Leupold zero retention poll

[JGRaider]

Good post Nevada Mike, but you can't get away with that kind of language/positive experience with the RS LDS crowd here.

 

[Axlrod]

Good post Nevada Mike, but you can't get away with that kind of language/positive experience with the RS LDS crowd here.

LDS? I'm a CDS- Current Day Saint.

 

[Marbles]

Need an "I don't/haven't had a Leupold" as I have to cast a vote to see the results.

 

[rickyw]

Need an "I don't/haven't had a Leupold" as I have to cast a vote to see the results.

Done

 

[Marbles]

Done

Thank you.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I use Leupold vx3s on my hunting rifles. They have rode countless miles in vehicles, on atvs, and in airplanes and haven’t had to adjust my zero on any of them. I like them.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I am not a competitive shooter. I just kill game and have for a lot of years. A year or so ago my go to rifle started getting wierd. I sent my leupold vx-II in for repairs. I got it back but while the verticle adjustment was 1 click equals 1/4 moa at 100 yds the horizontal adjustment was 17 clicks per 1/4 moa.

I thought that was a little off but was it me, the ammo or something else. I gave it a break and changed to a new leupold 3HD - 4.5-16 B&C . Once I got it partially zeroed in I noted that I had half inch groups and then the next group was 2-3 inches. I started to question everything. What had I changed?

Then I noted that a variable was that I had not paid attention to was CCI primers have not been available for a while so I was using Winchester.

My new loads are from a differant lot of H-4350. Now I don't know what is the critical variable. I have sorted all my lots of ammo by primer to start with.

I will shoot again when it quits snowing. Then I my have to go back and start over on my loads with the new powder lot. Then I will go back to working on my scopes.

I haven't got a definitive answer yet but I have a plan and with some heat I will work on it.

 

[Marbles]

I am not a competitive shooter. I just kill game and have for a lot of years. A year or so ago my go to rifle started getting wierd. I sent my leupold vx-II in for repairs. I got it back but while the verticle adjustment was 1 click equals 1/4 moa at 100 yds the horizontal adjustment was 17 clicks per 1/4 moa.

I thought that was a little off but was it me, the ammo or something else. I gave it a break and changed to a new leupold 3HD - 4.5-16 B&C . Once I got it partially zeroed in I noted that I had half inch groups and then the next group was 2-3 inches. I started to question everything. What had I changed?

Then I noted that a variable was that I had not paid attention to was CCI primers have not been available for a while so I was using Winchester.

My new loads are from a differant lot of H-4350. Now I don't know what is the critical variable. I have sorted all my lots of ammo by primer to start with.

I will shoot again when it quits snowing. Then I my have to go back and start over on my loads with the new powder lot. Then I will go back to working on my scopes.

I haven't got a definitive answer yet but I have a plan and with some heat I will work on it.

I doubt it is the load, it could be, but load development is a lot of trouble and if you don't have a know accurate load, it is very hard to verify. I've tried 5 powders, 2 primers, and 3 different bullets and with various combinations and the worst group I have gotten was 2.03 inches at 100 yards and most are closer to 1.25; well I should say load development should be easy if everything else works. Of course, if the rifle is know to be a picky eater, that changes things.

If you (or a friend) has a rifle/scope combo that is known to be accurate, swap scopes and see what happens. If the problem moves with the scope, then it is a rings/scope issue. If the problem stays with the rifle, then I would pull the stock, check for areas of pressure, then torque the action screws to 65 in-lbs and see what happens. Only after that would I consider screwing with load development because if it is the rifle or scope you can waste a lot of time messing with loads and not being any closer to the answer. It is significantly more likely that a screw is loose, or the scope is causing trouble, than that a change in powder lot opened things up that much. That is true for EVERY brand of scope and I would say the same if you were using an NF/S&B/SWFA/Etc. Look for the most likely issues first, then move to the less common.

 

[EasilyExcited]

My MK5 that gets swapped around, goes to the range in a soft bag, and gets rough treatment holds zero. And, the several other friends own have held zero. And, the competitors and professional shooters I know of makes it unlikely that the stories of MK5 regularly failing.

You can’t compare all scopes by a manufacturer.

Also, is it the scope or the rings or the base?

My experience at the range and watching scopes get mounted at Bass Pro would suggest many failures are other than the scope.

My mark 5 just got the erector system replaced for the 2nd time with minimal field use...

 

[Steve300xcw]

Had a gunrack fall off the window of the truck. Scope landed on the back of the seat. Older m8 4x. Missed the biggest buck I have ever seen due to that.

Also have a couple vx-II 3-9's that were bought 20ish years ago. I have no complaints about those scope.

I doubt if I would buy any more leupold stuff though

 

[2-Stix]

Lost zero on all 3 I owned in the past. Thats what they do.

 

[Tl15]

Never had a problem with any of my VX-5HD scopes. I did have a VX Freedom on a 7.62x39 AR that would lose its zero if you so much as looked at it. It turned a 2 MOA gun into a shotgun. Absolute piece of junk.

 

[medvedyt]

i thought i was the only one lol ... i have a best better torture test than dropping tests lol mine is travelling into a sled while using a skidoo during our winter hunt of bison ...

it destroyed or removed the zero of fxII 4x33, 3x20 (previous and newer version), redfield 4-12x40, vx3 and III 1.5-5x20 and 2.5-8x36. a lot can be said about the rings like warne made for leupold qrw that did not work either despite following form procedures on the same side the alaska arms llc never moved but a shame available only on ruger actions ... i had as well a double failure on warne qd and (the ones we all love lol) leupold fxII 3x where the rings failed and damaged the scope. luckily it was on a river trip and the open sights saved the trip on my 375 ruger ...

i will try maybe a pair of sportsmatch on a tikka with the last leupold 2.5-36 but as a spare rifle and just to check the zero. next winter/spring if the scope is not gone.

it has to be said that most of the leupold scopes were not repairable and leupold canada at the time did not want to touch them and luckily leupold factory in oregon sent me everytime new scopes and never one fixed.
all of them have been sold with information that they were replaced.

now on the same token so far no bushnell elite 4200 or 4500 2.5-10x40 or 50 had an issue the same for the 3-9x40 and a 3-12x44 LHRS and the rainguard worked well with rain and snow.

the only leupold that did not failed so far is an old vxIII 2.5-8x36 with a german 4 reticle.

in the past the 2.5-8x36s were the only that never failed on me but this last spring it happened so i cannot guarantee them anymore.

again it is unique examples but lesson learnt cheap scopes like the leupold are not lasting in my hunting conditions.

on the same token the cheap no more made bushnell elite 4200-4500 by LOW are supporting well our conditions. i will try certainly the nightforce SHV 3-10x40 as it seems better and works great for alaskan hunters.

sorry for the long detailled post.

 

[rickyw]

the alaska arms llc never moved but a shame available only on ruger actions ... i

Just to clarify, a leupold held up in Alaska arms ruger rings? If so, which leupold?

 

[medvedyt]

Just to clarify, a leupold held up in Alaska arms ruger rings? If so, which leupold?

the only one is the german 4 2.5-8x36 vxiii that was first a duplex and retroffited at korth-leupold in canada. but just give me some time lol ...

 

[medvedyt]

it might add that some hunters are using rifle carrier/case like gunboot made by kolpin attached to the skidoo but what is the point ... the transport in the sled is giving me some hints on what rifles, rings and scopes can work in any conditions that we encounter here.