Leupold having problem leading their scopes further into the future

Leupold hasn’t been at the top in most circles for many years already.

Hunters and sportsmen of the last generation use them, because their legacy name remains to carry, but most Millennials and certainly the Gen Z kids have been willing to try other things and most importantly, compare specifications, features, and quality for their dollar. The novelty of a “no questions asked” lifetime transferable warranty is long over - many makers have been offering such for many years by now. The infamous “best low light brightness” of Leupold has been independently disproven many years ago. They rested on their reputation for too long, offering too many models with out dated reticles, mixed reticle and adjustment units, and lacking features for their price point.

In the past, it was true to say you could pay a little more for Leupold, and it would be worth it. Even 10 years ago, it was no longer true, and frankly, at that time, you could pay LESS and get a better scope than Leupold. They’ve made some updates and replacements, and it’s certainly true to say the Leupold scopes made today are better than any of the past, respectively, but they’re not leading the pack by any stretch, and certainly not leading any innovation.

Best for the money still in my opinion, at least for a hunter. Im not a target shooter, and I will never spend more than $500 on any scope. Theres a reason almost every serious Alaskan hunter I know uses leupold. They are just plain tough, and not ridiculously expensive like some of the European brands. Im a millennial for the record.

They tend to have pretty good eye relief, that's a big plus for me.

Still one of the best for lightweight, tough, excellent light, and good value.

There are only a handful of scope makers out there who get the idea that hunters don’t want a boat anchor sitting on top of their rifle.

Just look at how many scopes Leupold offer at 12-21 ounces and compare that to other scope makers. Others have been playing catch up to Leupold in the weight department.

I will say this if Leupold had/has a weakness its in the turret department. Mushy and sometimes unreliable tracking is not surprising.

I am a yesteryear Leupold owner; I have 5 scopes of Leupold making and own nothing else. I am sure that there are other makers of quality glass these days but I do not have any experience with them. As has been said, Leupold has an excellent warranty but I have never has to use it in (about) 50 years of ownership - never had one fail. Maybe I need to try something new.

I have quite a few Leupold scopes. When I have tried a different manufacturer, only ONE compared - I own one Zeiss and it's a gorgeous scope. Others functioned ok, but fell short somewhere along the line. Usually eye-relief. The single Vortex I own is darker than any Leupold I have, and the eye relief is not forgiving. I put it on a rifle I rarely shoot. I'll stick to Leupolds any day of the week. Similar to Steve S. above, I have never had a Leupold fail.

Hi...
Long time Leupold owner and user...over 30 years.
Never had to use their warranty service...never any issues whatsoever.
My son has been using Vortex scopes on his rifles with good success and talked me into buying one. So far it has worked well...no complaints.
I need to buy another scope for a rifle that I bought some time ago. It will be topped with a Leupold... old habits die hard, I guess. I just prefer to spend my money for what I know will be quality.

I think Leupold is tying to catch up. I looked through a hunting buddy's brand new VX6 HD recently. I was impressed

I have 2 Leupolds, a VX3 and a Mk4 L/RT. They both have been good scopes for me.

Recent trends in firearms have been leaning to the tactical rifles (for hunting & varmints).....hence the scopes are following that trend. Seeing many more illuminated & tactical reticles, bullet compensation features, range finding capabilities, and night vision type features....not what Leupold is known for. Appears they are staying with the traditional market while others are leaving it.

I haven't had a Leupold on one of my go-to center fire rifles in several years. It's not that they make a bad scope, I'd still tell anyone debating which scope to buy that a Leupold is almost never a bad choice. I've just found other scopes that I like better.

Part of the issue for me is that my eyesight is a little funky. At 62 my right eye, the one I look through a scope with, is borderline in need of glasses. My vision is still 20/20 in my left eye. With both eyes open my brain uses the information from the left eye and I see perfectly. But when peering through a scope, even with both eyes open, I have to focus the scope for my right eye. I can no longer get a Leupold to focus for me. I can with any other scope I've tried.

In the budget range I think the Burris FF-II priced $160-$200 is a BETTER scope than the Leupold VX-2 when they were selling for $300-$350 before they replaced it with the VX-Freedom. I think the glass is better and they have proven to be one of the most rugged tough scopes made. Their reputation for ruggedness is right there with Leupold. I'd not feel the least bit handicapped with one of these hunting anything, anywhere.

In mid priced scopes the 3-9X40 Zeiss Conquest has won me over. At the same price point they are much better than Leupold and they are within 2-3 oz of the same weight. That scope has been marketed under several names including Cabelas. I have one stamped Zeiss that I paid $500 for and have picked up 2 from Cabelas @ $250 each when they closed them out. I have 2 more that I found used, those have replaced Leupold for me on my hunting rifles. They are still made and are now selling as the Meopta Meapro. Price is $500. The glass is from Europe, but they are USA manufactured if that is important. Even Leupold buys their glass from overseas.

I've given the SWFA Super Sniper scopes a look on rifles used for target shooting. Their fixed powers are $300 and are often on sale for $200-$250. They also make a variable priced at $600 that is occasionally discounted down to $450-$500. Those are good entry level target/tactical scopes. Leupold has nothing to compete with them anywhere near that price point.

I simply have no experience with any of the stuff above the $500 price range.

