Leupold and disappointment

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army_eod

army_eod

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I bought a Freedom 2-7 a couple of years ago. It had plastic W and E knobs. One fell off. It was glued on.
Just bought a higher end Vx3i 3.5-10x40. Guess what? Plastic knobs.
I am done with Leupold.
Nowadays there are Chinese optics that are far superior. Athlon for example. I own a Midas and it is far superior to most any other optic in its price range.
The Meopta MeoPro I just mounted is much better than most Leupold.
 
Don't own a Freedom, but mounted one for a friend and shot with it. Saw nothing particularly wrong with it for a low end lower cost product. You certainly can't expect a 200 dollar scope to act like a thousand dollar scope. Send it in. Leupold absolutely stands by their products and has real good customer service including the lifetime warranty.
 
My VX-Freedom, VX3 and VX3i's all have metal turrets, the knob that you actually turn has been made of plastic on every scope I've ever owned going back 40 years if that is what you're talking about. Even on my Meopta's. But it's never been an issue. And I'm certain Leupold will make it right.

It it's really a Leupold. There are a ton of counterfeit Leupold's circulating out there. You have to be careful when you buy to make sure you're not getting a fake.

And yes, Meopta is a better scope than Leupold. But at the price point Leupold is never a bad choice.
 
Tried a $90 Center point of the rack at WM. Have taken deer out to 350 yards. Going on 4 years and no issues. Have several Barska. No issues and fair priced. No need to break the bank.
 
I bought the scope directly from Leupold with my mil discount.
The only reason I am not returning it is because they have lifetime warranty.
It will be a backup.
I have a Burris FF 2 which will go on the Rem Model 7. It has metal turrets.
 
I have a VX-3i LRP and the turrets and cap are aluminum. But the Elevation does not have a cap and the cap is optional on the windage.

That said the Vx3i 3.5-10x40 is considered a compact/lightweight hunting scope and with an MSRP of only $520 and retail less than $400 a relatively economically priced one. The plastic knobs help keep cost and weight down. Given how little the knobs on such a scope are expected to get used I am not sure I see the issue assuming they use a quality polymer.
 
mcb said:
I have a VX-3i LRP and the turrets and cap are aluminum. But the Elevation does not have a cap and the cap is optional on the windage.

That said the Vx3i 3.5-10x40 is considered a compact/lightweight hunting scope and with an MSRP of only $520 and retail less than $400 a relatively economically priced one. The plastic knobs help keep cost and weight down. Given how little the knobs on such a scope are expected to get used I am not sure I see the issue assuming they use a quality polymer.
Click to expand...

Yes. I also had an LRP. Different scope. But as I mentioned, even my lowly Fullfield 2 has metal W and E knobs under aluminum caps.
 
army_eod said:
Yes. I also had an LRP. Different scope. But as I mentioned, even my lowly Fullfield 2 has metal W and E knobs under aluminum caps.
Click to expand...

But what is the advantage to a metal turret knob that lives 99% of its life under a turret cap? You are just carrying extra weight for very little benefit. If Leupold had used plastic on the exposed turret knobs of an Mark 5HD or similar multi thousand dollar scope I might be disappointed but on a budget friendly hunting scope I don't think it would bother me, again assuming good polymers, well executed. My VX-II 3-9x40 doesn't even have turret knobs at all, just coin slots in frictions screws, no clicks. Scope works great.
 
My point is that I see a trend by Leupold toward cheap and low quality.
 
i am not disappointed with my leupold scopes, these are the ones not on rifles right now. just checked a cap on a new 2.5-8x leupold i just mounted on one of my deer rifles and it is metal.
 

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army_eod said:
My point is that I see a trend by Leupold toward cheap and low quality.
Click to expand...

But you bought one of their cheaper scopes did you not? There are only two lines of scopes cheaper, Freedom and Rifleman and a bunch more expensive LRP, 5HD, 6HD, 8HD, Mark 6, Mark 8.

I am seeing the opposite. My VX-II that is now 12+ years old, has friction turrets that requires a coin or tool to adjust. If I bought its current replacement the VX-Freedom 3-9x40 I would get better glass and 1/4 MOA click adjustable plastic turrets for similar money. Most would see that as an upgrade. I would have to step down to their bottom product line of the Rifleman scopes to find friction turrets anymore.

I suspect you probably don't see a polymer framed semi-auto pistol as an upgrade to a steel frame pistol either???
 
The plastic on my vx-f turrets didn't bother me....really didnt like the squishy turrets tho.

My VX3i seems to have metal turrets, and they feel significantly better than the VX-Fs. Im down to just that one leupold, and one on my dads rifle these days tho.
 
mcb said:
But you bought one of their cheaper scopes did you not? There are only two lines of scopes cheaper, Freedom and Rifleman and a bunch more expensive LRP, 5HD, 6HD, 8HD, Mark 6, Mark 8.

I am seeing the opposite. My VX-II that is now 12+ years old, has friction turrets that requires a coin or tool to adjust. If I bought its current replacement the VX-Freedom 3-9x40 I would get better glass and 1/4 MOA click adjustable plastic turrets for similar money. Most would see that as an upgrade. I would have to step down to their bottom product line of the Rifleman scopes to find friction turrets anymore.

I suspect you probably don't see a polymer framed semi-auto pistol as an upgrade to a steel frame pistol either???
Click to expand...

No. I don't.
 
I think Leupold builds a good solid scope at the price points they play in. They arnt class leaders in anything, but you do get that fantastic warranty.
Where Leupold's lost ground is on the lower end where you can go buy a scope that's clearer, has nicer turrets, and generally is "better" in every way except weight, for less money.....It wont be us made, and won't have quite as good a warranty, but you'll pay less and get more in hand value.

At the higher end, they have always had stiffer competition, and I think the VX-3+ scopes are solid values. Again you can get nicer glass, turrets, other stuff...but rarely will you get a scope as light, and the differences aren't as noticeable as they are in the lower price points.

I'm really happy with my vx3i....and it's light, has a decent enough turret to dial drop, and enough eye relief so I don't get bonked by the scope every other shot.....its on a gun that delivers 40 some odd ft/lbs of recoil so that warranty MIGHT get used.

as always, just my opinion.
 
From Leupold customer service.

David,
The dials underneath the adjustment covers are a polymer.
Sincerely, Baer
---- Original Message ----


I just bought a new Vx3i 3.5-10x40 from you with my mil discount.
It appears that the windage and elevation knobs are made of polymer
or plastic. Is this the case? VR

They are polymer. As I stated.
 
army_eod said:
From Leupold customer service.

David,
The dials underneath the adjustment covers are a polymer.
Sincerely, Baer
---- Original Message ----


I just bought a new Vx3i 3.5-10x40 from you with my mil discount.
It appears that the windage and elevation knobs are made of polymer
or plastic. Is this the case? VR

They are polymer. As I stated.
Click to expand...
My first thought was nuh uh!.....so i went and looked....not that didnt believe you or the CS guy, but I REMEMBER them being metal.
Id forgotten i have the CDS, not the regular Vx-3i, and mine does have a metal elevation turret (theres a ding on it from the last hunting trip).
My windage tho is plastic and only slightly different than what was on my Freedom.
 
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