Scope toast?

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TayC

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I need y’all’s opinion on this….

Sighted in new ammo today. Decent groupings at 100yds.

Range, dialed and plinked some further distance shots past 300. No issues.

Shot a 3 round group at 200yd and 280yds. Checked those targets and not even on paper.

Rifle/optic combo is a Sako 85 finnlight 30-06. Scope is a Leupy VX freedom I had laying around.
literally only have this mounted until I can slap a Zeiss V4 on it in the new year.

Shooting Nosler trophy grade accubond 165grn.

All shooting was done off bench and prone, with bi pod and off a bag.

I have a feeling something internal all of sudden failed on the scope

But what do you guys think?

I will be verifying at the range on Tuesday and possibly mounting another scope to confirm.
 

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Probably. I just had an old Weaver do the same on me. 1.5” high at a hundred last range outing in September, missed my bull elk by a touch left at 250m. Re verified and it’s 8 min left at 100m. That scope is done, not worth missing another elk.
 
flying pig said:
Probably. I just had an old Weaver do the same on me. 1.5” high at a hundred last range outing in September, missed my bull elk by a touch left at 250m. Re verified and it’s 8 min left at 100m. That scope is done, not worth missing another elk.
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Agh that’s rough man!

In hindsight, I’m glad this is happening now and not on my November buck hunt.
 
Even though the Leupold website claims these scopes will stand up to recoil similar to or greater than that produced by 30-06 cartridges, I've had wandering zero issues with the three I've had the opportunity to use when mounted on CF chamberings over 243 Win.

Others I've spoken with about them say they don't have any problems with them.

This is a copy/paste from a website that did an independent evaluation of them

"If you like chasing zero every time out, they are great. I've seen a few of these, and they all had wandering zero. And don't let your rifle tip over from being leaned against a tree/truck/etc as your zero will be lost. In short...there are better options for an aiming device."

All three of the "Freedom" scopes are now mounted on 22rf rifles and one on a 218 Bee. They've never given me any issues since they've been mounted on those rifles.

The three rifles I have them on now get quite a bit of use, but they aren't abused. They do ride around on a quad, in scabbards.

I got all three of these scopes used, cheap, $100 for all three, in almost new condition. The fellow I bought them from had the same issues as I experienced on 2 different 308Win, and a 6.5cm.

I don't know if there is anywhere in Canada to send them for warranty work, and I don't believe Trace Scope Repair will work on them either.
 
bearhunter said:
Even though the Leupold website claims these scopes will stand up to recoil similar to or greater than that produced by 30-06 cartridges, I've had wandering zero issues with the three I've had the opportunity to use when mounted on CF chamberings over 243 Win.

Others I've spoken with about them say they don't have any problems with them.

This is a copy/paste from a website that did an independent evaluation of them

"If you like chasing zero every time out, they are great. I've seen a few of these, and they all had wandering zero. And don't let your rifle tip over from being leaned against a tree/truck/etc as your zero will be lost. In short...there are better options for an aiming device."

All three of the "Freedom" scopes are now mounted on 22rf rifles and one on a 218 Bee. They've never given me any issues since they've been mounted on those rifles.

The three rifles I have them on now get quite a bit of use, but they aren't abused. They do ride around on a quad, in scabbards.

I got all three of these scopes used, cheap, $100 for all three, in almost new condition. The fellow I bought them from had the same issues as I experienced on 2 different 308Win, and a 6.5cm.

I don't know if there is anywhere in Canada to send them for warranty work, and I don't believe Trace Scope Repair will work on them either.
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That’s crazy, I’ve read about all the issues with leupold on forums and I guess it’s maybe happened to this one.
kamlooky said:
Isn’t the Freedom model their entry level scope?

Send it to Korth and have them look at it.
Then use it on a smaller caliber or seller on the ee and yewse the funds to speed up yer Zeiss aquiremint.
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Yeah I think it might be. It came on an ab3 package.

If it’s gets replaced it will be promptly sold.
 
Gillshot said:
Korth Canada handles Leupold issues in Canada. Contact them, they will help you out. I had a freedom that was not holding zero and they replaced the erector spring. So far, so good. I don’t think I’ll buy another freedom tho.
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Yeah I don’t think I could trust it on a rifle again if this turn out to be the issue.
 
