Ways for Leupold to Improve

[Hunter270Win]

Everyone here is likely aware of the issue of Leupold’s (iconic American legacy brand at this point) not holding zero well. We all want the market to continue to improve and adapt, so how should Leupold fix this issue. Should they make a statement (unsure if they have or not) or should they just quietly put out new products?

Genuinely curious because the vast majority of hunters love what Leupold has to offer and the ease of use that comes with them. Nobody is rooting for Leupold to solve this problem more than Rokslide.

 

[BBob]

If it hasn’t happened by now it’s not going to happen. They just don’t care about the issues. Never have so doubtful they ever will. They’ll “fix” them if you send one in but that’s all they have ever done and likely will ever care to do.

 

[mthayr]

Haters gonna hate, but the Mark series has done well by me (not the case for the VX-series in my experience)

 

[TaperPin]

The problem is with the CEO - he has prioritized shareholder profits, and openly stated that in interviews. Closed the custom shop because it’s not a big profit center, reduced the number of scopes, and selling based on name rather than quality. Easy places to skimp. Sell, sell, sell, sell, and when the brand isn’t worth what it was, sell all the parts to a company with even worse reputation and cash out the investors.

The quality of machined surfaces and fit inside the adjustment mechanisms is important, better finishes and tolerances cost money. The strength of the spring that presses parts up tight to the adjustment knob assembly is super important so every adjustment dials correctly. All easy places to skimp.

Then, all the internal parts need to stay in place. I’ve heard fewer lenses are glued in place, because it makes correcting issues less time consuming. Easy place to skimp.

That’s my take and I used to love the company. Pretty sad when antique optics are better than some new ones rolling out the door.

 

[Axlrod]

Everyone here is likely aware of the issue of Leupold’s (iconic American legacy brand at this point) not holding zero well. We all want the market to continue to improve and adapt, so how should Leupold fix this issue. Should they make a statement (unsure if they have or not) or should they just quietly put out new products?

Genuinely curious because the vast majority of hunters love what Leupold has to offer and the ease of use that comes with them. Nobody is rooting for Leupold to solve this problem more than Rokslide.

Well just reading a couple threads here recently, I would argue everyone is NOT aware! You are asking a high functioning alcoholic to stop drinking. Not ever gonna happen.
Leupold sells a lot of scopes, and their customer either doesn't know or doesn't care that there are issues. They think it's normal to "sight in" every year. It really is no big deal adjusting the scope to hit a paper plate 3 out of 5 times at 100 paces the day before hunting season. And they are accurate enough to hit a deer every year. So Leupold doesn't have an issue.
There is nothing that looks better on a blued/wood stocked rifle, than that golden ring! I have a few, I just don't hunt with them.

 

[Fritz D]

First ‘nice’ rifle scope I ever purchased was a Leupold Vari-X 2 3-9-40.
That was way back in 1993.
I’d dearly love to see a Leupold pass Forms drop test?
I ain’t holding my breath…

 

[Grundy53]

They don't need to apologize or make some grand gesture. Just make a scope that holds zero and dials correctly. Do that, and it would be all I owned. I grew up in a leupold family. It was the standard. I still have a bunch of them collecting dust in the garage...

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

I’d dearly love to see a Leupold pass Forms drop test?
I ain’t holding my breath…

Old fixed power Leupold 6x and 10x Mark 4’s and M3A’s all do.

 

[Fritz D]

Old fixed power Leupold 6x and 10x Mark 4’s and M3A’s all do.

Hey. I’m happy to have been mistaken in this case?
When you say “old fixed power Leupold 6X” are you speaking of the FX2 variety?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Should they make a statement (unsure if they have or not) or should they just quietly put out new products?

Lol you seem to be under the delusion that they're going to change.

 

[Balderdash]

I had a number of 6x in both 36mm and 42mm that were pretty tough scopes. But I didn't dial on them; always worked off the reticle. Had one with a mil dot that got shot with and hunted a ton, and it was always mounted on 300 and 338 mags. Would likely still be interested in them for LW rigs if they offered something close to an MQ reticle.

