Thread: Leupold power ring stiff to turn

I have Leupold Vari-X II or VX2 scopes on most of my rifles and regard them very highly.
My .25/06 wears a 3-9x40 Vari-X IIc that I bought new around 12-15 years ago.

Problem is that the magnification ring has gradually become stiff to turn,has got to the point where I need to use both hands to shift it. Bloody inconvenient when hunting
and worse when fingers are half frozen!

I use Selleys Ezy Glide PTFE dry lube on pack zippers. Would it be a good idea to put a little squirt of this around the edge of the magnification ring?

Google search to see if that Selleys product is "O"ring friendly

Then try it, cant see it doing any harm

Possibly the o ring has hardened. Spend a little bit more than the cost of the Selleys and send it to Leupold. They should repair it for nix plus they will check everthing else on it. (Mind you I sent a scope to Leupold for turret changes and they assured me they would also give it a full service at the same time. The scope came back with the lenses filthy??) If the o ring is faulty it may also let the atmosphere in which could lead to fogging. If you are desperate to try something try a silicon spray. Selleys probably do it or try SCA.

try taking scope out of rings and try it...we had a redfield years back that wouldn't go full turn if scope rings were in certain spot on scope.....if that don't work send it back to them.

Send it back to Leupold, it will come back as new, all the ones I have sent have done, even if only to fit a CDS moa turret, really, really hard to beat that kind of service.

I sent my loopy back to loopys for target knobs to be fitted and they sent it back to reloaders.
The wierd thing is,I hadnt emigrated to NZ yet....

@Kiwi Greg How hard was it to send it back to the States? Did you go through the NZ distributor or deal with them direct? I have a VX2 4-12 X50 that has the same issue.

Post it direct mate. Easy peasy.
If you go to the Leupold website, you can print off a service sheet to let them know the full details.

I would not personally use any kind of lubricant yourself, just in case you void the warranty

Originally Posted by Jacobite

@Kiwi Greg How hard was it to send it back to the States? Did you go through the NZ distributor or deal with them direct? I have a VX2 4-12 X50 that has the same issue.

I sent them back through the distributors, easy as they are local

Yeah I'm not so keen for the lubricant route. Would much rather let them do their thing. So no issues with customs or import/export bans in the states like most other things firearms related?

If I do go that route I may get them to swap the Reticle at the same time, currently got the Duplex on it but if they can put a mildot or something else that would suit a .308 that might be worth the time and extra cost, it is on my "long range rifle" after all.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

I sent them back through the distributors, easy as they are local

Good bloaks to deal with as well or will they sort of frown at you if you haven't bought it through them?

Thanks for the advice guys!

I found a Leupold manual (if all else fails,read the instructions) and it says not to lube any turret,dial,AO or power ring. So I guess it's going to the US for a service.
Cannot remember who I bought it from so will just post it direct.

Well stop giving it those little blue pills!

Update to this thread:

Downloaded a service request form from the Leupold website,filled in details and popped it in the box with the scope. Addressed to Leupold product service centre in Oregon,paid the $50 postage and sent it on 8th July.
Got an email acknowledging receipt at their end on 19th July.
Checked my mail in town today and woohoo! there it is!

Service report says they have replaced the power selector ring AND the eyepiece lens (although I didn't ask for this) and a mechanical inspection. Scope was in good condition before so now it's "as new" again!
Total charge $0.00

Bloody brilliant customer support in my opinion. This was the first problem I'd had with a Leupold in 25 years of recreational hunting and a lot of professional shooting.
Lots of other great scopes out there but I will still buy Loopys and indeed just fitted a VX3i to a new .308 - very nice!

Tight power rings are common with leupolds

Leave the rifle / scope in the hot water cupboard to warm it up

Then turn the power ring 50x times to redistribute the assembly grease

When the scope cools again its often much softer to turn