Leupold Vari-x II Issue

[Chris Shelton]

I bought a Remington 700 BDL in 25-06 with the high gloss black tip stock that came with a Vari-x II 3-9x40 on it. When I got it, the scope didn’t seem quite right. On 3x it would develop a black ring at the bottom that covers up a portion of the bottom post of the reticle. its almost looks similar to when you move around on the eyebox and it starts to black out, but it doesn’t go away. Once you turn the scope to 5x or above, it goes away. I bought the whole setup with scope for $400 (long story on getting it that cheap) so I wasn’t to concerned with the seemingly defective scope. In the process of moving my reloading room to the basement, I found the scope again and decided to call customer service to about repairing it. I called leupold and they said if it is an old model (it is an older gloss model with friction turrets) that due to the design of the scope it may be normal. Anyone experience this or know it to be true? He said feel free to send it in and they will evaluate it, but if it is normal I don’t want to waste the time or money to send it in. Just curious if anyone can confirm with a similar scope. Thanks!

 

[Mike Casselton]

First thing I would do is make sure you're somewhat close to optical center.
It's very possible the previous owner had one of the turrets near bottoming out.
By increasing the magnification you narrow your field of view and it could make this apparent issue disappear.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Mike might be correct. Center it up and give it a look see! Generally when a variable is cranked up to highest power is when you have a much tighter eyebox. Be sure to let us know what you find.

Frank

 

[jxb]

Quit wasting your time, send it in. Even if that's not an issue there's almost certainly something else wrong with it that they will find and fix while there. You'll get back a fully reconditioned scope. Keep in mind they can't help issues with finish or tube issue, everything else they can and do.

There's my $0.02

P.S. when you get it back look at the worksheet they provide and note the travel for both. Every one of mine they found issues when it arrived and I ended up with lots more travel when I got it back. If the tube is good it's just well worth it to get back a scope that's been fixed, cleaned, recharged, and QA checked so you can feel confident in it out in the field.

 

[Chris Shelton]

Thank you all for the input. Just because it doesn’t cost anything, I’ll try centering it up just to see if it does fix it. I will likely go ahead and send it off. For what I gave for the whole package, I chalk it up to I don’t really have any money in it.

JXB - it does have the old school gloss scope purple/bronze finish on part of it from sitting in a truck with the sun beating on it from the previous owners grandfather. I didn’t figure they would fix that, but a fella I know will cerakote it gloss black if I wanted. Any idea if that voids the warranty?

 

[jxb]

Thank you all for the input. Just because it doesn’t cost anything, I’ll try centering it up just to see if it does fix it. I will likely go ahead and send it off. For what I gave for the whole package, I chalk it up to I don’t really have any money in it.

JXB - it does have the old school gloss scope purple/bronze finish on part of it from sitting in a truck with the sun beating on it from the previous owners grandfather. I didn’t figure they would fix that, but a fella I know will cerakote it gloss black if I wanted. Any idea if that voids the warranty?

I didn't even know that was possible considering the baking process, seals, moving parts, glass, etc. Wouldn't seem like a good idea but what do I know. Might ask Leupold though.

Personally I'd leave it alone, gives it character. There's also if you send it in and it's not repairable, they will offer a new replacement and that will be matte.

I always use their web form via my account to generate the RMA, also so I can look back on repair history for anything I send in and have that info for tracking.

 

[Chris Shelton]

I didn't even know that was possible considering the baking process, seals, moving parts, glass, etc. Wouldn't seem like a good idea but what do I know. Might ask Leupold though.

Personally I'd leave it alone, gives it character. There's also if you send it in and it's not repairable, they will offer a new replacement and that will be matte.

I always use their web form via my account to generate the RMA, also so I can look back on repair history for anything I send in and have that info for tracking.

Well now that you talk about the heat part, it might not be a bake on cerakote coating…guess I didn’t ask that, just assumed since his main business is cerakote. I’d think anything else might be too thick. I’ll prolly just leave it how it is. I have no attachment to the scope so if they want to send me a newer replacement, I wouldn’t argue hah.

 

[jxb]

Yeah that was kinda my thinking. If it comes back fully reconditioned it's easily a $200+ scope. Your hole purchase was $400 so it's a win regardless.

I have one of those Vari-X II 3-9x40 that's been on my old 7mag Sako Finnbear since I picked it up. The rifle is glossy so might as well have a glossy scope. That thing killed a lot of deer and a few elk but mostly sits in the safe now, I keep it as a backup rifle so it does get yearly range days and a bit of lovin.