LEUPOLD SCOPES(REALLY WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?)

[Coasthunterjay]

OK .....i am willing to spend 300-400 dollars on a scope but know that i dont have to....but i am 90% positive that ill be buying a leupold scope. hopefully a 3x9x50mm or something around that...my father has the 3x9x50mm varix III with lighted reticle and it is just supreme to what is out there.....but also unaffordable

can someone please tell me what they have and what the real differance is between the scopes......
i am thinking of getting either the rifleman or vari x I or II but the dollar differance is alot and i want to justify spending the extra amount.....here are the differant scopes please tell me the differance..........

RIFLEMAN
VARIX I
VARIX II
AND THE..........
VARIX III

WHAT REALLY ARE THE DIFFERANCES?

[280ackley]

If you want to see what Leupold has to offer grab a Cabelas Shooting catalog.  You will have most of what Leupold makes on a couple of pages.  If you are will to spent the money you can get a VXII 3-9x50 (like your dads) with a Duplex reticle for $399.00.  Leupold makes the same scope in the VXI and rifleman but I would get the best one you can afford.  Here is there link http://www.Leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/

[actionshooter]

If you are going to buy one check out www.riflescopes.com or www.bearbasin.com they have the best prices on alot of different optics.
Steve

[jackelope]

i have a vari-x II 3x9 and when i look through it at a target, the crosshairs are clear and crisp. when i  look through a cheap scope, the crosshairs are fuzzy. i think this is called paralax? thats the big difference that i've noticed.

[Ray]

Parallax thread here

To help reduce parallax you'd probably want to get an AO scope.

With each upgrade in the scope you get more options and features. It's all available at the Leupold site and it is a changing thing from one year to the next sometimes. The options available for last year's Vx-II were similar to a previous Vx-III system.

In general I prefer Vx-II because it combines affordableness with a few features which I like.  Different reticle options, You can get AO, and 4-12 power by 50 which I prefer, not to mention that Leupold has a great reputation for Warranties. The one I have is a VX-II 4x12x50 AO. A real treat.

I also have a Vx-I for my big game rifle. It's just fine and I don't plan on changing it but if I had more money at the time I might have gotten a VX-II with AO.

[bobcat]

Leupold doesn't make the "vari x" scopes anymore. The new designation is VX-I, VX-II, etc.  I have a VariX-III in a 3.5-10x40 that I got in 1993...the new VX-II is basically the same, and a lot cheaper than the VariX-III used to be.

The difference is mainly in the coatings on the lenses. Also the VX-II has click adjustments for windage/elevation, whereas the VX-I has just a friction adjustment (no audible clicks.)

If this scope is for a big game rifle, then you might consider going with a 40mm objective, instead of the 50. The bigger objective won't gain you much (if any during legal shooting hours,) and is heavier, and the biggest disadvantage is you will have to mount it much higher, and most likely when you put your cheek down on your stock where it's comfortable, you'll be looking under the scope. It's best to have the scope mounted low enough so that when you bring up the rifle naturally you're looking through the scope without having to lift your head off the stock.

In my opinion the best deal is the Leupold VX-II in a 3-9x40. The price anywhere you look(even Cabelas) will be $299.99 and as I said, the VX-II scopes are equivalent to the old VariX-III's. Great scope for the money.
 

[jackelope]

bobcat...i was not familiar with the vari-x or vx designation. mine is definitely a vx-II...my mistake.
thats good info regarding the 50mm objective..my old hunting rifle had real high  see-through scope rings which were a pain in the ass...hard to get aligned with the scope.

[Red Dawg]

I think it is just mainly options and quality of the glass. But i think what you are paying for is the reputation. I don't think you will find a better one when it comes to scopes. They are the best when it comes to overall quality of glass and durability in the field. You may be able to find better for bench rest shooting but i think we are all buying for the use of these in the mountains. In the rain, snow, mud, dirt, riding in the truck, even dropping them. That is why i buy leupold.

[bobcat]

This is from the Leupold site and should answer the original question:

5. What are the major differences between scope lines?

With all of the recent changes, it can be difficult to know exactly how each product will perform. Every scope Leupold produces, including the Rifleman, is fully coated (all lenses, internal and external, are coated) and utilizes glass, coatings, and optical systems of equal or better quality than the discontinued Vari-X II’s of the past. Decreased cost associated with the Rifleman line is due to increased efficiency in our production process, not from reduced quality.

