Thread: Leupold Scopes are NOT worth the money....IMO

Originally Posted by nor-west

So does a toilet paper roll with clingfilm.

3 or 4 ounces of weight between the rings central to the action dont make a wiff of difference to me. Not to say I'm going to buy a truckload of 34mm rifle scopes.

I bent two and a I look after my gear but cant stop the odd slip/fall when bush bashing
So - yes light weight has a payoff

Originally Posted by Sarvo

He missed the latest Delta in there too @Tahr
I am sure they be rated if not such outdated list :-)

Ok just for you Mr @Sarvo here is an updated list (although I did have your Delta scopes listed as a 4.5 star before):

Five-Star Scopes

Athlon Optics Cronus BTR
Arken Optics EP4 (reasonable/low price for the specs)
Delta line esp 5-50x (2020 model)
Kahles line (all)
Leica line (all)
Leupold VX-6 series, Mark 6, Mark 8
Meopta MeoStar series
March line (all)
Nightforce line
Schmidt & Bender line (all)
Sightron SV series (stays in top tier)
Steiner Nighthunter series
Swarovski Z series, X series
TRACT Toric
Vixen VIII
Vortex Razor HD series
Zeiss Victory series


Four-Star-Plus Scopes

Bushnell Elite Tactical Series & discontinued 6500
Burris XTR II
Leupold VX-3i series, FX-3 (fixed), VX-R, VX-5HD (stays in 2nd tier)
Meopta MeoPro series
Sightron Series III (SIII)
Steiner GS3 series
TRACT Tekoa
Vixen VII scopes
Weaver Super Slam (discontinued)

Again this is just my opinion collected over the years from my own and feedback from other shooters. Any complaints/disagreements you can post below...but remember complaining is good for you as long as you're not complaining to the person you're complaining about.

@55six notice I included the Arken EP4 (your soon to arrive Arken SH4 Gen 2 I have no reviews to compare it with....as yet)

All my favourite scopes are leupys
Iv got others and they are great too

I hate it when things break and leupolds I have in my care get hard lives
If it doesn't handle it they will replace or repair it
Cool business model if you ask me

I rate the cheaper 3-9 type Leupolds, they are light weight, have relatively good glass, eye relief and a good warranty.

May have been a bit harsh on Leupolds. Have owned 3 -
M8 4x32 bought 1980 - a dedicated 22lr scope, reticle was very fine, glass good, once zeroed it stayed put, very lite weight. Sold because it had a very narrow eye box which required you to be exactly inline to use, as a bunny gun sometimes you need fast acquisition, and possoming the reticle was slightly too fine. Overall an reliable little scope, had for 30 odd years.

VX3 6-20 x 40 great glass. liteweight. Varmint reticle, was on a fast twist 223 sold it with the rig. Can't rely fault the scope.

VX2 4-12 x 40 glass was good but below VX3, reticle was long distance, slight heaver than my norm like. Sent it back to states as it was the newer model that didn't have a ocular lock up ring, but relied on a fine thread. Don't find this agreeable as, if it moved so did your point of impact. Back from the States they had not improved the situation, so I let it go.

Vortex - I had 3 of and am happy so far PTS 4-16 ffp was replaced with a $ top up to a - Gen 2 3-15 Why was never happy with the quality of glass, for a scope of that cost, the Gen 2 is a vast improvement, and a way better reticle for FFP, it dials really well, on the heavy side for a hunting rifle.

- Diamond back FFP 6 -24 glass is only average, dials well and is on a rig that only get used a the range.


Z5 3-18 x 40 going well so far, love it great glass, magnification, dialing, lite weight.
Bushnell 3-9 22 lr tac scope, cheap and cheerful well worth the money, better eye box than the little M8

So would I have another Lulpy YES but starting VX3 and beyond.

