leupold spotting scopes

[Red Dawg]

just wondering if anyone owns some gold rings. thinking about making them my nest purchase. they seem like they are preatty good buy. i also loike the nikon too but i would rather have leupold.

[high country]

I have the fixed 30x 60 and had the 12-45. both are good rigs. I sold my 12-45 to get a bigger scope and settled on the pentax pf-80ed but the weigt is too much for backpacking so I added a fixed 30 to my fleet. the pentax trumps them both in clarity and brightness, but the weight and warranty are big time selling points for leupold.

nikon has a solid produst in their med spotters, if you choose them you will end up with a good rig for the money.....just like if you go leuy.

luey has the size, weight and warranty and service, I think nikon gets a slight nod for performance.

[Red Dawg]

thaks for the advice i will take that all into consideration. i have gold ring on my rifles and i would not replace them for anything. so i figure that the spotting scopes would not be any different. i guess its all in what you see out of your own eyes anyway. i guess what ever fits better i will buy.

[Bookworm]

I bought mine off E-bay. You can usually find some of the spotting scopes on there. Just make sure you know what the new price is before buying a used one. I got mine for 500.00 bucks with a couple of extras.

[NORRISKI]

I have had leupold 15x30x50, and wind river 15x45x60,both ok. There gone and now have nikon 16x48x60 spotter, much better scope good pack scope also they discontinued the black model i got that for $379.00 that was a good buy they sell the camo for $499.00 maybe there are still some black ones left for cheap.

[Elknut1]

  2 days ago we were doing a Spotting scope test on various brands, one was the Leupold 15x45x50 it was a nice Scope & would work just fine. We compared them to the Nomad Vortex Spotting Scope in 20x60x60, the Nomad was noticeably clearer at every distance & definitely brighter for those early/late viewing times because of the 60MM lens, it lets in more light! The thing is the Scope is 13" long & weighs 34oz. It's very easy to pack & cost 329.00 it has a built in tripod adapter & a Scope cover that can be left on when in use for those rainy days, the ends unzip for use & focusing. I used this scope last year on our Deer hunts scanning country 2 miles out with ease, we also used it at 300-400 yds with no issues. These Spotting Scopes have a transferable lifetime warranty no matter what!

  I mention this Scope & info because it looks like you guys are looking for a packable optic with good quality at under 500.00--Thanks!

  ElkNut/Paul

[ICEMAN]

  Ok, I get it, you sell Vortex, and it is better than anyone else's stuff.

Running a test on gear, when you are the salesman for one of the items is rediculous. Give me a break. You seem like a great guy, with tons and tons of experience, generous, you got it all. But, you lose credibility with statements like "I mention this Scope & info because it looks like you guys are looking for a packable optic with good quality at under 500.00--Thanks!" You failed to mention how much you make on the sale.

Let someone else test your gear and report on it, or provide a link to  a testing group with no ties to either product line.  It may very well be better, I don't know. What I do know, is not to trust what someone says when they have a vested interest in one of the products. Other folks here who sell gear simply post what they have for sale, and let others decide. They speak to the quality of their gear, but seldom compare.

Sorry for my rant.

[MountainWalk]

iceman, i am in total agreement.. yeah, ok... we all know u sell vortex.. we know where to find you. cool.. if i want them. i'll call you. how about letting me test them in montana this hunting season? i'll even let clients look thru them.

[Elknut1]

  I can understand where you guys are coming from, doesn't mean I have to agree though! (grin) I had no intentions of offending anyone, I was pointing out real life tests that we happened to do the other day & here's a subject where the testing could help some out, period! I'm not a liar & I don't tend to exaggerate things in my favor, I may be enthused about a product yes, but that's only because of the findings everytime I do a test with equally priced items. If the Vortex failed with a comparable unit I'd say that in a heartbeat & not recommend it all to try & save someone the money & trial & error. In this case these were the findings with the Leupold Spotting Scopes, you can accept it as truth & save your self the money of experimenting with various units yourself or you can go ahead be the guinea pig & report all your personal findings as I did.
  If I'm the one forking out the 300-600 bucks for Optics I sure like knowing I spent my money on the best in that price range. If someone has some info out there to help me out when I was ready to buy I'd sure as heck like to hear it.

  Iceman, Mountain Walker 338, let's hear about some personal tests of yours that may benefit any who may read threads like these & are looking to purchase some sort of Optics in the near future! Fact is there aren't many guys out there that have the luxury of getting 6 different Optics together & then testing their abilities separately in various price ranges. I also tested the Vortex Razors , Swarovski EL, Leicas, Leupolds that same day all in 10x42 their price range varied from 2400.00--770.00 interesting to say the least in what order which were best & why?

  Bottom line is if I had saved just enough money to purchase a particular Optic I want it going for the best equipment available for the price, I was sharing such info.

  But your point is well taken & I'll do my best to pull the reigns in a bit & not be pain in the rear! Thanks!

  ElkNut1/Paul

[MountainWalk]

personally.. i freeze my optics tehn dunk them in lukewarm water,, check for bubbles"leaks" and for fogging......i know my burris has passed this test,, and the horse test too...you never offended me... but it was getting a little crazy

[Coasthunterjay]

what about the leupold mesa spotting scope? cheeper.

[Red Dawg]

elknut thanks for the info. i have looked though vortex optics before and was not all that impressed but maybe i was looking through there bottom line optics i dont know but i would be willing to take your word for it. you seem like an honest individual trying to supply your fellow hunters with a quality product. i will never fault anyone for trying to industrious. that is the american way after all. so anyway if you could give me a little more info on them i might be interested. I am looking for something to put in my pack and what you described sounded perfect.

[Elknut1]

 Hmm, never heard of a Leupold Mesa before? How old is it & what power is it?

  Red Dawg, The one I had mentioned is called the Nomad, it's a 20x60x60 & it's a hair over 2lbs at 13 1/4" long. We packed that thing along with a tripod all over tarnation last year with no wt. problems at all. We were wearing a Badlands Superday pack (no we don't sell them) & it fit easily into the main compartment. It sells for 329.00 in straight angle. We were looking 2 miles out with no issues at all. Theres another that I have coming in Monday that's called the Impact 70MM, it's only 10 1/2" long & 2 1/4 lb I've never looked through it yet but will as soon as it comes in. It sells for 199.99 This one because of it's size really interest me, I'm all about wt. on some pack in hunts!
  If you do a lot of driving around & like spotting from your rig you need a window mount & you'll never have to get out.  http://www.audubonbinoculars.com/spotting_scopes    Check out the link.

  ElkNut1

[Coasthunterjay]

my bad i ment the sequoia, i think it is a wind river. regardless it is a green ring spotting scope.

i only ask because i dont have coin to drop like all you big money making players.

[Elknut1]

 coasthunterjay, ahh hah!  Now that one I've heard of!! (grin)

  Not exactly sure on what the prices are for that particular one, but I'd estimate in the 180.00-250.00 range??

  The Impact 70MM MODEL is the one we carry that would compete with it's pricing!  It's a 25x75x70MM Scope that is 10" long, awesome for packing or from the vehicle or road! It comes with a a nice sturdy carrying case & table top  tripod. It goes for 199.99  I have not looked through this one as of yet but will tomorrow as we have a new shipment of them coming in. I'm personally interested in this one myself! I'm always looking for ways to shave wt. & size in my pack! Thanks!

  Paul