I have quite a few leupolds, 31-32 at this time on rifles and off. you pay your money and get what you want, but please tell me what scope maker today that will repair-replace one of their scopes that was over 50 years old if they were around that long as one company, I know for sure leupold will as they did it for me. . I have sent several scopes from other makes, tasco, burris,bushnell back over the years and tasco would not accept the scope, burris wanted to sell me a new one at wholesale and bushnell said they never got the scope, the post office said they did. I am not condemning those companies just saying what I ran into. some of my leupolds scopes not on rifles righ now.

I've got three Leupys right now, and have owned a dozen or so more ranging from vx-iic (currently have and the oldest I've owned) upto a current vx-3i and VX-F.

My opinions are that leupolds are STILL primarily hunting optics, geared towards reasonable performance in most conditions.

They tend to have good to very good eye relief, reasonably good optics, generally stay where they are set, and are usually close to, if not the lightest scopes in their class.

On the down turn they generally have so so, adjustments.

You also pay a significant premium (compared to other optically similar scopes) for their positive features.
I've also sent 3 leupolds back for repair/replacement and have had no issues.
BUT I've used the warranty with Nikon, Bushnell, and Athlon. Same experience with those companies.

IMO they are never a bad answer to the question "which scope" but rarely are they the best.

I agree with you some what, but as I am not a long range hunter or long range target shooter 90 precent of the time. leupolds are what I prefer as I know if their is a problem it will be fixed or replaced with in a few weeks with no hassles about receits or original owner. i do have a few 6.5-20,s and 6-18x,s that have let me shoot 4-5 inch five shot groups at 500 yards on a good day with a couple of my hunting rifles.

I prefer Leupolds for hunting because of their proven performance. I have never had one lose zero. the do well in all legal light hunting situations and are very rugged and have good eye relief. One Leopold equipped rifle fell out of a deer stand and still shot a great buck at 300 yards an hour later. Are there better scopes, probably so. But there's a lot worse too. I have had other brands fail me when hunting but not Leupold.

LoonWulf said:

IMO they are never a bad answer to the question "which scope" but rarely are they the best.

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This is the “harsh” reality an unfortunately large number of folks have been convinced to ignore. They’re never bad scopes, but at their respective price points, buyers can get more for their money - better optics with better features for the same or less cost.

Buying one brand and avoiding others is a subversive means of plausible deniability. It’s not untruthful for someone to say, “Leupold are the best scope I have ever used,” when they’re also the ONLY scope they’ve ever used. It just sucks to watch new shooters get unwittingly lured to crash on the shore by the Leupold Sirens when their application is a little more demanding than “doesn’t fog and holds zero.”

I now use a Leupold. I replaced an old Weaver that was way to dark with a new Bushnell. After about 4 yrs the Bushnell would fog up in cold weather. I sent it in Bushnell which they in turn sent me a new scope. This used my “once per address lifetime warranty”. Three years later the elevation adjustment malfunction nearly costing me the buck that is my avatar. That’s when I changed to a Leupold and in the past nine years I have not had an issue. For the Bushnell’s credit, I would say that it was as clear as the Leupold and functioned as well in low light conditions.

I think the VX3 line is a very nice scope for the money. Compact, light, good eye relief, good light gathering.

Here some pics through one from an evening hunt a couple of years ago

too young


....still too young


...wait, what’s that behind that mesquite bush, he’s not too young (note the sun has already set behind the hill)


Success

Nature Boy said:

I think the VX3 line is a very nice scope for the money. Compact, light, good eye relief, good light gathering.

Here some pics through one from an evening hunt a couple of years ago

too young
View attachment 883588

....still too young
View attachment 883589

...wait, what’s that behind that mesquite bush, he’s not too young (note the sun has already set behind the hill)
View attachment 883590

Success
View attachment 883591

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My point exactly.

Varminterror said:

This is the “harsh” reality an unfortunately large number of folks have been convinced to ignore. They’re never bad scopes, but at their respective price points, buyers can get more for their money - better optics with better features for the same or less cost.

Buying one brand and avoiding others is a subversive means of plausible deniability. It’s not untruthful for someone to say, “Leupold are the best scope I have ever used,” when they’re also the ONLY scope they’ve ever used. It just sucks to watch new shooters get unwittingly lured to crash on the shore by the Leupold Sirens when their application is a little more demanding than “doesn’t fog and holds zero.”

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I think you just hate old guys and proven products. We know better than to trust than to trust kids and next big deal.

Alaskan Ironworker said:

Best for the money still in my opinion, at least for a hunter. Im not a target shooter, and I will never spend more than $500 on any scope. Theres a reason almost every serious Alaskan hunter I know uses leupold. They are just plain tough, and not ridiculously expensive like some of the European brands. Im a millennial for the record.

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And that's it.

Spending crazy money on glass, to count hairs at 600 yards on a hunting rifle... is definitely a millennial/Z thing.

Old guys - just want a rugged, precise scope we can see game through.

A < $300 Leupold has been doing that fine for the past 40-odd years.


Wonder if the meat tastes any different...






GR

Walkalong said:

I have the same issue, and my old Nikon 7-15x?? binoculars don't have enough adjustment any more either. Dang shame.

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When you get to a certain age you need optics. Then, the older you get, the more you appreciate better optics.

Garandimal said:

Spending crazy money on glass, to count hairs at 600 yards on a hunting rifle... is definitely a millennial/Z thing.

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Not a millennial or gen Z thing. I’m a boomer, and as I posted above, I like my Leupold VX3 a lot, but It’s not in the same galaxy as my Swaro Z6i.

Besides, those whipper snappers can’t afford high end glass. They spend too much on video games, craft beers and artisan vapes