Leupold Rifleman vs Leupold Freedom

The Rifleman is just a rebadged VX-1 originally made to be sold at Walmart 15-20 years ago. They only offered 2 or 3 magnification ranges with no options for different reticles or other options. At the time they were priced a few dollars less than the VX-1. But you could get the VX-1 in many other different configurations. The Redfield Revolution BTW is the same scope as the Rifleman or older VX-1 just with different badges too.

Since the Rifleman came out Leupold upgraded the VX-1 at least twice while the Rifleman is still the same scope it always was. A few years ago they dropped both the VX-1 and VX-2 and replaced them with the VX-Freedom which they claim is essentially the old VX-2 internally with redesigned looks. Based on my experience that seems about right.

I've had all of the above including 2 of the VX-Freedom scopes. I'd take the VX-Freedom every time even if it were $100 more. Not that that either the Rifleman or Redfield Revolution are bad scopes. It's just that you're buying 15-20 year old technology when there are newer designs selling for the same money.

In fact I'm not so sure that the scopes they are selling today aren't 15-20 years old and have been sitting in a warehouse. I've seen new guns sold at both Walmart and K-Mart that were up to 10 years old. Most of the time with the original price tags on them. When prices go up that can be a bargain for consumers. But the price of optics has gone down in the last few years. Both of those companies buy up stuff by the truckload to get discounts and store them until they sell them.

^ Interesting. I bought a Freedom and knew almost none of the above. Excellent scope for the money.

The biggest difference between the Rifleman and the VX-1/Freedom line is that the Rifleman has 1/2 MOA friction adjustments compared the the 1/4 minute clicks of the VX-1/Freedom (and Redfield Revolution line). In all likelihood, the Freedom probably has improved multicoated lenses, as well. I would rate them:
Freedom
VX-1
Redfield Revolution (I have 4)
Rifleman
Cabelas offers a Leupold American Marksman with wind plex reticle in 3-9x40 that is probably comparable to or just under the Freedom series, I have two of those and have been very pleased with them. And I used a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 on my .243 when I took my first antelope last fall.

Bud went NF on everything, had an unmounted Redfield Rev 3-9X 40mm laying around.
I got it for $125.
Yup it's older tech. Doesn't look as cheap as the Freedom line on the outside, so doesn't look out of place on classic rifles.

I had a Freedom EFR that has shading or something around the image edge (maybe due to obj lens set so far back?)
Rear eyepiece more cylinder than bell, looked like crap. Got a deal on it new, sold it (broke even).

Got a Freedom RDS............still have it. diode holder reflection shows up on dark backgrounds. Not cool but I'd lose my behind selling it.
Works other than that. Is on backup AR.

2-7X Freedom on my CZ455. Not a pretty rifle, so the scope doesn't detract.

3-9X Freedom in AR mount. Might dump both. Zero issues...........but the RDS sits on my night time critter AR now.

My complaint w the Redfield Revolution stuff............&^%$ red logo on turret. The one on the objective can be scrubbed off.

No comparison between the two, Freedom is much better. jmr40 nailed it.

The difference is Walmart can extract more profit selling the Rifleman from guys like my dad who think ANY Leupold is the pinnacle of scope quality. Don’t get me wrong, I have more than a few low end Leupold scopes but I’d be hard pressed to buy another. But yeah, the Freedom is the better of the two, I own one, and I’ve used a Rifleman before (my dad’s).

I picked up a new Leupold rifleman 3-9×40 on Walmart clearance for silly cheap this week. Honestly not that impressed with it, and if I had paid regular retail (the original price tag said $239) I would have returned it. Glass is okay, clear enough in daylight but not great as the sun fades and shadows get long. The crosshairs disappeared well before my older Nikons. To be completely honest it seems only marginally better clarity than a Tasco worldclass and cheapo Centerpoint I had on hand at home to compare yesterday evening as thd sun was setting. Clarity was lacking scanning into the woods on the hillsides across the way from my home (maybe 700 yards or so) and could not see the crosshairs amongst the trees.

Picked up a used but good shape Redfield Revolution 3-9x for $100.

I thought that a good deal. Has Butler creek flip ups too.

illinoisburt said:

I picked up a new Leupold rifleman 3-9×40 on Walmart clearance for silly cheap this week. Honestly not that impressed with it, and if I had paid regular retail (the original price tag said $239) I would have returned it. Glass is okay, clear enough in daylight but not great as the sun fades and shadows get long. The crosshairs disappeared well before my older Nikons. To be completely honest it seems only marginally better clarity than a Tasco worldclass and cheapo Centerpoint I had on hand at home to compare yesterday evening as thd sun was setting. Clarity was lacking scanning into the woods on the hillsides across the way from my home (maybe 700 yards or so) and could not see the crosshairs amongst the trees.

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Good to know. I picked up the same scope on clearance too, I'm using it to replace a cheap $30 Bushnell on my squirrel rifle. I guess I need to check it in low light before heading into the dense woods with it.

bassjam said:

Good to know. I picked up the same scope on clearance too, I'm using it to replace a cheap $30 Bushnell on my squirrel rifle. I guess I need to check it in low light before heading into the dense woods with it.

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It's definitely going to be better than a low end Bushnell.

Funny thing is anymore I find myself shelling out extra $ to get illuminated reticle scopes. Cheap ones it's a crappy gimmick. Good scopes with a fiber optic or battery illuminated center dot or chevron is really useful in shadows. During the day trying to sight from across a field or valley you can see an animal just fine under a tree, but if the crosshairs aren't distinct from the shadows its worthless. Same applies in late evening or early morning when lighting is getting dim overall. Of course it makes absolutely no difference on a piece of paper at the range so no real useful point for target shooters.