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Topic ClosedLeupold’s Corporate Direction

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The_Mountaineer View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Leupold’s Corporate Direction
    Posted: 23 December 2003 at 02:59

There have been some pretty big changes in Leupold's product line in the past few years.  We've seen the Vari X line become replaced with the VX line.  The addition of the Rifleman economy version as well as introduction of a "superior" LPS version scope.  Though I have seen absolutely nothing in writing to suggest this, I have to wonder what corporate direction Leupold is headed.  A long time shooting buddy and I were discussing this the other day and he thought that when companies start messing around like this, they're sometimes getting ready to pick up and relocate into cheaper production facilities outside the good old USA.  Again, there is no hard evidence to support this but one has to wonder.  What are your thoughts??

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 December 2003 at 06:32

I suspect that some of Leupold components are made of shore even now.

BEAR

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 December 2003 at 07:51

With the introduction of some more of the "econo" line scopes like the VX-I and the "Rifleman" series one would have to wonder that Leupold was concerned about that share of the optics market. With optics quality generally getting better & better my bet that share of the market was significant enough for them to want to go after a piece of. Who wouldn't put an "econo" ,yet good quality, Leupold scope on their rifle over some of the other brands if possible?

Like others, I suspect that some of the components of Leupold optics are made off-shore and imported. The scopes still say "Made in the USA" because that's where they are assembled.

Regards, Marcus.

 



Edited by North Logan
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 December 2003 at 13:57

i can't say for sure, but i think that while the things mentioned by the mountaineer will probably come to pass, i also believe that leupold is realizing that people shoot lots of animals and targets with scopes that cost a third or a quarter as much as theirs, and that they are trying to get into the "common" market with products which are low on quality (by leupold's standards; probably still a dang good scope) but high on name recognition.

has anyone done this research lately?

take your pick: tasco, simmons, bsa, etc, and take one of their top-of-the-line scope's for example, the simmons aetec (or however you spell it!) or the tasco wc+. now compare that to leupold's cheapest, bottom-of the-line scopes.

how do they compare on:

  • price
  • warranty
  • durability
  • optical quality

??????

my guess is that they will be awfully close, but i don't know.

TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 01:48

Ron,

I have done that.  IMHO the optics are very close.  The problems I've experienced with the cheaper scopes, especially TASCO is the mechanisms.  I've seen the adj. knobs just turn without moving the crosshairs.  I've seen crosshairs that move when you shoot.

With a little hunting use and a few years of age the scopes seem to lose their sharpness, I think again this is poor quality mechanisms that let the scope lens move very slightly.  I've also seen the cheap scopes fog.  Again poor mechanisms, specifically seals.

I've never had a problem with a Leupold, and I've got some that are 35 years old, lots of Varx-II in my cabinet.  The worse beating I've given a scope is a 1-4x Leupold varX-II.  It has about 2+ thousand of full power loads thru my 416 mag, it has hunted two long rugged African safaris, enough that the blueing is off the rifle barrel due to lorry wear.  And it has been on two bear hunts in the Artic including over 1200 miles on dog sled.  The scope is perfect.

My experience is that a Tasco would not have made it even on one of those trips.

Last year a friend bought a new Tasco, not the top of the line model, one shot and the lenses literally rattled inside the body.  Would Tasco replaced it, most likely yes.  I told him to toss it in the garabe can at the range.  He did and replaced it with a Leupold.  No further problems.

One reason the Tasco/Simmons sell so many is (I think) people keep buying more to replace the ones that fog/get fuzzy/don't hold zero after a few years.

I'm sure a high price Simmons would work fine for the 'average' hunter who never sights in after the first time.  That guy takes his '06 out for three days of light hunting.  And fires one round of ammo at a tree, 'cause he didn't see a deer.

For a serious hunter there is really only one scope.  If you own five rifles and have five Leupolds, you will never need to buy another scope.  Anything that guarantees it will work for your lifetime, and actually does so, IS A REAL BARGAIN.

BEAR

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 03:22

Leupold ain't stupid.  I'm sure they monitor the thinking of the common feller and when they hear folks saying they can hunt just as well with a $150 (fill in the blank) as a $500 Vari-X III, why wouldn't they listen.  Enter Leupolds lower end scopes.  Simple economics.

