Leupold Stiff Magnification Ring

[unfazed]

I bought a new Leupold VX Freedom 4-12x40 and the magnification ring is super stiff, pretty hard to adjust one handed while looking through the scope. I worked it back and forth by hand quite a bit and it’s still stiff. Anyone else run into this?

 

[jimh406]

I’ve seen this with other scopes if a scope ring is touching the magnification ring.

Does it happen when it isn’t mounted?

 

[unfazed]

I’ve seen this with other scopes if a scope ring is touching the magnification ring.

Does it happen when it isn’t mounted?

Scope ring is about an inch away and not over torqued, I had a gunsmith mount it and don’t have the tools to unmount and remount to check

 

[zpearo]

I have run into this before, generally in cold weather. Seems like there is some anti seize or grease in the mechanism that thickens up with the cold, or maybe it's just from thermal contraction of the metal itself.

 

[unfazed]

I’m in southern Utah, doesn’t get too cold here in the desert. This has been a mild winter, it’s currently 52 degrees

 

[Rossi]

I have an older vari-xiii that is the same way. The magnification ring doesn't have a knob either so that doesn't help. I bought an after market lever from ebay and it makes a world of difference. MK Machining makes rings that will fit that model.

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

1. rear ring binding on tube (overtorqued typically)
2. ocular shell took a hit and the part of the maintube the power ring inserts through is compressing onto the adjuster
3. too much/not enough lube in the power ring.
4. Overly stiff unit.

You can try a throw lever to see if that addresses it, otherwise you're dismounting the scope.