Had a number of Leupolds from throughout their price/quality range either go outright wonky, have wondering zero, or not track/RTZ. Have moved on, but like a lot of other folks, would be happy to buy them again. They certainly have some well thought out offerings in the new Mk4 and 5 lines that I plan to give a try in the near future. A friend who does a lot of PRS events has recently moved from a TT to a new Mk5, and he's had good luck with it.

 

[Formidilosus]

Hey. I’m happy to have been mistaken in this case?
When you say “old fixed power Leupold 6X” are you speaking of the FX2 variety?

No sir. The fixed powers Mark 4 M3A scopes- the old tactical ones.

 

[BLJ]

Old fixed power Leupold 6x and 10x Mark 4’s and M3A’s all do.

Any experience with the M8’s?

 

[Formidilosus]

Any experience with the M8’s?

Lots.

The only photo I have handy of it, but this M8 6x killed a lot of animals. One click did not equal .25 MOA, but it generally worked- this deer was 427 yards.


They certainly were Leupold’s best pitch for a hunting scope. The friction ones generally were good for the time- that is we didn’t expect scopes to hold zero through rough use, but with normal use they were generally good, and the friction M8’s were better at staying zeroed than any others.

I, like everyone else used Leupold’s as they were the “pinnacle” and killed a lot of animals with them. And rezeroed often, and sent lots back to be serviced.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Any experience with the M8’s?

I have two , 1 on a win 94-22m and #2 on a m70 .270 both have traveled 10’s of thousands of miles in ranch trucks and Utv , airboat and haven’t had a problem
Leupold, Burris, vortex all hold POI being treated terribly, but I don’t buy anything that has a dial up turret , if you can’t shoot or hunt without a dial up!
Sort out the drop test post and buy something like that!
My 375 h&h has a leupold and 50lbs of recoil with 100+ shots and a couple of trips south of the equator and is still on target, im not worried about leupold

 

[SDHNTR]

Leupold Corp knows very well there are issues. They don’t care. They’d rather label us fools and call the consumer the problem! Anyone remember that disaster of a livestream? Man I wish there was a permanent recording of that garbage fire for all eternity. No sane person would ever buy another after watching it.

 

[Steve from GA]

If Leupold makes enough revenue each year, then it’s not a problem for them.

 

[BLJ]

Lots.

The only photo I have handy of it, but this M8 6x killed a lot of animals. One click did not equal .25 MOA, but it generally worked- this deer was 427 yards.
View attachment 809717

They certainly were Leupold’s best pitch for a hunting scope. The friction ones generally were good for the time- that is we didn’t expect scopes to hold zero through rough use, but with normal use they were generally good, and the friction M8’s were better at staying zeroed than any others.

I, like everyone else used Leupold’s as they were the “pinnacle” and killed a lot of animals with them. And rezeroed often, and sent lots back to be serviced.

Cool picture. Thanks.
I’ve got an M8 6x compact with AO and fine crosshairs. Lives on an old 77/22.
It’s been really solid.
Not subjected to much abuse, but never touched it either.
Kenton turret on yours?

 

[7LRM]

I just came back elk hunt recently, the zero was not hold and I missed the shot at 100 yards so bad.

 

[Wildstreak]

Well just reading a couple threads here recently, I would argue everyone is NOT aware! You are asking a high functioning alcoholic to stop drinking. Not ever gonna happen.
Leupold sells a lot of scopes, and their customer either doesn't know or doesn't care that there are issues. They think it's normal to "sight in" every year. It really is no big deal adjusting the scope to hit a paper plate 3 out of 5 times at 100 paces the day before hunting season. And they are accurate enough to hit a deer every year. So Leupold doesn't have an issue.
There is nothing that looks better on a blued/wood stocked rifle, than that golden ring! I have a few, I just don't hunt with them.

I currently own 9 Leupold scopes, three of which are VX6's and until perusing this site I was completely unaware of the issues. The VX6's are on custom bolt rifles and are hardly minute of deer.