New Leupold scope, magnification adjustment real hard to turn

[streetstang67]

I just got a Leupold vx-I 3x9x50mm scope. It is unusually hard to turn the adjusting ring for the magnification. I've only had a weatherby scope in the past, are all leupold's like this? The owner's manual says there is no need to oil it. Just doesn't seem right.

Any ideas?

thanks

 

[ACP]

I think the VX-I's just have difficult adjustment rings. That's what you get with some $200 scopes. I should know -- I have the same model in 2-7x33mm on my Ruger 77/22.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I think that's a good thing. Less chance of it being "rubbed" off the magnification of your choice during a hunt. Most of the $120-$300 optics out there are the choice of hunters, with most being high 100's low 200's.

Hunter has no use for power rings that you can breathe on and they move like on some tactical scopes. Like I said, the entry level line scopes of Leupold, Burris et al are all marketed and target hunters. On my FFII, the magnification ring is the entire rear bell of the scope. It doesn't take a lot of force to move it, but it is NOT like the varmint simmons I have where the ring glides with almost zero force. It's stiff enough to where it is very difficult to bump it off when slinged or being handled.


I'd be surprised if a company like Leupold would produce scopes that have hard adjustments as a result of poor workmanship, and that being a "common" thing, or at least something that happens once in a while on "cheap" scopes. I don't think the $200 price it has justifies thinking of the scope as prone to defect. Not from a company like that. Not saying it isn't possible, I just don't think it is something they allow to pass QC.

 

[.38 Special]

Hard to know what "unusually" means in this context.

In my experience, better quality scopes (ie. Leupold) have "stiffer" adjustents than lower quality scope. (Bushnell, etc). This is due to tighter sealing.

I don't know who makes Weatherby scopes, so can't speak to their quality. Were I you, I'd probably head to the local sporting goods store to turn a few rings.

 

[nico]

For what it's worth, the power adjustment on my 3-9X40 VX-II is much stiffer than on the 3-9X40 Swift scope that came with my muzzle loader. IIRC, the VX-II costs about 3x as much as the Swift.

 

[bigcim]

bushell makes them i think

 

[itgoesboom]

bushell makes them i think

Bushnell doesn't make any of Leupold's scopes.

Leupold doesn't contract out and have other companies make any of their scopes.

I.G.B.

 

[Marnoot]

Bushnell doesn't make any of Leupold's scopes.

No, he was saying he thinks Bushnell makes Weatherby's scopes.

 

[.38 Special]

If "Streetstang67" has found his Leupold ring harder to turn than a ring made by Bushnell, I think the "mystery" is solved.

I would, though, be mildly surprised to learn that Weatherby is putting their name on cheap scopes.

But only mildly, I guess.

< edit > Although I note that Bushnell is selling some four and five hundred dollar scopes these days. Guess I need to reevaluate my opinion of them.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Call Leopold, best customer service in the scope biz. They'll probably have you send it in. You aren't the first with this problem.

 

[itgoesboom]

No, he was saying he thinks Bushnell makes Weatherby's scopes.

Got it, that makes more sense.

Was seriously scratching my prior....

I.G.B.

 

[browningguy]

Have you mounted the scope yet? If so I would take it out of the mounts and try it, sounds like it's binding due to misalignment or torqueing down the rings too tight.