Leopold scopes.....

[Brians356]

I have many older Leupold Vari-X II 4-12x40 AOs, that's all I bought for years. But I started buying used Bushnell Elite 4200s for their better optical clarity and relative value proposition. I now also have a few Nikon M-223 scopes, also very clear optics to my eye, and I like their BDC reticles for varmint shooting.
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[Brians356]

Yup. Gotta watch it, these days. Fakes are coming out of China. My wife dragged me on a trip to China, once. I bought some "Rolex" watches as gifts for friends. The hands fell off about a week after they put them on. Glad I only paid $10 a piece for them.

In '96 I spent a week with a friend who was teaching in Hong Kong. He took me to the popular spot for fake Rolex street peddlers. I didn't buy one, but he said the ex-patriot wives all bought them just to wear on dressy occasions when they got back home to the USA or the UK. He also took me to the snake market, where locals went to buy snake meat for eating, and various snake organs for supposed medical cures, or to improve virility. The sick thing was they kept the snakes alive in cages as long as they could, even after cutting out one or more organs.
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[mikegaiz]

The best scope in the whole world is the one that you like the best. Isn't America great. We can get what ever we want. Except for powder and primers, and bullets, and 22 LR. Hopefully that will all change now.

 

[Brians356]

The best scope in the whole world is the one that you like the best. Isn't America great. We can get what ever we want. Except for powder and primers, and bullets, and 22 LR. Hopefully that will all change now.

You left out 22 WMR which is far rarer than 22 LR now, and has been for a long time.
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[hoz53]

You left out 22 WMR which is far rarer than 22 LR now, and has been for a long time.
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My leupold VX III 8.5 x25 30 mm LR is like looking through a toilet paper tube compared to a NF Bench Rest to me. My eyes certainly aren't what they used to be. The new Leupolds especially the VX 6 are better I hear but I haven't looked through one yet.

 

[BULLET 05]

Sightrons are NICE

 

[mikegaiz]

Do you really expect a $1000 scope to be better than a $2300 scope, I have both Leupold and NF they are both good for what you pay,

 

[LHSmith]

In 1976 you could buy a new Leupold 3x9 for $90. Today you could sell that same scope in decent condition in a few hours on this site for $200. Not many non-premium optics hold their value as well as Leupold, for that matter how many non-premium scopes have survived 40 years of usage to the point that they are actually saleable?
Also, what's up with all these brands that offer "refurbished" optics? I prefer companies that build them right the first time or fix or replace them and scrap the rejects in an effort to save a reputation.

 

[bobinpa]

In 1976 you could buy a new Leupold 3x9 for $90. Today you could sell that same scope in decent condition in a few hours on this site for $200. Not many non-premium optics hold their value as well as Leupold, for that matter how many non-premium scopes have survived 40 years of usage to the point that they are actually saleable?
Also, what's up with all these brands that offer "refurbished" optics? I prefer companies that build them right the first time or fix or replace them and scrap the rejects in an effort to save a reputation.

+1

 

[SheepDog]

In 1976 you could buy a new Leupold 3x9 for $90. Today you could sell that same scope in decent condition in a few hours on this site for $200. Not many non-premium optics hold their value as well as Leupold, for that matter how many non-premium scopes have survived 40 years of usage to the point that they are actually saleable?
Also, what's up with all these brands that offer "refurbished" optics? I prefer companies that build them right the first time or fix or replace them and scrap the rejects in an effort to save a reputation.

Most of the lenses on scopes are made in Japan or Europe (germany?). The difference is the selection of lenses and the coatings they receive to provide light transmission and to stop color aberration. The cheap Simmons scopes use the same manufacturer of lenses that Nikon uses. The Nikon uses more lenses and different coatings while the Simmons scopes use fewer lenses and a less durable coating. Refurbished parts are no worse than new parts if they are the same components with the same coatings. The cost is just lower because of the initial price of the components. The value still depends on the number of pieces and the coatings applied.