To make things easier, a brief summary of our current scope lines has been compiled including the most prominent features belonging to each.

It is important to note that every lens (internal and external) in every Leupold scope is coated, but the type of coatings will vary. “Fully multicoated” indicates that each lens in an optical system is coated with multiple layers of lens coating, such as Multicoat 4. “Fully coated” indicates that each lens is coated with a single lens coating; Leupold uses magnesium fluoride. “Standard multicoated” scopes have a combination of coated lenses and multicoated lenses.

VX-7

New for 2007, the VX-7 line takes full advantage of Leupold’s 100 years of experience. The VX-7 uses ¼-MOA SpeeDial adjustments which eliminate the possibility of losing adjustment covers. DiamondCoat 2 exterior lens coatings provide the highest level of scratch resistance ever offered. Xtended Twilight internal lens coatings work to optimize the wavelengths specific to twilight conditions, making the VX-7 the best low-light scope we’ve ever produced. The use of a 4-to-1 erector system provides a larger range of magnification, making this line the ultimate scope for serious hunters.
LPS

The LPS line uses ¼-MOA, low-profile, finger-adjustable adjustments; a fast-focus eyepiece; and our DiamondCoat lens coatings to provide incredible light transmission values with the addition of remarkable scratch resistance.
VX-L®

The VX-L was new for 2006, and uses ¼-MOA or 1/8-MOA adjustments depending upon model, has a fast-focus eyepiece, and utilizes an objective lens specially shaped to allow large objective scopes to be mounted in low rings. VX-L scopes use a combination of Index Matched and DiamondCoat lens coatings as well as edge-blackened lenses to produce extremely low glare and unprecedented light transmission values.
VX-III

The VX-III line was new for 2004, and uses ¼-MOA, low-profile, finger-adjustable adjustments and a fast-focus eyepiece. VX-III’s are fully multicoated and Index Matched to ensure that each lens has the best possible coating, producing total light transmission values higher than ever seen before.
Mark 4

Beginning in 2004, all tactical scopes are included in the Mark 4 category and will have the same features as past tactical models with the addition of a fast-focus eyepiece and Index Matched lenses; there are two exceptions which include the CQ/T and 3-9x40mm PR. The CQ/T has always utilized a combination of DiamondCoat (external) and Multicoat 4 (internal) lens coatings, and the 3-9x40mm PR is fully multicoated using Multicoat 4. 2003 tactical scopes typically had fully multicoated lenses utilizing Multicoat 4.
Vari-X III

The Vari-X III line (discontinued for 2004 with introduction of VX-III) has seen little change and is still optically the same as those produced in the 90s. Vari-X III’s utilize ¼-MOA click adjustments and are fully multicoated with Multicoat 4.
VX-II

The VX-II line (2003 and older) uses a combination of Vari-X III and Vari-X II (discontinued) technology. VX-II’s also utilize ¼-MOA click adjustments, but the lens coatings are unique. The external lenses are coated with Multicoat 4 and the internal lenses are coated with magnesium fluoride.
Beginning in 2004, the VX-II line is fully multicoated and will perform comparably to the discontinued Vari-X III line.
VX-I

The VX-I also utilizes a combination of Vari-X III and Vari-X II technology, utilizing ¼-MOA friction (non-clicking) adjustments. The external lenses are multicoated and the internal lenses use magnesium fluoride.
Rifleman

Though the Rifleman line of scopes uses a different maintube (for aesthetic reasons), it is optically the same as the Vari-X II (discontinued for 2001). The adjustments are exactly the same as the Vari-X II (½-MOA friction) as are the lenses and coatings. All lenses, internal and external, are coated with magnesium fluoride. Basically, the Rifleman is a newer-looking matte finish version of the Vari-X II that helped build the Leupold reputation. It is important to note that Custom Shop options (reticle changes, target adjustment installation, etc.) are not available for the Rifleman line of scopes.
Beginning in 2005, there were changes to the fixed magnification scope lines, updating them to follow the current convention used by the VX series of scopes; all fixed magnification scopes now have an “FX” designation followed by a number indicating the combination of technologies used in that product. For example, an FX-II will have the same lens coatings and adjustments as a VX-II, an FX-III will have the same lens coatings and adjustments as the VX-III line, etc.

