Wish I would have known this about Leupold

[Welding Rod]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/leupold_tour.htm

"We also learned that all Leupold scopes are built to exactly the same tolerances and standard of durability. A Rifleman scope will take as much recoil as a VX-III. The differences in price between the various lines are a matter of more precise adjustments, different optical glass and optical formulas, superior lens coatings, one or two-piece main tubes, features, and so forth. Another interesting fact is that the entire line is built right there in Beaverton. None of the Leupold scope models are imported."

Good Chuck Hawks article in the link above.

I would have bought more of them over the years had I known this. I have been reluctant to buy VX IIs and below even if the optical quality was adequate, for fear of getting something that may not be as durable or as precisely built as the VX 3s. I also thought for some reason the VX I, Rifleman, and maybe Mark AR were imported.... maybe they didn't say "Made in USA on the box" (?).... guess not.

 

[rjrivero]

I'm a Leupold fan. Any scope I have on my rifles is from that family of optics. They've never let me down, and I see no reason to change horses mid-stream.

 

[ants]

One of the best values I ever scored...

A Rifleman 3-9x40 on sale at Cabelas, minus the savings discount postcard, minus some Cabela bucks, and they had a Free Shipping day. Total cost: $58.

I put it on a Marlin lever action 30-30 (WalMart after-deer-season sale, complete with sling for $317). When Sportsman's Warehouse closed up a store nearby, I bought a synthetic composite stock set for only $25.

The whole thing was $400. This one is a keeper. Along with the whole story about how to score a smokin' deal.

 

[ants]

By the way, I also scored deals on Nikon Monarch and Zeiss Conquest scopes. If you're patient, the deals are out there.

The Zeiss is superior to all of them. Total clarity, tough as granite, and the easiest-to-the-eye optic I've ever used.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Another Leupold Fan here as well.
I have Vari-X-III's and Vari-X-I's.
Other than maybe a gold shining ring, I cannot tell any difference and the 'I' was several hundred dollars less than the III's.

 

[atblis]

Yeah that sounds about right. They're all rather mediocre. Makes sense.

 

[JohnBT]

Nonsense.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I'm a Leupold fan. Any scope I have on my rifles is from that family of optics. They've never let me down, and I see no reason to change horses mid-stream.

The way I feel as well. I like the scopes. At this point, I won't even consider a different brand (I include RedField as part of the Leupold linkup). I'm sure there are other good brands out there buy why waste my energy when I have something I've been very happy with over the years. Same for binoculars as well.

 

[heeler]

One very nice thing about a Leupold scope is that 10 or 20 years from now if it goes bad all you have to do is send it in and they will rebuild it.
You simply will not get that from an Asian rim maker.
So let's say you simply love the 2x7 scope on your rifle because of it's small size and lightweight design makes the rifle and scope combination the perfect hunting and shooting package.
But you bought one made by the other guys and they no longer even make a 2x7 model and now it's gone bad so they try and make it right by sending you one of their Hubbell sized scopes for your lightweight nifty carbine.
I would be none to happy with that.

 

[helotaxi]

"Assembled" is probably a better term describing the Leupold operation in Beaverton for most of their lines. Many of the components and pretty much all of the glass on the lower couple of lines come from overseas, though you'd never know it from the price they charge.

 

[SentinelStrategic]

I'm not a fan of Leupold's optical quality in relation to their cost, but I cannot deny that Leupold makes a solid scope. I have an old Vari-X II that has taken severe unrelenting abuse on a slug gun and it keeps on performing.

"Assembled" is probably a better term describing the Leupold operation in Beaverton for most of their lines. Many of the components and pretty much all of the glass on the lower couple of lines come from overseas, though you'd never know it from the price they charge.

Most of Leupold's components are made in the USA. They do import in small screws and other minor assembly components, but their tubes, erectors, and internals are all made in-house. The very small amount of parts that are imported are done so because it's just not cost effective to make 2 million screws in-house, and no one in the US can produce the volume that they require. They out-source those small components out of necessity.
The glass Leupold uses is all from Japan. From the VX-1 to the Mark4s and Mark8. To my knowledge, no scope makers anywhere use glass made in the US. The exception is the new NightForce NXS scope, codenamed "The Beast", which is likely to be the first scope to employ US glass. However, it's still in development and final price is likely $2500-3500.

Frank Galli from Rifles Only and SnipersHide was recently invited to the Leupold Factory and verified all this information during an extensive tour.

 

[armoredman]

I'd love a Redfield Revolution 2-7...when I get the scratch. Made in the same factory, and inexpensive.

 

[SentinelStrategic]

Redfield Revolutions are the exact same scope as the VX-I scopes, but they're sold for 25-33% less. They really are exceptional scopes.