I think I just have bad luck with scopes! My buddy that bought that last MK-4 (an expensive FFP model) that my .338 Edge kept screwing up, guess what he's had it on for the past several years...a .338 Edge, almost just like mine. The past 3 elk hunts I've been on, I've had scope issues on each.
Leupold Tracking Question
- Thread starter Andrew Massi
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dfanonymous
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- Jul 16, 2016
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Mk4s sucked in the military. Either mechanical failure in the diopter or tracking sucked.
jpspeeddemon
Well-Known Member
I've been looking at this scope in stores and it definitely is very nice to look through. Good to hear the tracking is solid on yours.
I have sent too many scopes to count to Leupold, to fix the erector system. Sent 3 in the last year. One more getting ready to ship back Monday. Alan Ransom ( Head of Technical Services) was on speed dial several years ago. Even talked to the vice president of Leupold.
Alan did tell me the closest you can get to center of elevation and windage your scope will track better. I would have to sell my house to put Nightforce scopes on every gun I own.LOL
Would you guys help out with a Go Fund Me Account????
PLEASE!!!!!
Alan did tell me the closest you can get to center of elevation and windage your scope will track better. I would have to sell my house to put Nightforce scopes on every gun I own.LOL
Would you guys help out with a Go Fund Me Account????
PLEASE!!!!!
the hunter
Well-Known Member
The answer to non tracking leupolds, NIGHTFORCE!
dfanonymous
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- Jul 16, 2016
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Well actually it was replaced by the s&b pm2
I had a VX-3 4.5x14x40 fail and it had to be sent back to Leupold. The erector had issues and there were a couple other things they did to correct it. It shoots fine now but I don't trust it.
If I could find a scope with nice glass that dialed perfectly, didn't weigh as much as my rifle and was under 1000.00 I'd already have it.
If I could find a scope with nice glass that dialed perfectly, didn't weigh as much as my rifle and was under 1000.00 I'd already have it.
I lost faith with Leupolds for big game hunting. Permits are difficult to obtain. Life is too short to HOPE the scope holds up.
Over a 35 yr hunting span I had VX-II, VX-III, VX-2 and VX-3 leupolds quit holding zero or not able to adjust either windage or elevation to desired POI. That was before I became a turret twister. IIRC at least 8 or 10 went back for repairs. It was always the erector that failed.
Move to more recently when I began to use turrets. I hunted several days to find a decent shooter coues wt . Twisted the M1 turret on the 4.5-14 x 40 VX-3 for the shot. It worked just fine the week before on quite a few LR shots and returned to zero. When I needed it the shot was WAY OFF. Deer walked off. Used another rifle to harvest a smaller buck later that same hunt. Went to range to find out not only was it shooting high but couldn't get it back to original zero. Sent it in to hear an erector spring had broken.
The very next year a 4.5-14 x 50 VX3 LR quit tracking the week before a coues hunt! Called Leupold and was told sure send it in! It was suggested I twist the M1 turrets for elevation and windage 6-8 times lock to lock to "distribute the grease so erector would work again" I did that and it worked but that ended my faith in their scopes. I thought about it for a while and sold the scope. Not interested in owning a scope that requires lube distribution.
They may finally be making reliable scopes don't know and don't want to try anymore to see if it is true. I am through buying Leupolds period.
That was 6 yrs ago. To date I have sold off 13 Leupolds. Still have a LR VX-III 8.5-25 x 50 on my 6mm BR play rifle. Should it quit no big deal, I'll return it once.
I own a Swarovski Z6 that is nice for some uses. When it comes to turret twisting I would love to have a few nightforces. I ended up buying quite a few SWFA HD and SS classic scopes. The HD 5-20 x 50 Illuminated HD is awesome! Even their SS classics are reliable. Very happy with SWFA's repeatability RTZ and price.
Over a 35 yr hunting span I had VX-II, VX-III, VX-2 and VX-3 leupolds quit holding zero or not able to adjust either windage or elevation to desired POI. That was before I became a turret twister. IIRC at least 8 or 10 went back for repairs. It was always the erector that failed.
Move to more recently when I began to use turrets. I hunted several days to find a decent shooter coues wt . Twisted the M1 turret on the 4.5-14 x 40 VX-3 for the shot. It worked just fine the week before on quite a few LR shots and returned to zero. When I needed it the shot was WAY OFF. Deer walked off. Used another rifle to harvest a smaller buck later that same hunt. Went to range to find out not only was it shooting high but couldn't get it back to original zero. Sent it in to hear an erector spring had broken.
The very next year a 4.5-14 x 50 VX3 LR quit tracking the week before a coues hunt! Called Leupold and was told sure send it in! It was suggested I twist the M1 turrets for elevation and windage 6-8 times lock to lock to "distribute the grease so erector would work again" I did that and it worked but that ended my faith in their scopes. I thought about it for a while and sold the scope. Not interested in owning a scope that requires lube distribution.
They may finally be making reliable scopes don't know and don't want to try anymore to see if it is true. I am through buying Leupolds period.
That was 6 yrs ago. To date I have sold off 13 Leupolds. Still have a LR VX-III 8.5-25 x 50 on my 6mm BR play rifle. Should it quit no big deal, I'll return it once.
I own a Swarovski Z6 that is nice for some uses. When it comes to turret twisting I would love to have a few nightforces. I ended up buying quite a few SWFA HD and SS classic scopes. The HD 5-20 x 50 Illuminated HD is awesome! Even their SS classics are reliable. Very happy with SWFA's repeatability RTZ and price.
