Leupy VX-5HD 3-15...checks all my boxes but I'm scared

[Jesse Jaymes]

As the title states.....pretty much know what I want to end up with. Have a handful of decent optics. Bout 5 FFP scopes. But for a 338 WM or 300 WM "traditional" hunting/stalking rifle.....I am quite certain I want 1. elevation turret, which could be capped. 2. 12X or more 3. illumination. I've ready many pay for it but never have used it. With today's batteries why not turn it on and leave it on? Don't see any down side. Seems handy in thick stuff. Have 2 illuminated optics and I like them.

The VX-5HD has every feature I want. Forgot to add that I am NOT a fan of a huge 50mm objective only to needing to mount the scope so high and negate any serviceable cheek weld in a traditional hunting style stock. My math shows the above optic is still going to fit in 30mm .85" rings on my bases and not touch.

I have skepticism on the tracking and zero retention on the scope....I think many folks have the same issues. Internet hype and parroting of info that is only semi founded?

I have a much more warmer/fuzzy for the Zeiss V4 4-16 illuminated. But it's a 50mm. I think their Track record (get it???) is much better than Leupold.

The little NF 3-10 SHV checks a ton of boxes. Would like more Xs And I've read you can't get parallax adjustment on the models with Illumination. Be a potentially difficult mount on a Long Action also. Dinky scope.

 

[JigStick]

I have one on my 300wsm. The VX5 line has a good reputation for outstanding glass and excellent tracking. That has been my experience as well. Glass is better than my Zeiss Conquest and NF NXS compact. But everyones eyes are different. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

 

[Catahoula]

I have a VX5 ZL2-CDS 3-15x44. Zero issues on this scope.
Also, on another rifle of mine runs the Nightforce SHV 4.5-14x56. Also, zero issue with this scope.....

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Pulled the trigger on one. I will mount it up and see what it's got or doesn't got soon. Report back.

 

[Spoonman]

They are clear and have some cool features. That being said, I had 2 Vx5hd 3-15’s stop tracking. Sent them in to leupold and had them both back after a week. They are both gone now.

 

[Formidilosus]

The VX5 line has a good reputation for outstanding glass and excellent tracking.

With whom does it have a good reputation?

 

[rtaylor]

I've got a VX 5 and a VX 6 that I've been using for a while. I like both and they track perfectly. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

 

[slowelk]

With whom does it have a good reputation?

You're anti-leupold, we get it. Numerous people on this forum (myself included), and other forums have had great luck with the vx-5 line from leupold. Dialing, returning to zero, all of it. I am not a precision shooter, and I know you know way more about guns and optics than I do, but the vx-5 line has performed flawlessly for me in regular practice situations, and hunting situations. I have a 3-15, and a 2-10 mounted on the two rifles which get the most regular field action, and I wouldn't hesitate to put one on my next rifle.

 

[deerkiller]

You're anti-leupold, we get it. Numerous people on this forum (myself included), and other forums have had great luck with the vx-5 line from leupold. Dialing, returning to zero, all of it. I am not a precision shooter, and I know you know way more about guns and optics than I do, but the vx-5 line has performed flawlessly for me in regular practice situations, and hunting situations. I have a 3-15, and a 2-10 mounted on the two rifles which get the most regular field action, and I wouldn't hesitate to put one on my next rifle.

I, for one, would NOT say Formidilosus is "anti" ANYTHING except maybe inferior quality or misrepresented product - IF a person would pay attention to what he says you'd quickly "get it" …. and this is coming from a guy who lived 3 miles from Leupold (outside Beaverton) for 56 years and knows a BUNCH of folks who worked or work there - IF ya can't stand the answer then don't ask the question

 

[slowelk]

I, for one, would NOT say Formidilosus is "anti" ANYTHING except maybe inferior quality or misrepresented product - IF a person would pay attention to what he says you'd quickly "get it" …. and this is coming from a guy who lived 3 miles from Leupold (outside Beaverton) for 56 years and knows a BUNCH of folks who worked or work there - IF ya can't stand the answer then don't ask the question

His bias is clear. Find 10 posts where a SFP leupold scope that dials comes up, and he chimes in to the effect that they are garbage on nine of them. He carries a lot of weight on this forum because he knows what he is talking about, but the substantial amount of people who have attested to the reliability of the vx-5 line should outweigh the obvious slant to his opinions in this area.

The internet is a frustrating place because of bias that's formed because most opinions shared are not based on first-hand experience. If F has first-hand experience with a turreted, current vx-5 not doing its job, let's hear about it, but if his opinion is based on some friend of a friend, or a 10-year old leupold failing, his objection is irrelevant.

 

[realunlucky]

I, for one, would NOT say Formidilosus is "anti" ANYTHING except maybe inferior quality or misrepresented product - IF a person would pay attention to what he says you'd quickly "get it" …. and this is coming from a guy who lived 3 miles from Leupold (outside Beaverton) for 56 years and knows a BUNCH of folks who worked or work there - IF ya can't stand the answer then don't ask the question

Yep only two answers to every question in every single thread. Maybe shut down discussion and just make both forums a single sentence sticky.

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[deerkiller]

His bias is clear. Find 10 posts where a SFP leupold scope that dials comes up, and he chimes in to the effect that they are garbage on nine of them. He carries a lot of weight on this forum because he knows what he is talking about, but the substantial amount of people who have attested to the reliability of the vx-5 line should outweigh the obvious slant to his opinions in this area.