At 100yds see if it hits paper. Then dial up and shoot. Dial left and shoot. Make a box and see if it shoots a square. Check your mounts. I have seen them get loose. My rifleman which is lower quality than the freedom is on my 375 Ruger and it has never lost zero. It’s in warn mounts.
The only scope I had fail was a Zeiss. Got warranty and all is good now. I bought a rifle with a broken Leupold on it and Korth replaced it. Use the warranty and it may keep going forever.
 
toebako said:
At 100yds see if it hits paper. Then dial up and shoot. Dial left and shoot. Make a box and see if it shoots a square. Check your mounts. I have seen them get loose. My rifleman which is lower quality than the freedom is on my 375 Ruger and it has never lost zero. It’s in warn mounts.
The only scope I had fail was a Zeiss. Got warranty and all is good now. I bought a rifle with a broken Leupold on it and Korth replaced it. Use the warranty and it may keep going forever.
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I’ll be heading back to the range tomorrow to verify at a 100 again.

Checked torque on rings and bases and all were good.
 
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If its an away from home hunt for more than 3 days i bring an extra scope in my carry on bag…and do they ever give it a second look at airport security. Better to have backup and not need it….you know the song. Sooner or latter you may have an issue with any brand of scope and thats just life. Minimal issues with Leopold over the past 40 years and Korth has been quick to the rescue. My Nightforces have been extremely reliable BUT I keep a close eye on them also. I trust scopes like a new girlfriend with my credit card. lol
 
I had a brand new vx-5 do the same thing. I brought it on one hunt and the next time I was shooting I’d dial up to 500m and coming back down to 100m it would be off zero. Korth fixed it, but I don’t have much faith in it. The glass is nice for a $2000 scope, but it isn’t worth $0.05 if it doesn’t hold zero.

Since then I bought a zeiss v4 for a different gun, but haven’t mounted it. I’ve read some stories about zeiss refusing to warranty some things that Leupold and Vortex normally would, but at the end of the day the Zeiss is supposed to be tougher. The V4 has been on sale at cabelas fairly regularly lately. I got mine for $500 off.
 
Bustercluck said:
I had a brand new vx-5 do the same thing. I brought it on one hunt and the next time I was shooting I’d dial up to 500m and coming back down to 100m it would be off zero. Korth fixed it, but I don’t have much faith in it. The glass is nice for a $2000 scope, but it isn’t worth $0.05 if it doesn’t hold zero.

Since then I bought a zeiss v4 for a different gun, but haven’t mounted it. I’ve read some stories about zeiss refusing to warranty some things that Leupold and Vortex normally would, but at the end of the day the Zeiss is supposed to be tougher. The V4 has been on sale at cabelas fairly regularly lately. I got mine for $500 off.
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Yeah I’m sure it can and will happen to any scope.

Omer at precision optics seems to stand behind the zeiss lineup.

Also intrigued about the Leica Amplus 6 scopes…
 
TayC said:
I need y’all’s opinion on this….

Sighted in new ammo today. Decent groupings at 100yds.

Range, dialed and plinked some further distance shots past 300. No issues.

Shot a 3 round group at 200yd and 280yds. Checked those targets and not even on paper.

Rifle/optic combo is a Sako 85 finnlight 30-06. Scope is a Leupy VX freedom I had laying around.
literally only have this mounted until I can slap a Zeiss V4 on it in the new year.

Shooting Nosler trophy grade accubond 165grn.

All shooting was done off bench and prone, with bi pod and off a bag.

I have a feeling something internal all of sudden failed on the scope

But what do you guys think?

I will be verifying at the range on Tuesday and possibly mounting another scope to confirm.
Click to expand...
That's a "weather report" , not a scope issue IMO.
Cat
 
Leupold make very good scope s and have best warranty the freedom scope which is crap was marketed to compete in the crap market all other cheap scopes that what you get when you buy price point
i have been shooting since 1975 and only have leupold don my rifles and a few date back to the 60's i have had very few issues the issues i have had was parralex trouble
sent to korth corrected with no cost
also i have worked in the firearm industry since 1977 liitterly have sold 1000's of leupold's
with less than a hand full coming back to the store for repairs
I can't say that for any other brands
i have sent back swavorsky with broken crosshairs actually many of them
All this for what it's worth
 
Well, made it back to the range today. Haven’t touched the rifle since last time, except for rechecking action screws, base and ring torques.

As expected it was wildly off and inconsistent at 100, would eventually return to zero and then back to flyers. This was between 2 different runs.
Took the scope off and it will be sent into Korth.

This scope will be replaced by a Trijicon Credo and new 2 piece sako optilocks.
 
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