I'm pretty sure I'm done with Leupold
 

VX-III were alright, haven't personally handled/looked through the new VX-3, can't imagine they're that much better than the vx-iii

I assume the vx-7 are nice but for that kind of money I'd be looking at swaro, etc...

vx-i and vx-ii are pretty much junk

my zeiss conquest is nicer in every way imaginable than a vx-iii

What problems have you had with them?

Both the VXI and the VXII have better eye relief than your Ziess Conquest. The only Ziess Conquest that even has decent eye relief is the 3x9, it has 4" the rest have 3.5" and under. Another thing I can say in favor of the Leupold, they are not made using ANY plastic parts, unlike the Ziess. But that is your own opinion, which I respect, but in my opinion the Leupold VXIII is a waaaay better scope.

The VX 3 units are a step (albeit small) above the VXIII units. The 7's are being discontinued to be replaced by the new (soon to be out) VX6's. Leupy's are ok IMO, they do have a wide array of reticle options and a good warranty. The trouble is you pay for it. There are tons of great choices out there that rival and better Leupold at many price points. I only have one Leupy left as I've upgraded most everything to much better optics.

every leupold I've owned, finish has been poor, vx-i, vx-ii, I mostly have vx-iii,

knobs are hard to turn, ie the mag adjustment, on 1 I'm gonna have to send it back, it's ridiculous!

quality control must not be what it once was or they just don't care anymore.

even my vx-III's while easier to turn adjust are rougher.

compared to my conquests which are like swaros compared to a leupold IMO, everything is tight, compact, smooth,

I've never had eye relief problems with any of my scopes.... I'm not sure how much more a leupold 4.5-14x40 has over a 4.5-14x44 conquest, I assume it's less than 1/2"

Nikons aren't aesthetically looking as the leupolds IMO, but at least the finish, quality control seems higher.

I would say a conquest is closer to a swaro, where as a leupold is closer to a nikon, with a large gap in between the two camps.

So yup, I've bought my last leupold.

of course when I buy my 375 or 458 I really don't want to spend swaro money on a scope, and conquest doesn't offer a lower power option, but if it were today I'd just have to fork out the cash and buy a swaro.

the vx-6 appear to be nice...just googled them.

be curious to see how reviews are.

Actually the Ziess 4.5-14x44 Conquest has 3.5" of eye relief versus the Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 has 5". If you have a hard kicking gun, you will wish you had that Leupold with the extra eye relief. I have Leupolds, Nightforce's and Bushnell Elite 4200's and 6500's. The Leupold in my opinion makes the best all arround hunting scope.

+1, I tried Nikon (3 buckmasters & 1 Monarch) and all of them won't adjust (windage or elevation) without tapping on the turrets to get them to move and that doesn't always work.

I had one of the first Nikon Monarchs to come out (3-9 X 40). Compared it in the store to all the Leupold models. I was going to buy the best scope (other then big $$$ German) and ended up with the Nikon.

Those were the truest adjustment knobs I ever had. Precise clicks that moved the poi exactly what it was supposed to. The horizontal adjustment did not interfere (change) the vertical adjustment and vice versa. NEVER heard of having to "tap" them to make them move.

I had that scope for 15 years. Still is one of the best I've seen. My brother has it on his best rifle right now.

I love every Leupold I have ever owned. They have proven themselves over the years to be a dependable & accurate scope for any application. But the Ziess & other scopes of comparable price are super nice to. In my opinion you cant beat Huskemaw optics (check em out); a little pricey though; better than any Leupold or Swaro IMO.

-South

This thread just gets better and better. Too funny.

You want the power adjust to be tight as possible but still useful.

Really?! There is no way they are the same quality?? I have a Huskemaw 5-20 LRH Scope & it is built like a tank (built well) & is dead on to distances over 900 yds (never tried any further).I just couldn't believe that you could get the same quality scope for under $600-$700!?

-South

I only have one Leupold, a sixteen year old Vari-X III mounted on my Sako L691 as it has been since I bought it. It is still bright and clear as the day I bought it and I have no complaints.

How hard was it to get the hang of to the 1/3 clicks?

I can think of several very nice scopes I'd buy before I spent any $ on a Husky. Glad they work for you though.

Only one's i got was nightforce, swaro & zeiss.:confused0024:

haha
A little trial & error was involved. lol
Now that I got it all figured out though I love it!