The internet is a frustrating place because of bias that's formed because most opinions shared are not based on first-hand experience. If F has first-hand experience with a turreted, current vx-5 not doing its job, let's hear about it, but if his opinion is based on some friend of a friend, or a 10-year old leupold failing, his objection is irrelevant.

I believe he has done this ….a number of times

 

[deerkiller]

but we've all heard it a multitude of times and "I" should have learned it by now I'd suppose

"where ignorance (as in not knowing the specific answer to a question) is bliss, 'tis a folly to be wise"

 

[realunlucky]

but we've all heard it a multitude of times and "I" should have learned it by now I'd suppose

"where ignorance (as in not knowing the specific answer to a question) is bliss, 'tis a folly to be wise"

You just started your own thread when you already knew what answers you wanted and who you wanted them from. Could of accomplish the same with a pm. Don't get that angle either.



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[slowelk]

Experience trumps all, and the number of positive reviews of first-hand users should outweigh the negative and quell the doubt about these scopes. There can always be a lemon, but with the leupold warranty, people should buy confidently.

 

[deerkiller]

buy with confidence I always say

 

[deerkiller]

funny thing, I was just thinking day before yesterday that I've gotten in the habit of checking zero every time I get to a hunting destination, habitual because I began finding my zero off when I checked a long long time ago …. maybe soon I'll be able to add something "constructive" to the conversation (for you Leupold believers let me say that I like and respect the company and their products, have my entire adult life - "liking" something and not feeling you can trust something are not always the same thing) Leupold has gone through some occasional "bumps" that I always chose not to share due to semi-inside information ….

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I have high quality reloading gear, attention to detail, and actually shoot my rifles as often as possible....which is still not enough. I will give the optic a test and see what happens.

I took the "chance". If anyone gives a shit....I'll report what I invested in. I am a blue collar guy. I will try not to pout if my scope sucks. It may or may not. The features it offered, as I was questioning.....checked ALL of my boxes. I can suffer from analysis paralysis. I said F it and added it to cart. We will see what we will see.

 

[deerkiller]

just as an aside I'd like to comment that Formidilosus also mentioned quite a few other major scope brands in our correspondences ….. am I "on the hook" for badmouthing those as well ? anyone who's ever in Beaverton OR should stop by Leupold & Stevens and take the "tour" of the factory (wear your thinking cap while you do that)

 

[Formidilosus]

You're anti-leupold, we get it.

Is that what you really believe? That I’m a petulant child that has an emotional response to a piece of metal and some glass?

I’ve shot more rounds through a Leupold since Monday than most people will put through any scope in their lifetime. It also happens to be one of the most reliable scopes ever made. Of course Leupold doesn’t make them anymore.

His bias is clear. Find 10 posts where a SFP leupold scope that dials comes up, and he chimes in to the effect that they are garbage on nine of them. He carries a lot of weight on this forum because he knows what he is talking about, but the substantial amount of people who have attested to the reliability of the vx-5 line should outweigh the obvious slant to his opinions in this area.

The internet is a frustrating place because of bias that's formed because most opinions shared are not based on first-hand experience. If F has first-hand experience with a turreted, current vx-5 not doing its job, let's hear about it, but if his opinion is based on some friend of a friend, or a 10-year old leupold failing, his objection is irrelevant.

Well there’s a bit here, isn’t there.

So I have a bias (see above), but I carry weight on this forum because I know what I’m talking about, a substantial amount of people attest to the reliability of the VX-5 line, and the internet is frustrating because people share opinions that are not based on first hand experience?

One by one-

One, the only bias I have is that I expect equipment to work correctly and I do not give excuses when they do not.

Two, I either know what I’m talking about or I do not. So you are left with two options- either I’m lying and I don’t have experience, or- I do, and you just don’t like the results that you hear? Either way, instead of a passive agressive post, why not address me directly?


Three, who are these “substantial amount of people” that have experience with VX-5’s? I literally have never met a single person with a thousand rounds on a single sample. Let alone hard and intensive use on multiples. I can’t say that I have thousand of rounds on a single sample..... because not one has made it past a week of use before failing. But cheer up- it is probable that I have more rounds on VX-5’s than anyone that works for Leupold.


Four, I do not work on opinions. If I say “x” does “y”, then we can go buy ten of them from the store, take them to the range and you can watch it happen in real time.
If you would rather listen to someone who fired a grand total of a box of ammo on a scope- ok. I do not care what you use. I do care that when a person asks for experience that they get info from people with actual experience. A weekend of shooting, a dead deer, or a couple hundred rounds is not “experience”. It’s equivalent to trying on a pair of shoes in the store and extolling how great they are for the Frank church- it’s ridiculous. From shooting, being issued, using, and measuring- Leupold’s in general do not hold zero, do not adjust correctly, do not track, and do not return to zero. This is based on hundreds of examples, and hundreds of thousands of rounds. NO ONE would like Leupold to build a scope that works more than me, the problem is that they simply don’t.

Yep only two answers to every question in every single thread. Maybe shut down discussion and just make both forums a single sentence sticky.

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I’ve given more than two answers in the last 24 hours. Someone is biased, but it isn’t me.

Experience trumps all, and the number of positive reviews of first-hand users should outweigh the negative and quell the doubt about these scopes. There can always be a lemon, but with the leupold warranty, people should buy confidently.

Again, where are these positive reviews of Leupold VX-5’s with real, actual use? The fourth post in this thread has a person saying he had two, and they both failed. So is Spoonman lying? Is it just a coincidence? Or is it more likely that Leupold produces optics that have a relatively high failure rate, and while you may get one that works for a while, your changes of getting one that fails is higher than with other scopes?