Anyone out there have experience with this scope?

[Sniper66]

https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-6-18x40-cds-side-focus-tri-moa-riflescope

The MSRP on this is $499. I can get it out the door for $397. Couple of issues. reviews say the adjustments do not have return to zero feature and does not have audible clicks. Does hold zero well and glass is said to be very clear. The way I hunt, I don't twist knobs anyway and visibility is said to be very good. Any thoughts would be appreciate.

 

[LoonWulf]

Looks like thats the older non-zlock cds system. I have that on my vx-3i and while that one has "ok" turret feel, its not great. If they stuck with the vx-f turret assembly and just added a cds dial, its gotta be pretty bad in terms of defined clicks.....should still track ok mostly.....qnd no that style of cds dosent have a zero stop, you have to remember how many rotations your up from zero.

Optically my experience is that the vx-f are good, but not great for the cost.
This generally leads me to recommend other optics options unless light weight is a major desire.
If you want to stick it with leupold id opt for a vx-3hd or similar.

 

[Skylerbone]

I own a single VX-F series in a 3-9x and my biggest issues are the cheapened turrets (compared to my VX-2s) and tracking, which Leupold has never been great at. The 2s I own, and I’ve got a VX-1 floating around as well, were good bargains on clearance when I bought them, but the Freedom Series has priced itself out of my interest.

Leupold traditionally would upgrade their line-up and push glass quality up a notch at the same time. VX-1 got the old VX-II glass and the VX-2 got VX-III glass, etc. It seemed reasonable at the time but considering things now; with each generation of scope you’re paying for recycled technology and cheaper controls. 20 year old glass technology/coatings and mushy turrets? No thanks. I’ve got 6 or 7 at present but no more in my future.

 

[jmr40]

I have something similar. A VX-2 3-9X40 with the same type of dial. I have mine on a 22 that I use as a range gun. I don't trust the dials to stay in place when hunting. I also had a VX-Freedom with the Tri MOA reticle. I found it hard to use. I like reticles with multiple aiming points, but not this one.

The VX Freedom is basically the older now discontinued VX-2 glass and technology so the quality isn't bad for the money. Also, 6-18X is too much for 95% of hunting needs. I might use that scope on a gun used at the range.

For the same money this is a better option. I see they are now discontinued, but I picked up 2 of them at $400 OTD from a local store. The 3.5-10X magnification is better suited for hunting, the dial locks in place and you get a little better glass.

Buy Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX-3i Riflescopes at SWFA.com - SWFA Outdoors

 

[Sniper66]

OP here. I want to thank you all for helping me avoid a mistake. My rifles and scopes have gotten much better over the years. Your feedback has helped me avoid the folly of buying a scope because it is a "good deal". I've had many good scopes over the years. I'll revisit the Tract Toric 1" Hunting scope, which I really like. That will require changing rings and almost doubling my budget. BUT, I've almost always regretted "good deals". The search continues. Thank you for the help.

 

[Sniper66]

I goofed in my last post. It's the Engage that has the reticle I dislike. The 4500 does have the duplex reticle, but the Bushnell Outlet Store where I shopped today does not have them in stock and do not see more arriving any time soon.

 

[gotboostvr]

I have the 4-12x version of that scope, CDS, TRI-MOA, side focus and all.

The clicks aren't really well defined on the horizontal adjustments, but are sufficient. The clicks for the vertical adjustments are pretty crisp however.

I found, for the price, the glass to be the best of the options I could try in person. Better low light, clarity and contrast.

I bought it because it checked alot of boxes for me.

- The price was in my budget
- The weight was very good (light)
- Very good glass (in my opinion)
- The adjustments seemed adequate
- Side Focus
- Reticle is more useful than a simple Duplex

Being said, it's not prefect. I would have preferred a 3-9x, but it was not offered with a side focus and a upgraded reticle. I also noticed a pretty distinct difference in the low light performance of the 1" tubes v. the 30mm tubes. The reticle is busier than I'd like as well, but I much prefer it over a plain Duplex style. I think overall, it's a great hunting optic.

