Leupold Drop Tests

[5MilesBack]

I have two Mark 4's that I have no complaints about........yet. I've had them about 6 years. The first one, my daughter was switching shoulders carrying the rifle and dropped it on the rocky ground. I picked it up and immediately noticed the ding on the windage knob. I told her we were done until we could get it to the range to resight it. We did just that, and shockingly it was still dead on target. A few days later she put a perfect shot on a WT doe from 375 yards, with dialing.

I've had that gun and scope at the 600 yard range several times and it still tracks very well for me. I haven't had a need to go any further with it. It's on a different gun now, but still on target. So until it becomes a problem for me, it's doing its job.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Pretty funny. Next podcast he has on a guest and the guest is talking about a leupold scope that wouldn’t hold zero. Pretty ironic after the love fest that they had the episode before.

 

[aaronoto]

They can test them any way they want, I'm thrilled to be nearly divested of them.

They owe me a boatload of ammo for all the times 1) I've had to adjust zero between range trips and 2) they didn't track in the process of adjusting zero.

I too have wasted a boatload of ammo testing and diagnosing (for them) the issues with my VX3 LRP that they said was “within spec” the first time I sent it in. I posted those results on a popular shooting forum and someone from Leupold reached out and the scope was quickly replaced. I sold the replacement, I had way too much time and money into the first one to even want to give a second one a shot.

 

[FLS]

Ive got several older Leupolds that just keep on working. Just lucky I guess.

 

[5MilesBack]

Ive got several older Leupolds that just keep on working. Just lucky I guess.

Ya, I had an old 70's Vari-x ii 3x9x40 on a Rem 700 that was rock solid. That was my saddle gun for elk and deer hunting. They would take a beating but neither the scope nor the rifle ever had a problem. I sold both separately years ago when I took up bowhunting. Now I have a saddle bow that's as durable as a bow can be.

 

[gbflyer]

I’ve always found the adjustments to be imprecise, however they seem to stay put. I don’t have anything more recent than Vari-X III.

 

[Rich M]

I have a 2006 vx2 that holds 1 inch at 250 yards.

Had bought a vx3i and it would not shoot tighter than 2-2.5 inches with same gun and ammo. Tried to get new reticle for over a year but custom shop was contiually closed. Sold scope. Using VX2.

Not exactly gonna rush to buy another Leupold product.

 

[wind gypsy]

Tim Lesser was just on Backcountry Hunting podcast.

They talk a great game about their testing on podcasts, this one isn't the first. I've heard him do the same on (IIRC) kifarucast and Newberg. Tim is the VP of Marketing for Leupold so i would expect no less.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I have one VX5HD (for range-only) and one VX6HD (hunting). Had another VX5HD for hunting but recently sold it for the same price as what I bought it for. It was rock solid but changed the scope to "proven" model.

My VX5HDs have worked well including a lot of dialing both at the range and the field. The only issue is the battery cover falling off my hunting scope. Irksome but Leupold took care of me.

My VX6HD has been rock solid. It's taken more than its fair share of abuse. Hardest known hit sheered off the throw ring lever with no change to zero nor reliability. But it too has had its damn battery cover fall off while hunting; Leupold took care of me in on that.

But despite my "success" with Leupold scopes, I'm likely done buying them. You used to be able to get any 3-5 VXHD for about $750 without blinking an eye; now its $1K or more for the same scopes. You can get a "proven" Trijicon Credo/Tenmile or NF SHV for about the cost of a new VX5HD. You can get a demo or potentially new NF NX8 or NXS for the cost of a VX6HD. Why bother with a Leupold VX5HD or VX6HD when you can get a proven scope with comparable glass for around the same price?

 

[Dobermann]

They talk a great game about their testing on podcasts, this one isn't the first. I've heard him do the same on (IIRC) kifarucast and Newberg. Tim is the VP of Marketing for Leupold so i would expect no less.

Yep, they seem to have hit the podcast circuit pretty heavily this last couple of years ... it's almost as if they realised they had a reputation issue in 'serious' circles and set about trying to fix it.

As with so many things, some of the episodes I've heard seem to rely heavily on the friendly relationship they've built with the podcast hosts, rather than on any solid evidence of improvement in performance.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I've definitely had issues with the vx lineup but after owning 2 mk5s that I dialed and tested extensively I have to say they're solid.

I got a good deal on another vx5hd thats surprised me so far with its tracking, I don't trust it per say but I'll run it hard and see how she holds up.

 

[BRTreedogs]

This one had poi shift just from riding in the truck.

 

[BRTreedogs]

That dude couldn’t isolate the problem, or repeat it, or even show the target he described. He spends more time editing slow motion sequences and graphics than the actual gear “review”, LOL.

Also worth saying that NF is a sponsor of that forum, and the Mk5 is a direct competitor, so there’s that.

You risk your hunts on what you want to.
I'm not going to.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I have at least 6 Leupolds of various flavors and have never had
a single problem with any of them.
Sight em in and forget em.
Just bought a VX3 HD 1.5-5 x20 I'm getting ready to mount on
a .308.
They could all fall apart tomorrow but after 30+ years, no problems.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

That dude couldn’t isolate the problem, or repeat it, or even show the target he described. He spends more time editing slow motion sequences and graphics than the actual gear “review”, LOL.

Also worth saying that NF is a sponsor of that forum, and the Mk5 is a direct competitor, so there’s that.

Yep I'm with you on this, that site is 1000% biased towards NF.
Nothing wrong with that, but it is annoying when people don't consider that angle before piling on having no clue what they're talking about.
I'm 100% not a leupold fan boy but I'll give them credit where its due with the mk5

 

[BRTreedogs]

Ok fellas

@Broz
@FURMAN

Are you letting your bias towards NF influence you into making false accusations of POI shift on the Leupold Mark 5???

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Ok fellas

@Broz
@FURMAN

Are you letting your bias towards NF influence you into making false accusations of POI shift on the Leupold Mark 5???

Why don't you ask Joe Biden if he's making gas expensive while you're at it

 

[Ram94]

Ok fellas

@Broz
@FURMAN

Are you letting your bias towards NF influence you into making false accusations of POI shift on the Leupold Mark 5???

I have no experience with the Mark 5 but I seem to recall a picture from one of the drop tests that had a Mark 5 with “lost zero” taped across the bell.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I have no experience with the Mark 5 but I seem to recall a picture from one of the drop tests that had a Mark 5 with “lost zero” taped across the bell.

Ohh Form is probably bought out by NF to and a liar as well.

 

[BRTreedogs]

He’s literally said that he gets NF scopes for free, LOL.

So that means he is a liar that will falsely make up stuff about competitors?

Come on, I could get down with them recommending them over everything else..
But I have more faith in those particular individuals then to think they would just straight up lie about a failure come on man.
Again your free to use whatever you want.
Just because I won't use it doesn't make me wrong ether. And I never said you were wrong.

Just sharing info.