold, but I am just guessing the LPS is a litle better, and it should be if you have to rack out 1K. Just my opinion.........you don't have to agree or disagree

liquidorange

i put a leupold vari x iii 3.5x10x50 on my model 70 338 win mag. i took it to africa and i took a spill onto some rocks and the gun landed on the bell of the scope. i then shot it at soda can to see if it was o.k. it hit dead center at 80 yards. that made my guide very happy because it meant i didnt have to stop hunting to drive over to a range. i will own no other brand after this episode[:-]

Solitary Man

Leupold was my favorite brand for many years, but at this time I'd have to say that Zeiss has replaced them in that position. The Conquest is just a better overall scope in my opinion and Zeiss's service if every bit the equal of Leupold's.

I was pretty excited earlier this year when I ordered a new VX-III. I mean, as a American, I was really wanting Leupold to regain the status of my favorite scope brand. However, after spending about a month with the VX-III, I just wasn't impressed with it. Optically, it just wasn't the equal of my Conquests and once you've looked at that etched Z-plex reticle, the standard Leupold duplex just doesn't cut it any more.

I guess I really don't care if Leupold is using a 1 piece tube, 3 piece or whatever. They just don't have anything I'm interested in right now.

hunter338

OK!!!!

Seems I owe a some folks an APPOLIGY. I have just got my Leupold back and they told me that I DID thighten my rings too tight on my scope..

Crushed the damn thing . Had my rings lapped and had a gunsmith put it on and cant seem to knock it off.....

To those of you I am sorry.

hunter338

bigcountry

Well, everybody does it sooner or later. Glad Loopy made it right. I used to not believe in any lapping, and alignment until I did a simular thing. But this was with ARM's tactical rings with 4 screws on each ring. You know how much torque you can put on a scope with 4 screws?

Glad you made out. But now you started something. I am now interested in eurotrash scopes for the first time. You made me take a second look. Dad gone you.

oldelkhunter

Like BC said it happens to all of us sooner or later. Glad you found out the problem but based on your opinion on this I really started giving other brands a serious look and so far not looked back.

pearson1662

I respect a man who can publicly admit to a mistake.