-South

I'm thinking about buy a Husky once a get my truck paid off (Oct). I see that Husky has a new scope out the blue diamond but i'm thinkin' for the price, it may pay to save up a few more bucks for a nightforce or G7.

i had a nice 6.5x20x50mm vxlll i sold and boght a conquest 4.5x14x50mm. this will be my lasy zeiss if i could trade someone for a good leupold i would in a heart beat.... I wear glasses and the leupold just fits me better.my old 4.5x14x40 vxlll is the best scope ive ever had.

Actually you are only partially right. Zeiss conquest 4.5-14x have 3.5" of eye relief, at any magnification. Leupolds of the same power vary from 3.6"-4.5"+. Reason I dont list 5", when you go back to the vari-x models, they were a little less. Either way you cut it, the leupolds eye relief varies alot, as do nikons, as you crank up the power. Zeiss, and other german brands have a fixed eye relief. I prefer to have consistancy, and not have to adjust where I hold my head for different powers. I like my two leupolds, but I really like the conquest 3-9x on my wife's gun. At the range last week, played around, to see how forgiving the eye relief was, eye box, etc. Found the leupold to be no better, and had over an inch swing in relief. Kind of annoying once you start comparing. I still like my vari-x models, but the day may come when Zeiss gets put on them, or swaros. Now you want to see lousy eye relief, check out my simmons whitetail classic. Thank god its on a 30-06 and not my RUM.

Yeah, but if you check out Leupolds specs, the 4.5-14 has 3.7- 5" of eye relief. On its worst setting it has more eye relief than a Ziess or the Swarovski for that matter. I have used Leupolds for years and have never had to crawl up or down on the stock to get proper eye relief, no matter what power it is on. Set your eye relief on the highest power, that is where they have the least ammount of eye relief, and you will never have any problems, it just gets better as you turn the power down.
I will agree with you on the Simmons, I have one, its on my Rem. 597 22LR, the only thing it is good for in my opinion, and that is even questionable. The only reason I have it is because I picked it up at a yard sale for $5, I didnt have a scope on my 22 and decided, what the hell, it would have to work on a 22, especially for $5.

For $5 you could always use it as stake pounder. Thats about all my whitetail classic is good for. It'll get replaced sooner then later. I've messed with my leupolds, and compared them side by side. The 4.5-14 is the pickiest one, the 3.5-10 is alot more forgiving. At the highest power setting, there is still plenty of eye relief, but when you turn the power down, you do have to move your head back to regain sight picture. Both of my vari-x III's are this way. The Conquest, no change at all. I would like to compare the higher power conquests to the leupolds, as that would be a more fair comparison.

One of my major dislikes with Leupy scopes is their rather variable ER. The new VX6 is suppose to be more constant. We'll see.

I hear people say this, but not understanding where they are coming from.

If I personally set the scope up at highest power, at that point, I have zero issues going down power and ER. If I set it up optimally at lowest power, I can see the issue. But if you setup at highest power, you still have complete sight picture at lowest power.

Ive done the same thing with mine, and going from highest to lowest, or lowest to highest, I lose sight picture unless I reposition my head. With over an inch difference in eye relief, I rather have something with less then a half an inch difference, so you can train yourself to put your face against the stock in one spot, everytime, for rapid sight aquisition

I think much of the issue is people compare scopes on range benches which is a very un-natural hunting position.

I myself never loose sight picture either.

Sat at the range today, and did more comparing. On my vari-x III 3.5-10x, its much more forgiving, and at 10x, I can dial the power down to 3.5 and be good to go, as many have said. Now my other vari-x III, a 4.5-14x AO, it wont, plain and simple. It always seemed more tempermental about eye placement, and today re-affirmed that. Now the Zeiss 3-9x, 4" of eye relief that doesnt change at all. God I hate that worthless simmons on the '06 that much more now,lol. Something like 2.8" or less

I have the Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 on most of my firearms, VX-III 3.5-10x50 on one rifle, I also have a West German made Zeiss 3-9x36 it will piss over the American made Zeiss. Overall I love Leupolds, never had any problems with them at all, and if I did, they have the best warrenty

About 5 or 6 years ago Leupold upgraded their Vari X- III scopes and called them VX-III. The put all the features of their Vari X-III Scopes into their VX-II Scopes and sold them for the same price as the old Vari X-II Scopes. It was one of the best deals in mid level scopes. All of VX-II Scopes I've had have been great, I couldn't be happier. I don't have VX-3, VX-R money so VX-II's are great for me. Just my $.02!