"For a serious hunter there is really only one scope. "

I agree with BEAR     ...     it's Burris !!!  No wait, Sightron SII's !!!  Crap, Bushnell 4200's.    Or  ....   Or  ...  Ahh hell.  Maybe I don't quite agree.  I love my Leupolds, but "serious" hunters succeed with lots of different optics.  >>  klallen

A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 04:05

 To each there own ,I own one Leupold and thats one to many for me,if it wasn't a gift it would already be gone. I'll stick with Burris or Baush and Lomb .

               My $.02

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 04:38

Tika, Interesting in that you omitted Bushnell????

Baush and Lomb IS Bushnell.  Actually B&L 'was' Bushnell.  The B&L trademark was licensed to Bushnell for the pat 10 years or more.  Same company, same lenses, same quality.  The license agreement has expired so the 3200 and 4200 Elite scopes will be sold as Bushnell.

BEAR

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 05:54

Hi Bear

  Yep I knew they were one and the same I guess I should have said the Bushnell  Elite scopes 4200 and such. Thanks for catchin' me.

God,Mother,Country,and Hot Rods. Done with political crap.LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 06:17

Merry Christmas Tika,

Actually, I mention it as I have felt for years that Bushnell middle priced scope were good quality and value.  I have WW-2 B&L binoculars (USA) and a pair of B&L (Bushnell made) 8x42.  It is not fair to compare things that old, but the japanese made B&Ls(Bushnell) are great.

I bought a 4200 B&L (this is a Japanese made Bushnell), at the urging of a sniper friend.  It is 4-16x and 56 mm objective.  It is exceedingly strong mechanically, but I don't like the fact that the eyerelief changes as the power changes.  So, you only get the eye relief perfect at one power setting.  Never had that problem with a Leupold.

I did liked the old B&L (USA) line of BAL scopes.  I have a 4x BALfor with the adjustments in the mounts, since 1962;  never fogged in even drastic clod/hot moisture conditions.

Before some one goes ballistic, I mention the Japn manufacturing as I think it is light years better than the scopes made in China or Korea, even if those are made by the same brand name.

BEAR

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 December 2003 at 10:50

Admittedly I am a huge B&L/Bushnell scope fan and by far these are what I have/use on most of my rifles. That said, recently I had the good fortune to acquire a couple of used matte and one gloss blue Leupold VariX-II's. The gloss blue one went back to the warranty depot for a complete refurbish on Leupold's nickel. I was very impressed with the work...Both matte scopes are like new...and the price was too good to pass up...down the road I'd like to get a nice VariX-III 3.5-10x40mm, too.

Regards, Marcus.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 December 2003 at 06:16

HEY Tikka !

     Witch model leupold is it you don't like? I have a 3X9 bushnell elite 3200 I would probably trade.    AS far as leupold moving over seas, no way. At least not with the name Leupold on the products, you probably know about the wind river binnoculars and spotting scopes, made overseas and marketed by leupold.  I belive that the lenses on the LPS line a made in Japan but I am not sure.  All the new impeovments were way overdue. The old vari X 2 was largly unchanged since the 1960s.  I am looking forward to the introduction of the new VX3 line, I got an E mail from Leupold discribing them.  Some of the new features are a turret adjustment on the parrelex adjustable models, more 30mm tube models a new reticle called the boone & crocket. And other stuff I am not techcnicle enough to understand.   BUy the way I like burris to I cant stand the off center adjusment turrets. Makes mountaing to tuff...tj3006

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 December 2003 at 06:44

Hey 06

   My two older sons got a gift for me a Redhawk .44 and had a Leupold scope put on it and Packmeyers.I'll most likly take that one with me when I go up to hunt with the big man up above.

God,Mother,Country,and Hot Rods. Done with political crap.LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 December 2003 at 08:52
hakko and lightworks make the glass for lupie etc as well as scopes for others. Lup. assembles the scopes here but the glass is from overseas.
J
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 December 2003 at 08:57

I really like Leupolds.  I have three (Vari X III 1.75-6, Vari X II 2-7, 3-9 Compact), and my father has four (two Vari X III 1.5-5, Vari X II 2-7, and 3-9 Compact - but I think my favorite scopes are made by Nikon.  I have two 3-9 variables and a fixed 4 power, all made before Nikon came out with the Monarch, Buckmaster, and Pro Staff lines.  My father also has a Nikon 3-9 Buckmaster.  With these scopes on hand, it's easy for us to compare them all. 