PSI - I have destroyed several good scopes, on My HW80 springer Air rifle, the only ones that can handle it are the cheap and cheerful Leapers

Originally Posted by flock

PSI - I have destroyed several good scopes, on My HW80 springer Air rifle, the only ones that can handle it are the cheap and cheerful Leapers

Yeah always surprised me how those UTG Leapers/ Accushot scopes can hold up to air-rifles. One of the best entry level field target scopes at not much cost.

Had 3 leupolds.

2 burris's and 2 Vortexs.

Never a issue with Leupold.

The VX5 has set the standard for me hands down.
Sent my burris SixX back on warranty as it got a small chip on a lense. Burris sorted it out no worries. Love burris optics.

Vortex.
I wont hate on them but after 2 warranty claims for a mid tier optic due to loosing zero (I checked all the mounts etc too) with its zero stop.

Never again for vortex.

Wish I had the money for VX5s on my other 2!
Just my 2 cents

i had 2 leupold vari-×ii scope they were good for me at the time better than the ziess conquest i had at the time but sold them both found nikon monarch series better with my eyes and glasses

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Had 3 leupolds.

2 burris's and 2 Vortexs.

Never a issue with Leupold.

The VX5 has set the standard for me hands down.
Sent my burris SixX back on warranty as it got a small chip on a lense. Burris sorted it out no worries. Love burris optics.

Vortex.
I wont hate on them but after 2 warranty claims for a mid tier optic due to loosing zero (I checked all the mounts etc too) with its zero stop.

Never again for vortex.

Wish I had the money for VX5s on my other 2!
Just my 2 cents

Which model Vortex did you have issues with?
Seems the lower priced models are hit or miss, mid tier and up are usually fine.

I had a VX6 and have a VX5HD, there are some things I don't like about them (lack of MRAD, not fuesed on reticle choices) but as far a glass, turrets, FOV, illumination etc go the VX5hd is an exceptionally good scope.
I've not had much experience with the lower end scopes other than Mark 4 that I had which for the most part was fine, but being a 20year old design meant it was left wanting compared to some of the newer scopes.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Which model Vortex did you have issues with?
Seems the lower priced models are hit or miss, mid tier and up are usually fine.

I had a VX6 and have a VX5HD, there are some things I don't like about them (lack of MRAD, not fuesed on reticle choices) but as far a glass, turrets, FOV, illumination etc go the VX5hd is an exceptionally good scope.
I've not had much experience with the lower end scopes other than Mark 4 that I had which for the most part was fine, but being a 20year old design meant it was left wanting compared to some of the newer scopes.

HST specifically.

It also depends on what the end game is to too be fair.

For me it's in no particular order: optical clarity. Easy to set zero stop elevation. Light weight. Not fussed on reticle. MOA only. SFP.

As my rifles are hunting rifles only however some will use them for a bit of this and a bit of that.

Had a few leupolds over the years, still have a Vll 2x7 on my 338 Win Mag which I bought in Aussie in 1980. Been a good scope, been on numerous rifles over the years and holds zero well. Only problem is focusing the eye piece , I have run out of adjustment for my eyes, the reason I sold a lot of my other ones. I found the Vortex had better adjustment in that area and have found the 5 Vortexs I currently have are working well so far.
I am in the process of getting a VX 5 for my 300 Mag so hope it performs well.

Originally Posted by flock

PSI - I have destroyed several good scopes, on My HW80 springer Air rifle, the only ones that can handle it are the cheap and cheerful Leapers

You should try the Old Bushnell Legend 5-15X40 or the new (ish) Bushnell Legend HDs for the air guns. I had old legends on 2 of my Diana 52 (One with Vmach kit another raw), survived thousand of shots and still going strong.

Any scope which can survive a raw Diana will survive HW80 for sure

-Inder

Originally Posted by flock

I have destroyed several good scopes, on My HW80 springer Air rifle, the only ones that can handle it are the cheap and cheerful Leapers

For years I ran my ancient Leupold M8 3x on my HW80. The scope never missed a beat.
But then the M8 3x is very robust scope devoid of a lot of innards that variables have.
It was also a recognised big calibre scope (eg 375 H & H) in its hayday.

6 pages.....seems pretty conclusive.