There was also a shift from using the term “compact" to the term “ultralight,” meaning that the FX-II 2.5x20mm Ultralight which was introduced in 2005 will be a fixed magnification scope with ¼-MOA click adjustments, fully multicoated lenses, and will have the compact eyepiece.

[Ray]

I have the vx-1 40mm and vx-11 50mm. I disagree that the minute amount of difference in the height of the mounting would matter much when shooting.

When I put these two scopes side by side and look down range or wherever there is a significant difference in quality and usability... not just glass coating. Even people shooting guns for their first time notice the quality differences and have mentioned it. If you don't care about AO , a wider choice of reticles then go for the vx-1 for sure. But the ghist of the issue is that you get more choices and options to choose from when you move up the lines of scopes.

That said buy what you think is best for you.

[bobcat]

Well, it's personal preference, but most people prefer to have their scope mounted as low as possible, and with a 50mm objective, mounting it low is not an option. It does depend on the rifle's stock too. With a higher stock it may be possible to mount the 50mm objective scope more than low enough, but most factory rifles seem to have their stocks designed to be used with nothing bigger than a 40mm objective.

I would not recommend a VX-I. The VX-II is only $80 more, and the difference in lens coatings does make a big difference. In that info from the Leupold site, you might notice it says the VX-II has "fully" multicoated lenses. The VX-I does have "multicoated" lenses, but not FULLY multicoated. That is the difference. I know it's just one little word, and it doesn't sound like it's a big deal, but it is. The VX-III has even better lens coatings and that's why it is priced higher. With normal lighting conditions it may be difficult to tell the difference between the VX-I and the VX-II. When you will notice a difference is in real low light situations, especially if you're looking in the direction of the sun. With the lower quality scope it's likely you'll be getting a lot of glare and won't be able to see much of anything through it. With the better scope and more expensive lens coatings you'll see just fine.

[Ray]

I think the choice depends on what the rifle is going to be used for and what rifle it is. That includes what reticles you get and if you want AO. I never used scopes until about 2 years ago so they're all space age cheats to me. 

[bobcat]

You're right...we need to know what rifle it's going on and what game he's hunting with it. I'm assuming it's for a deer/elk rifle, and for that, you wouldn't want an ajustable objective.

Found a thread on MM that might be interesting to follow:

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID22/1463.html

[Bofire]

 :)Leupolds are all I use, I have old VXvariables, VXII and VXIII. some are 40 years old some 5 years old.

I like the VXII real well, I like the VXIII more better! My all time fav is the VXIII in 3.5 X10. No AO, no gadgets, no goofy reticles, no nuthin! I had and have a 4.5X14 VXIII, love it BUT, I would like a 3.5X10 more gooder. and Wait???
I'll trade that VXIII 4.5X14X40, for a 3.5X10X40 VXIII.?
The big deal about Leupold for me: they work good, I can see good, GREAT WARRANTY, send it to Tigard Oregon, 120 miles away!!
GREAT WARRANTY AND THEY STAND BEHIND IT
Carl

[NORRISKI2]

I do not need to add anymore to the abundance of information provided by others, but I will say this.  I have a VXII 3x9x50 on one of my rifles and a Vari-X 1 3x9x40 on another which are both nice scopes and I have owned several other Leupold scopes over the past 10 years.   I had a disappointing experience with a VX-III 4.5" x 14" x 40AO a few years ago that made me stray a little from my Leupold brand loyalty.  The scope was a POS, it would not hold a zero for nothing but thankfully I live fairly close to Leupold and to their credit they finally fixed it (loose reticle) or so they say.  I was convinced I was the worst shot on planet earth until I finally put it back on my rifle when it was fixed.  With that said, I decided to try a different brand a couple of years ago (Burris 3x12x44 signature series with posi-lock).   I absolutely love the scope.  The optical performance compared to my VXII 3x9x50 Leupold is easily noticeable IMO.  Better low light quality and much cleaner / clearer sight picture.  I would think a person would have to get into the VXIII category before you would even come close to comparable quality. IMHO Burris is a better choice for the $$$.  Sorry Leupold,  I'm still a fan just not as big of one as I used to be:chuckle: