Leupold Golden Ring 12-40x60

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snuffy789

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I hunt in South Texas and sometimes in New Mexico and Colorado.

I am considering the Leupold 12-40x60 in either the original or HD versions?

I have read good things about the Vortex Razor HD but what draws me to the Leupold is the 30mm eye relief and solid reputation of Leupold.

I think the 12-40x60 is large enough or should I go with the 80mm?

I do NOT plan to hook it up to a camera or looks for bullet holes @ 600 yards.

I just want a solid Spotting Scope for Hunting and judging trophies.

Got any other suggestions?
 
Snuffy789 I have been using Leupold optics for over 30 years and still use the first Leupold optics I ever bought and they are still as crisp and water proof as the day I bought them. And customer service is unmatched by anyone else hwo sells top quality glass. I once accidentally ran over a pair of binoculars and sent them into Leupold for an estimate for repair if it was possible, they were pretty bad off. A couple of weeks later I got them back in the mail without any sharge for shipping or repair. they had to replace the glass and a tube too. I also dropped a rilfe off the Mogion Rim and it destroyed the scope, a Leupold 3x9x40.Again I sent them in for an estimate and got them back at no charge for a brand new one. They don't care what the cause of damage was, they just fix it or replace it at no charge. I worked in the retail business for a while and remember a couple of simular Leupold optics being severely damaged and Leupold treated them the same way I was, no questions asked.
But also of most imprtance is the quality of their optics. They make everything in a quality that is as good or better than glass costing thousands! My first rifle scope from Leupold was a decision I made because my Wife and I both ended up with stitches and concussions resulting from poor eye relief, something you'll not have to worry about with even the least expensive Leupold scope. I wouldn't hesitate to use their inexpensive 3x9x40 $250 scope on any of my high powered rilfes and I do. They are crisp, hold their zero no amtter what caliber rifle they are on, don't fog up, are gas pressurized to endure any water element above or below surface, and you can clean them by washing them under soapy water without worry of leaking. I could go on and on about the outstanding quality of Leupold, but the real test is buying Leupold and discovering for yourself the unmatched standard of quality of their optics, regardless of the price range.
Each year Leupold replaces my eye cups for all of my glasses and has also replaced turret caps when I manage to lose them. And as usual, all it takes is for me to send and e-mail asking them to sell me the replacements, and I never get a bill, just the replacemnts needed, even for my old and out dated optics.
Also, all of the current scope come with a threaded objective lens for the light filters they make for them.
 
IMO, way, way too much magnification for hunting. I do a lot of walking hunting in wide-open country. My 3x9x40 is always set on 3X when doing that. Field of view is what's important.

I've found that 7X is plenty good for prairie dogs at 300 yards. Sure, a 4x14 makes it a tad more precise, but that's "want", not "need". :)

I've never needed more than a 40mm objective lens, even in early morning or late evening.

FWIW, one of my longest kills was at 350 yards. My 3x9 was set on 3X at the time, and the bullet hit within an inch or so of where I intended.

My father always used either a 4X Stith Bear Cub or a Weaver K6. Witnesses confirmed some kills at 500 yards.
 
Snuffy, your choice of spotting scope should serve you well.

I'd stick with the 60mm Objective...an 80 (in theory) would gather light a little better, but at time of day that would be of any value (very early or late) you don't have enough light to see other details anyway.

I'm assuming you intend to use the scope on "scouting" trips or at the bench when sighting in your rifle (when is South Texas)? To actually take it along on a hunt...probably wouldn't be too practical. But in the Western States, yes.


Flint.
 
I'd like to hear some hands on reports on these scopes as well since I'm getting ready to pop on a new one as well. A buddy of mine bought a Swarovski but I'm thinking if the Leupold HD lives up to its name that I can have a top notch scope and still pick up a Swaro or Lieca range finder for what his scope cost. My main purpose would be sheep and elk hunting in the CO rockies.
 
IMO, way, way too much magnification for hunting
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Threw me too at first, Art. But then I realized he is talking about a spotting scope. Even at that, my 8x binoculars have always been PLENTY for me for deer and elk.

35W
 
A spotting scope on a short, light tripod has been reportedly a good thing where a person can set up and watch a large area where there are lots of open spaces. Locate a way-over-yonder critter and then go stalk. And, of course, figure out if it were a six by six or a lesser animal.

Some of my pet sitting spots in Terlingua allow views out to maybe a mile. I've never felt "under magnified" with 8X binoculars as far as just locating Bambi.

If I'm walking hunting, minimum weight has always been important to me, so I prefer light weight binocs to anything heavier. It's amazing how heavy stuff gets when you're still five miles from camp.
 
If you have waited 10 -20 years or the limited draw license and the elk that looks great from a distance through those 8x binos has a broken antler or the sheep you see 2 miles away turn out to not have a ram of sufficient size to have wasted the time on the stalk that scope will be priceless not to mention the scouting time to find and class the trophys pre season.
My 25 year old Redfield is no way up to the task and the Leupold looks like the best balance of weigh, quality , and magnification. Good glass will easily last a lifetime even when put to hard use so cost is something that is relative to quality.
 
X-Rap said:
If you have waited 10 -20 years or the limited draw license and the elk that looks great from a distance through those 8x binos has a broken antler or the sheep you see 2 miles away turn out to not have a ram of sufficient size to have wasted the time on the stalk that scope will be priceless not to mention the scouting time to find and class the trophys pre season.
My 25 year old Redfield is no way up to the task and the Leupold looks like the best balance of weigh, quality , and magnification. Good glass will easily last a lifetime even when put to hard use so cost is something that is relative to quality.
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That being the case then I would buy what I use out in the field....with the tripod attachment.

Pros: Nothing on the planet compares, ruggedized, range-finder combo. Cons: Heavy.

Leica Geovid 15 x 56 HD

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I already have a pair of 10X50 Habicht SL Swarovski binos that I have used since the 80's. They are very good but they are not a spotting scope. The package that you have is a nice set up for hunting and shooting but since I already have a couple pretty good pairs of binos I am wanting a scope and rangefinder that are separate.
I use the big binos and a pair of 10x42 Burris at different times so having a smaller separate rangefinder seems like the best option.
 
If you have waited 10 -20 years or the limited draw license and the elk that looks great from a distance through those 8x binos has a broken antler....
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If I waited 10-20 years for a tag, I don't CARE if it has a broken antler...I'm going to do my best to get it. I've been hunting elk in NM (draw only) since '04 and so far have been drawn every year. I feel blessed to get a shot at any legal elk.

I've hunted them long enough and killed enough of them to know that they're not easy to come by, and I'm not going to drive 20+ hours coming and going, spend who knows how many hours in the saddle, then hike over hill and dale to worry about what my buddies are going to think about the size of the rack.

That being said, I've always been able to easily determine the legality of any bull I've seen with my 8x40 binos.

35W
 
You have obviously miss understood my situation. I CO we get plenty of elk but there are certain quality areas that require between 10 and and 20 pts. depending on the weapon used and the season chosen. I can usually get a couple elk a year during the regular unlimited seasons with one usually being a legal bull but sometimes two cows. Co. and NM have little in common regarding licence structure.
A better comparison would be the frequency you would draw a bighorn tag. That said when I pull the pin on my preference points for a trophy area I want to shoot a bull worthy of the effort and good glass will make a huge difference.
 
spotting scope

The question was about opinions of the spotting scope.
Not whether I needed it or not.
Thanks!
 
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