Scope for .204!

[MZ5]

It is well understood and long acknowledged by Leupold that they source parts, including glass, from multiple sources. Where glass is made is very nearly meaningless. HOW it is made, meaning how well, is important. Most glass manufacturers make a range of glass, regardless where they're located.

[Rick in Oregon]

JD......MZ5 is correct, in that Leupolds are all made in the USA, but the glass is imported from various sources as all optics manufacturers do. But virtually ALL parts other than the glass is sourced from the US and made right here in Oregon. (One exception may be the Rare Earth magnets they use for their flip caps....not available in the US.)

I've been to the factory many times, have friends there, and I can assure you that they are indeed MADE IN THE USA. I can also assure you that they're scopes are not "thrown together" either. One look at their CNC machine shop would convince anyone that the entire scope is MADE here, not anywhere else.

Visit the factory yourself if you have any doubt whatsoever........

[Bill K]

You will never go wrong with a Leupold scope, made in USA and they really back their warranty. Have some friends that are using their ( they bought out Redfield) Redfield line of scopes also, and are well satisfied with them also. Bill K

[Coyotecontrole]

Ive had a 6.5-24x50 vortex pst and liked it. Might actually try a nikon prostaf 5

[BobTR]

I use atn x-sight II hd 5-20x (https://www.atncorp.com/smart-hd-weapon-sight). This scope is very reliable and has good features. Good luck!

[Rick in Oregon]

BobTR: This is a two year old post from a user in the UK. I'm betting he's got his optics figured out by now, but thanks for your input.

[truckerwalt]

i am sure that BobTR knew that the letter was written two years ago but other readers appreciate all helpful comments whether the original was old or new. i for one found the old information helpful. i have several vortek scopes and nikon scopes and love the nikons as they have better clarity--i have thought about sending the vortek's back and have them checked my 5 year old nikon 4x12x40 is superior to my vortek 4x16x50.

[Bill K]

The screwball, that needs Viagra too be a man, is back... Mod's he needs nuked. Maybe the radiation will help him with his manhood.. Bill K

[204Luver]

I have NFs and would not say they have any "low light problem." I like the MOAR-T reticle because it is best for targets and daylight LR varmintting. Haven't lamped in several decades so I don't know, but I would think all I'd have to do is pop the illumination on, if I couldn't see the reticle in the dark.

Leupolds have CRAP glass unless you get the HD models, but they still have junk controls IMO.

This is my 204 with a 5-25 ATACR SFP in MOAR-T. The only other scope I'd seriously consider would be the Kahles, but they cost more and aren't as stout, and I don't like their reticle as much.

[bloc]

My general recommendation is to get the best glass you can: For me, my glass is forever. If I sell one of the rifles I've fitted with high-end scopes, I'll keep the glass.

My passion is shooting ground squirrels and I have 3 Nightforce NXS (5.5-22) scopes and one SHV (5-20) scope on my squirrel rifles (my 204 wears the SHV), my .243, .225 and one of my .223's wear the NXSs).

I love my Nightforce scopes with a purple passion. Clear throughout the magnification range, great contrast and color and no spherical or chromatic aberration. And the NXSs have an illuminated reticle. Best of all, they all track perfectly (which to me is a big deal).

The down side of NF (especially the NXS) is cost.

If you plan on using your rifle for something like what I use mine for, then do consider the NF.

[204Luver]

The down side of NF (especially the NXS) is cost.

That and the spoilage!

[Rick in Oregon]

I've got 34 scoped rifles, hunting, varmint, plinking, and "special purpose". All are scoped. All are scoped with Leupold's, as I've never in 55 years of shooting ever had a problem with the scope or the company. In fact, their Customer Service could be a model for others to emulate. In my almost six decades of squirrel shooting, Leupold's have never let me down, be it shooting PD's in MT, WY or SD, or ground squirrels and rock chucks here in Orygun and N. CA.

Now I realize NF is of very high quality, as both NF and Leupold supply optics to our military. BUT, and it's a huge BUT......the cost of 34 NF's could finance a business, be equity for buying a house, purchase a Porsche maybe? Leupold's are spendy enough, but the money I "saved" by purchasing Leupold's enabled me to buy more brass, bullets, primers, powder and fuel for my truck to haul my arse out to the rat patch over all these years.

Let's face it, we'd all be driving cars or trucks of our choice no matter the cost, we'd all have Schmidt & Bender, Nightforce or Swaro's on our rifles, but most of us are just working guys that buy what we can afford. I'd really not say that Leupold glass is crap, nor are their controls junk, but excellent scopes with decent optics for the money. You want crap glass, junk controls? There are brands that I could name but won't, as some here probably use them and are quite pleased to do so, as that's all they can afford.

(Crap glass, junk controls? You may want to run that by Army Sgt Jim Gilliland, who in 2006 made a shot with his M-24 7.62 at 1,312 yards in Iraq for a one-shot kill on an enemy insurgent, using an issued Leupold tactical scope.)

So "good for you" if you can afford Nightforce glass on all your rifles. I wish we all could, but in the meantime, welcome to the forum 204Luvr, as you seem to not be short on opinions, and forums are for that expressed purpose.

[204Luver]

Get off your high horse, Rick. Those "tactical Leupolds" cost as much or more than a comparably powered Nightforce ATACR.

Opinionated? You bet I am, because I can see. For example, a Leupold VX6 3-12x44 costs more than a Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-12.5x44, but has very noticeably inferior glass, if you side-by-side compare them. The guy who buys the VX6 is very happy and thinks his scope is razor-sharp -- so long as he never compares it to the less expensive Trijicon.

Leupold goes for the hunting crowd, so their scopes are typically light in weight. Great, but it is impossible to make a lightweight scope that is anywhere near as durable and reliable as a heavy, well-made scope like NF, or Vortex Razor.

Maybe indestructibility is not important to the Leupold buyer, cuz the factory is always there to fix it. But when I pack a rifle or two for a flight, I like knowing that no matter how badly the ramp rats toss my gun-case around, when I take it out my NF is still going to work fine.

Of course not everyone can afford expensive scopes. My beef with Leupold is that no matter what price point you want to talk about, from a VX2 to their most expensive, I can show you a less expensive, comparable scope that is sharper, brighter, has a better reticle and will hold up better. My OPINION is that Leupy's are over-priced, overly delicate optics whose only redeeming virtue is that they are made in the U.S., except for all the lenses, of course.

Which aren't CRAP, I guess, but which are inferior for the money. In my never-humble opinion.

[VANAMAL]

I put a leupold 6.5 x20 -40 on my new cooper.Varmint reticle. Very nice. Im looking for a scope for my 6.5 creedmor

[Bill K]

Find another Leupold or check out some of the newest Vortex models, They are very nice. And with either a LE or military discount, that they offer, good buys. Bill K