Leupold VX3 scope quality

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Rickib

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What is the general consensus on current production Leupold VX3 scopes? Are they still a reasonably decent quality scope? Is the quality today as good as the Leupold scopes of 20 years ago?
 
I had a VX3i and it was pretty bad.

I upgraded that to a VX5-HD which was very good.
I have since looked through a few VX3-HD’s and they appear as good as the 5’s.
I would steer clear of tue 3i though.
 
I personally think theyre living on the past and way over priced and hyped for what they are. Much better out there for less!! My opinion is soured based on bad experience with them. However the warranty for me was first class but slow. I own ZERO Luppies other than a VX7 which has been faultless with great glass but not anywhere close to my Kahles or Zeiss scopes.
 
struff55 said:
bad being ?
interesting evaluation
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Bad being poor light transmission and a reticle i never liked.

No good for hunting the PNW.

The VX5 and the VX3’s i have looked theough were a completely different class of scope.

The 5 was among the brightest scopes i have ever seen and i have a buddy who swears by the VX3hd in 2-10 i think it is.

I sold my VX5 and i cant see going back to leupy myself. Not with so many other options available these days.

Edit: I should add that the Alumina scope caps, although pricey, are second to none. I cant figure out why no one else makes something similar.
 
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Rickib said:
What is the general consensus on current production Leupold VX3 scopes? Are they still a reasonably decent quality scope? Is the quality today as good as the Leupold scopes of 20 years ago?
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Leupold VX3 scopes are of great quality that come with a lifetime, no hassle warranty.

I sold plenty of them as a former dealer, never a warranty issue.

I'm a bit of a Leupold snob, but I can't really afford them now.......:) :ROFLMAO: :unsure:;)

I can honestly highly recommend Leupold products.:D
 
Beeron said:
I had a VX3i and it was pretty bad.

I upgraded that to a VX5-HD which was very good.
I have since looked through a few VX3-HD’s and they appear as good as the 5’s.
I would steer clear of tue 3i though.
Click to expand...
I own two Leupold VX3i scopes, no issues, crystal clear glass, both hold point of zero.

Not everyone will have the same experience, as Beeron has stated.;)
 
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I’ve had dozens of leupolds from the old vari x up to vx6 illuminated. I try other brands on occasion and always revert back. The sweet spot for me is the vx3 3.5-10 B&C. Good looking, decent price and glass, easy to use features.
I use European alpha glass to find and judge game, scope is the aiming device and I’ve never lost an opportunity by using a Leupold.
 
Have had a newer VX 3 6.5-20 (among many older Leupolds) and it was great, never a problem, very clear for me, and always stayed in zero. Which is not something I can say for some other scope manufacturers I've had...
 
I don’t think their quality is slipping, I think their value is.
I’ve got a VX-III and it is still excellent, as is my VX3.
I had a VX3i and pushed it forward, I wasn’t big on the B&C reticle but bro was and it’s still working perfectly for him.
I also got a VX5 with the fire dot, it’s absolutely amazing and not issues with it.
Then I purchased a few new VX3HD’s with the CDS-ZL caps, one out of the box had a dint in the elevation cap and a questionable looking seal under it. Sent it for warranty and could not have received better service. Both have been perfect ever since.
So in my opinion what I’m getting is top notch.
But my ability to easily justify purchasing them is getting strained due to many causes not all their own.
When I look at what I paid for some of the older ones in comparison to the newer ones they really haven’t gone up all that much.
But my disposable income has been eroded by so many other things it feels like they have.
All that said I still haven’t found another brand I’d trust more to replace them when my only criteria for change is perceived value.
However YMMV,
 
I like my leupold scopes and have used many of them for over 40 years. In the past 5 years: I have returned 6 scopes for warranty work including one that was 20 years old and had worked perfectly until it started to cloud up. The others, 3 of which were vx3i- all developed tracking issues within the first 1- 3 years of service. After the warranty correction, all is well. Point to make though, is that my experience either marks some bad luck; or perhaps a quality control problem on leupolds' end. Heresay comment: but a leupold competitors' field rep once told me that there had been a run on some defective components, specifically the erector assemblies.
 
I have owned and used Leupold scopes for a long time, still have a few. Always found the glass to be good, still is, but they have become "set & forget" scopes today. They generally do not track all that great anymore, but I find that if I zero it and do not touch anything it will maintain zero, so I only have BDC reticles in my Leupolds now.
 
I have quite a few Leupold VX- 3 scopes right up to VX-3 HD. For me they're a great scope: light, bright and cut the evening sun glare as good as my older Swarovski scopes did with half the weight. If you stick to 3.5-10x40 you won't be disappointed but go beyond that you'll need to step up to VX-5 or VX-6 that weigh 6 to 10 oz more. I have a VX-7 that is superior but 6 oz heavier that's mounted on a FW.
 
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