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Is Leupold really that bad now?

goldeneagle76goldeneagle76 Member Posts: 4,359
edited February 2010 in Ask the Experts
Between here and snipershide.com, there is nothing but Leupold bashing. Have they really gone down hill that much? I was all gung-ho about getting one of their new Leupold Mark 4 ER/T FFP mil/mil M5 turret scopes...but now I am having second thoughts. I know their warranty is second to none in the scope industry. But I don't want to shell out $1600 for a crap scope.
I understand NightForce is getting hyped everywhere but a FFP mil/mil scope from them is another $600+. I just can't imagine Leupold being that bad...or is it just that they have not always been keeping up with the times so people got a bad taste in their mouth for them? Just wondering before I shell out the dough.
Also had been looking at IOR Valdada but have heard of warranty and eye relief issues with them. The new Vortex Viper PST's look nice but are unproven. Looking for 1st hand Leupold users opinions out there if there are any of you left!!!
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Comments

  • laylandadlaylandad Member Posts: 961 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've never had any problems with the Leupold's that I own!!
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  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have not seen (or read) anything negative about Leupold on this forum? Please show me a topic post in the past 6-months on this forum where someone was intentionally "bashing" Leupold.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You really need to talk with Alex, over at www.Eurooptics.com. He sells on the auction side too, and if you are talking a mil/mil for $2200.00, you are about 400 high for the NF. Talk to him, he will not steer you wrong. I just got a NF NXS 5.5-22x56 from there with the NF base and rings for 2200.00

    Best
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  • 5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I haven't seen Leupold bashing on this forum...I love all my Leupold scopes. Great warranty service too!
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  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lots of nice scopes out there...
    Read a good review on Nikon lately
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  • the yooperthe yooper Member Posts: 275 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got Leupold scopes on 7 rifles and they are IMO the Gold Standard in their price area. I've never used Swarovski or Zeiss scopes, and at their price I'm not likely to, but I sure can't see where they could possibly be thatmuch better than Leupold to warrant the big price difference. And, as has been pointed out, Leupold has great warranty service if it's needed.
    yooper
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  • IdahoRedneckIdahoRedneck Member Posts: 2,699
    edited November -1
    I love my Leupolds never had any problems, +1 again for Leupold[:)]
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  • refreyrefrey Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are Chinese "lookalikes" purchased at bargain prices being sent to Leupold for warranty service. Article in "Shotgun News" recently.
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  • SP45SP45 Member Posts: 1,761 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From what I have been hearing the high end scopes still have the quality but the lower end ones are terrible.
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    goldeneagle76,

    I wanted to respond to your post this morning but work got in the way...

    I used to be a big supporter of Leupold scopes but that changed several years ago when it became apparent that they were resting on their laurels and not attempting any real innovation or improvements anymore. Their prices climbed and their quality slipped along with their customer service, at least for me.

    I know, I know. There are thousands of happy, content Leupold users out there and that's fine but they don't use scopes the way I do in competition and professionally. Leupold just doesn't make the cut anymore. They are trapped in mediocrity. The glass is not as good as it once was and the other folks are just making better glass. In the area of competitions, Leupold is second rate at best. They have definitely lost their edge and a sizable chunk of their market through bad management decisions and lackadaisical attitude. My guess is that they will dominate the middle level of quality and service because they don't have the desire or want to put the effort (or money) into the innovation and technology to regain the top spot. They are so far behind now that it will take years of work or a miraculous design to boost their reputation.

    I sold every one of my Leupolds and I've been using a selection of Nightforce, U.S. Optics and I have a March on order. I still use some of the Euro scopes as well but not in competition. I won't own a Leupold again because they don't compare at all anymore.

    Best.
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