I've always owned Leupolds with no issues what so ever. Mike

Read a recent article stating the VX-ll will get another upgrade in 2012 and become the VX-2.The article mentions 94% light transmission along w/other nice features without a price increase from current models.

I have a Leupold scope on every rifle I own, that I want a scope on. I have only had one issue ever and it was my fault and they fixed it for free. My friend has a ziess concuest on his main deer gun and I have to say it does seem to gather light better. I don't hunt in the dark, so the small increase is not an issue.

However the conquest is heavier and larger and that counts for a lot to me. The Leupolds track well, and POI changes precisely when adjusting them.

Leupold is China Junk. OK been fan for years, loved the new CDS scopes. Used them on several hunts. Well zeroed a new 3.5-10X50 CDS at home in KY prior to my elk/bear/mule deer hunt in CO. Long story short dialed in at 250yards to cover the meadow we were sitting, bull comes out at 120 yards, I hold for perfect shoulder shot and bullet goes high, above the spine, bull runs off, we track, spend next morning making sure he is ok and he was, chasing cows. Go to outfitters range, shoot 100 yards gun is 10.5" high at 100 yards.WTF???? re zero at 200 yards and get shot next morning at broadside bull, feeding at 400 yards. steady rest, dial in and shoot foot low......nw I am wtf again???????????? I had steady prone rest, solid rest, no wind shot broke clean and i called the shot wtf.........go back to range and gun is almost 4" high at 100 yards.. dial down 8 clicks.....shots don't move they hit same hole as first 3..........nice .300 group but not where should be.......tap on the turret a bit and move down 8 clicks and she one hole punches the target.........this is a MG arms rifle, tack driver....at home scope tracked great, hit target out to 600 yards no problem.....cleaned her, put her in pelican case and drove out here.........so wtf....$6000 elk hunt ruined by POS scope!!! Yeah Leupold will fix and all that crap but they wont pay me for a $6000 hunt.

Have second week mule deer tag, zeroed gun again and just leaving turret alone and using Kentucky windage and elevation, 300 short mag pretty flat out to 300 yards so should be ok,

BUT WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER LEUPOLD AGAIN, HELL i HAVE CHEAP BURRIS FULLFIELD II THAT HAVE NEVER LOST ZERO IN 10 YEARS!

......... Found out they are having their glass made in CHina.......hell what else is being made over there on the new leupolds!!!

Anyone want to buy a 6 month old, only hunted once Leupold VXIII 3.5-10 50 cheap pm
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I never heard of Leupold's glass is made in China

Ridge Runner you need to check your facts, straight from the Leupold sales rep their glass is made in China, Not Japan, freaking China

i have a bunch of Leupold rifle scopes. They have all been good scopes.

Two of my scopes are the FXII 4X33; they have given excellent service. Recently i bought another FXII 4X33 scope for my TC Black Diamond. Lapped the rings and did all the other stuff right.

At the range i noticed the ocular lens was almost at the end of its adjustment and there was an opaque area at 6 o'clock. To make a long story short that scope would not zero. It kept putting the bullets in a very nice 50 yard group regardless of any attempt to move the point of impact.

Brought the gun and scope home, checked everything. Tried to zero the rifle again. Again the gun kept putting putting the bullets into a small group regardless of any attempt to move the point of impact.

Sent the scope back to Cabela's and got a refund. Something has happened to Leupolds legendary quality. Recently talked to another man who sent his FXII scope back for the same reason.

Just read this and all I can say is we all make decisions.

Making statements like this does nothing but ruin your credibility.


I have a vx-ii on my favorite rifle and it is noticably better than most other scopes I've looked through. The eye relief is great and the picture is crystal clear. My only complaint is that the magnification knob is a bit stiff. Sure, you can spend twice as much money and get a little bit nicer scope. But to call the vx-ii "junk" is like calling a Corvette junk because it isn't a Ferrari. In short, your statement is preposterous.

I tend to agree with you. I like Leupold scopes but feel you can buy more scope for the same money from other scope companies. I have an older Vari-X ii, 3-9x40 that I use on a bolt action 308 Winchester. Scope works great and does all I need it to. However, when I compare it to my Zeiss Conquest the difference is quite noticeable, especially at dawn and dusk.

I have several Leupolds and no problems yet. Dalebow, are you positive it was the scope? rings loose, base, ammo?