Just my opinion, but for the money, the Nikon Monarch UCC is tough to beat.  I feel that the Monarch UCC is just as good as a Vari X III, but at VX II prices.

Y'all shoot straight!!!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 January 2004 at 10:33
Am i the only one here with a Leupold VX-1? That must make me special . I think they are great scopes. I had a Simmons Pro-hunter on my rifle before and hated it. The Leupold has a much clearer and crisper image. I also like that it is made in the USA. They are awesome scopes for the money, or actually, awesome scopes in general. It is just barely not as nice as the VX-II. The eye relief is also really good, like with all new leupolds. All future rifles that i want to scope, will be scoped with Leupolds.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 January 2004 at 11:31
a guy at the range,,who knows what he is talking about,,said that the cheap end glass now is better than most of the high end glass from years ago and in my obsevation ,,that seems right,,,,,,the old Weaver 2 1/2 I loved for years is nowhere near as clear or the clicks as positive as a new middle of the  range Bushy or Simmons,,,all the cnc and automated equipment is the reason I guess.I am a Burris man,,U.S. made only,,but I got a m70,,.300 mag., with a old model Tasco world class plus that I understand are very good,,both 2nd hand,,,I knew the glass wouldn't stand up,,,but after 100's of rounds off the bench,,,it is my coyote rifle,,,the tasco still works fine,,,even after my 4 yr. old knocked over on the floor,,,only complaint is the eye relief is too critical for my likeing,,but it too will be replaced with a Burris or a european glass,,I am one of those that believes that a x$$  priced rifle is deserving of a scope of equal quality/price,,,accordingly

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 January 2004 at 05:46

Leupold has had their binocs made in Japan for a number of years, most of their glass is Japanese. Japanese glass is very good. Oftentimes better than German or Austrian glass. Their mounts were made elsewhere at some point, but they brought production back to the US.

They are also getting ready to reintroduce the Vari X III as the VX III. I really think they are trying to maintain production here in the US. One of their selling points for a number of years now is that they are made HERE!

Best we can all do, is support Leupold by purchasing their products. I have a list of websites which sell Leupold one heck of alot cheaper than most! So if anyone needs to know, let me know. E mail me personally or I can post for all to see.

Mark - Orion

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 January 2004 at 12:55
Speaking for myself, I shoot Leupold all but exclusively. I have a few of the old Weaver steel body hunting scopes and a couple of Lyman scopes, but when I have to look through optics for hours, like on the range or in competition, it's top end stuff. I came to that conclusion years ago when I shot a match and my eyeball felt like it was being pried out of my head with a rusty spoon. I am convinced that that cheap scope is what caused me to lose my near vision. I sold that scope to a guy that I didn't like too much, bought Leupolds for years and never looked back. My spotting scopes are the high end bushnell and a 20X Unertle. I am currently getting ready to buy a set of Kowa Big eyes. This is two of their big spotting scopes put together like binoculars. It will cost a bundle, but when I measure the worth, it's what I need. I can't convince anyone that any of the lesser scopes are just that, lesser. Most people don't study through a rifle scope like me, so cheap optics suit them. One thing that I won't compromise on is my vision. As I have said in the past, most scopes produced in this age are optically perfect, out of the box. What separates the scopes from the soda pop bottles is durability. Some scopes will take rough use and some won't. I never had a Leupold factory scope EVER fail me. I also never had a Leupold scope ever make my eyes hurt after a day long session of using it. I have been hurt with the cheap stuff though. A small note, the Weaver target scopes are again starting to find favor with a lot of target shooters. I have tried them too, and like them a lot, but not enough to sell off over ten thousand dollars worth of Leupold custom glass to buy all Weavers. It would be a lot cheaper, and I would probably be well served, but, I plan to stick with what I know, works for me. All I can say, they make Chevys, Fords, Lincolns, Cadillacs, and yugos. Someone is buying yugos or they would be out of business. Kind of like folks are buying Tascos and others don't tread there. Yugos, and Tascos are like a goldfish to a Veteraniarien. Take a sick goldfish to a Vet and he will ask, "Do you want me to flush him for you?" That's about how Tasco's warrenty is too. I may have tramped on a few toes, but truth s truth, I DON'T compromise with optics.......................Kingpin 
There are times when a normal man must, spit in his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2004 at 07:32

I bet Kingpin has a Savage rifle with a Tasco scope tucked into the back of a closet for when the SHTF...

Sorry... I couldn't resist...



Edited by North Logan
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