With the amount of products being manufactured everyone is going to have a lemon slip out the door unless they use a near pure artisan manufacturing method.
Yesterday I was at the Sportsman's Warehouse in Casper. I was with someone interested in buying a NF NXS. We looked at the full range from a low-end SHV to a $2600 ATACR. The SHV was the buy of the bunch due to the poor optics quality in comparison. One particular ATACR was fuzzy in the upper quarter of the optics. Very disappointing, but at least it's still sitting in the showcase and not on someone's rifle.
I personally have never had a problem with a Leupold, and when it comes to riflescopes it's the brand I go to first. Binos OTOH I shop around quite a bit. I do prefer and appreciate that Leupold makes an effort to produce major products in the U.S. compared to some other brands.
It really is to each his own, and I think a lot of people want to believe they have the best product available- if you've ever had a marketing class and/or formal marketing training then you know how incredibly subjective that is, and people are brand loyal for reasons they aren't completely aware of.
I would say shop and research the scopes that fit your purpose and then start to narrow it down. Most people are going to be satisfied with what they buy as the major brands on the market today are not in the business of producing garbage as some would have you believe.
Also consider you do not always get the full background of the environment and type of use a product has gone through before a review. You only ever really get the high points.
Yesterday I was at the Sportsman's Warehouse in Casper. I was with someone interested in buying a NF NXS. We looked at the full range from a low-end SHV to a $2600 ATACR. The SHV was the buy of the bunch due to the poor optics quality in comparison. One particular ATACR was fuzzy in the upper quarter of the optics. Very disappointing, but at least it's still sitting in the showcase and not on someone's rifle.
I personally have never had a problem with a Leupold, and when it comes to riflescopes it's the brand I go to first. Binos OTOH I shop around quite a bit. I do prefer and appreciate that Leupold makes an effort to produce major products in the U.S. compared to some other brands.
It really is to each his own, and I think a lot of people want to believe they have the best product available- if you've ever had a marketing class and/or formal marketing training then you know how incredibly subjective that is, and people are brand loyal for reasons they aren't completely aware of.
I would say shop and research the scopes that fit your purpose and then start to narrow it down. Most people are going to be satisfied with what they buy as the major brands on the market today are not in the business of producing garbage as some would have you believe.
Also consider you do not always get the full background of the environment and type of use a product has gone through before a review. You only ever really get the high points.
Aoudad shooter1975
Well-Known Member
I've been lucky too...I have a Mark 5 and two LRPs and they work great for dialing...not a big fan of the LRPs turret...and it is kind of mushy, but it tracks close enough for me and has been reliable.
I have used Leopold products for years...I have only had one VXII that gave me problems...and I've owned a lot of Leopold scopes
I have used Leopold products for years...I have only had one VXII that gave me problems...and I've owned a lot of Leopold scopes
I've used Leupolds for years and had good luck with their products. I have several older VX II and VX III scopes, a couple newer VX 3 scopes and now 4 of the VX-6 scopes. I never had issues with Leupold until I started using the CDS system and dialing regularly.
I have three of the 3-18x VX-6 scopes with the TMOA reticle. I love the glass, reticle, everything about them except the tracking. I have issues with consistent return to zero on my 25-06 and my 264 win mag. Both these rifles have been accurate out to 600yds with the scopes they previously had, a Vortex 4-16x44 and a Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44. I installed one of the Leupolds I've had issues with and my gunsmith installed the other, so I don't think it was an issue there. I have a Wheeler kit with to lap rings and mount and level scopes. I use the torq wrench to make sure the screws are the right tension.
Both these scopes hold their zero fine if I zero them, tap the turrets several times with an empty case, re-check the zero with a final shot, and leave them alone. It's only when I dial elevation that I have issues. I use these scopes for hunting and I don't want to wound an animal due to an issue. If I ever have to take a follow up shot at a different range I don't want to have to stop and thump my scope before shooting after adjusting the CDS. I'm sure Leupold will make it right when I send them in, I hope they have improved the CDS on the new HD series of scopes. I sure like the reticle and field of view. The other two VX-6 scopes I have I just put on rifles I don't dial and they have been great if I just don't use the CDS and treat them like they don't have it.
I have three of the 3-18x VX-6 scopes with the TMOA reticle. I love the glass, reticle, everything about them except the tracking. I have issues with consistent return to zero on my 25-06 and my 264 win mag. Both these rifles have been accurate out to 600yds with the scopes they previously had, a Vortex 4-16x44 and a Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44. I installed one of the Leupolds I've had issues with and my gunsmith installed the other, so I don't think it was an issue there. I have a Wheeler kit with to lap rings and mount and level scopes. I use the torq wrench to make sure the screws are the right tension.
Both these scopes hold their zero fine if I zero them, tap the turrets several times with an empty case, re-check the zero with a final shot, and leave them alone. It's only when I dial elevation that I have issues. I use these scopes for hunting and I don't want to wound an animal due to an issue. If I ever have to take a follow up shot at a different range I don't want to have to stop and thump my scope before shooting after adjusting the CDS. I'm sure Leupold will make it right when I send them in, I hope they have improved the CDS on the new HD series of scopes. I sure like the reticle and field of view. The other two VX-6 scopes I have I just put on rifles I don't dial and they have been great if I just don't use the CDS and treat them like they don't have it.
Phil Lee
Member
Ive never had any problems with my Leupolds tracking but all are target scopes.