The 6-18x version I briefly considered when recently outfitting a target rifle, but thought about it pretty hard and decided it's not as good an option as some others. At that high of power levels I'd prefer FFP so I can use the reticle at other than max power in case I need to dial down to deal with mirage.

 

[Chuck R.]

Sniper, you may want to check the Leupold site again....they just got a bunch of scopes in stock. The Mark3HD 3-9x40 with Fire-Dot TMR is enroute to compliment my "NE KS coyote calling" AR.

Sad news is apparently that was my last discounted scope for this year....now all I see is MSRP

 

[Sniper66]

Thanks. I'll take a look. Appreciate the heads-up.

 

[Sniper66]

I like this one, depending on my discount. I have 30mm rings on the rifle and would rather not switch back to 1". Here's the one I'm considering
https://www.leupold.com/vx-5hd-3-15x44-cds-zl2-side-focus-duplex-riflescope

 

[Skylerbone]

I like this one, depending on my discount. I have 30mm rings on the rifle and would rather not switch back to 1". Here's the one I'm considering
https://www.leupold.com/vx-5hd-3-15x44-cds-zl2-side-focus-duplex-riflescope

That’s a nicer scope, though still pretty spendy compared to the competition. Dad is a big Leupold fan, nothing better in his book, so I convinced him to skip on the Walmart Rifleman and buy one. Here it is next to one of my VX-2s.

 

[Sniper66]

So...How do you and Dad like it? Tom

 

[wbm]

Anyone out there have experience with this scope?

Leupold Freedom VX 6-18x40. Yes. I have one and I like it a lot.


This summer I bought a Freedom VX 4-12x50 with CDS. Great scope! Liked it so much I got another. Loaned the first to my friend for his daughter's youth elk hunt. She got her elk very early morning...he said once you have 50mm in low light you don't really want to go less! I agree.

 

[Skylerbone]

So...How do you and Dad like it? Tom

It is a solid step up in glass and tracking compared to my 2s. Zero complaints from pops as he took two deer this season after getting skunked last year with his Bushnell bubble pack (Banner) that went wonky. I mounted the scope and zeroed for him with no guesswork on clicks. Glass is as good as most need below the hard line set by Leica or Swarovski.

If they were giving them away you’d find me in line for sure, though because I don’t get discounts I’m probably sticking to mid-priced Sigs and Bushnells.

 

[Chuck R.]

I like this one, depending on my discount. I have 30mm rings on the rifle and would rather not switch back to 1". Here's the one I'm considering
https://www.leupold.com/vx-5hd-3-15x44-cds-zl2-side-focus-duplex-riflescope

I'm looking at similar, but with the B&C or Illuminated dot.

I'm honestly disappointed that Leupold shut down their custom shop. I really wanted a couple of their reticles that no longer seem to be offered. For instance I would have paid a premium to get a VX6HD 2-12x42 with an illuminated B&C reticle. I've got the same scope with the FireDot BDC reticle on my .270 and really, really like it as an all-around scope. Now to get the B&C reticle I've got to go to the 3-18x in a larger, heavier scope with adjustable parallax, which I don't really like on a big game rifle.

 

[Sniper66]

Unfortunately Leupold used to offer a 40%-45% discount for a program to which I have access. Now, with shipping, the $999. MSRP scope would come in just over $800; more than I'm willing to pay. Some retailers offer similar discounts, which negates the value of a special buying program. I'm back to looking at other options, keeping in mind what's available and what is not. I have one of these and think it would work quite well on my 17HMR. The scope is designed with AR in mind, but no reason it would not work on other rifles. Here 'tis..
https://tractoptics.com/all-products/response-4-16x42-bdc-223-5-56-ar-rifle-scope

I have one that is calibrated for the .308 on a 6.5 CM and the bdc reticle works quite closely to the specs. I wouldn't use their ballistics calculator for the HMR, but it really is a very good scope and half the money of the Leupold I've been pondering. This means giving up on using the 30mm rings and switching back to 1"...headaches.