 

[rifleman700]

Scope pricing is determined by two factors. One is mechanical quality - turrets and such and the biggest factor is glass specs and coatings. A VX3 will never be as good optically as a NF and it shouldn't be at a third of the price. My VX6 glass is equal to my Razor in optical quality but my MK6 and MK8 are as good as any scopes out there that I have looked through.

 

[hoz53]

Do you really expect a $1000 scope to be better than a $2300 scope, I have both Leupold and NF they are both good for what you pay,

An NF BR scope is not a 2300 dollar scope more like 1200 --not much different than you pay for a VariX 3 Leupold 8.5 x 25 these days. And no I don't expect something costing half as much to be just as good. The combination of high power and clearer view to my eyes for the money make an NF BR scope a better value to me. This is old news. I have Leupolds and still like the company. Mabie someday I'll be able to afford a VX6

 

[Erud]

An NF BR scope is not a 2300 dollar scope more like 1200 --not much different than you pay for a VariX 3 Leupold 8.5 x 25 these days. And no I don't expect something costing half as much to be just as good. The combination of high power and clearer view to my eyes for the money make an NF BR scope a better value to me. This is old news. I have Leupolds and still like the company. Mabie someday I'll be able to afford a VX6

Not to pick nits, but I recently bought a VX3i 8.5-25x50 for $719.99 deliverered. For the price and for my intended use, it is a tough scope to beat.

 

[USMCDOC]

In '96 I spent a week with a friend who was teaching in Hong Kong. He took me to the popular street peddlers. He also took me to the snake market, where locals went to buy snake meat for eating

MMMMMM Street peddlers and chicken.. what a combo!

 

[USMCDOC]

An NF BR scope is not a 2300 dollar scope more like 1200 --not much different than you pay for a VariX 3 Leupold 8.5 x 25 these days. And no I don't expect something costing half as much to be just as good. The combination of high power and clearer view to my eyes for the money make an NF BR scope a better value to me. This is old news. I have Leupolds and still like the company. Mabie someday I'll be able to afford a VX6

I am pretty sure that Mike was referring to new scopes and your referring to used.. huge difference there friend! I have a VX-6 and love it! For the most part, my feelings are, like guns and guitars - you get what you pay for.

 

[dkhunt14]

I am pretty sure that Mike was referring to new scopes and your referring to used.. huge difference there friend! I have a VX-6 and love it! For the most part, my feelings are, like guns and guitars - you get what you pay for.

The night force 12x42 BR sells for around 1300 new. The mark 4 LRT sells for that much or more last time I checked. I also don't think you are going to buy a new VX3 LRT 8.5x25 for much under a 1000. Matt

 

[USMCDOC]

The night force 12x42 BR sells for around 1300 new. The mark 4 LRT sells for that much or more last time I checked. I also don't think you are going to buy a new VX3 LRT 8.5x25 for much under a 1000. Matt

Unless you know someone that works for the company and can get you a better price!

 

[Erud]

The night force 12x42 BR sells for around 1300 new. The mark 4 LRT sells for that much or more last time I checked. I also don't think you are going to buy a new VX3 LRT 8.5x25 for much under a 1000. Matt

I don't think there is a VX3 LRT. I believe that the LRT designation is part of the MK4 Tactical line. As I mentioned above, I recently bought a brand new VX3i 8.5-25x50 from a reputable dealer for $719.99 shipped to my door. It came with a coupon for the free CDS elevation knob, and a nice pair of Smith Optics safety glasses with replaceable lenses.

 

[dkhunt14]

I don't think there is a VX3 LRT. I believe that the LRT designation is part of the MK4 Tactical line. As I mentioned above, I recently bought a brand new VX3i 8.5-25x50 from a reputable dealer for $719.99 shipped to my door. It came with a coupon for the free CDS elevation knob, and a nice pair of Smith Optics safety glasses with replaceable lenses.

The boxes have Long Range Target on them.They run about 1000.00. I have about 4 of them. MATT

 

[Erud]

I think that the VX3 Long Range Target model has been discontinued and re-badged as the VX3i. The scopes appear to be the same.