Leupold VX-I...Actual "Adjustments" 1/4in???

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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If you have first hand experience with the 3-9x40 Leupold VX-I scopes:
- are the adjustments actually 1/4in at 100yards....or are they more like 1/2in or something else?
- are the adjustments consistent from scope to scope?
- do they hold their zero with confidence?

They are listed as 1/4in, but please from first hand experience...what have you found?

Thanks
 
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Leupold Rifleman scope

I mounted one of these a couple weeks ago on my son's 308. The settings are 1/4" but it sometimes takes a few shots to get the point of impact to move after adjustments have been dialed in. These adjustments are the same as the old M8 series that includes 4X, M42 6X, and the M8 12X. These are great scopes but are finicky to adjust if scope rings have not been lapped. Once the the point of impact is dialed in they hold it well. I have an M8 4X purchased in 1981 that is still going strong and holding its zero.
 
If you're worried about the adjustments on the scope, you can always shoot "the box."

Start with a single shot, on a very precise point of aim. Benchrest targets are great for this, especially a benchrest "square" stapled to a larger piece of paper.

Go a certain amount of clicks up. Same original point of aim. Say 16 clicks (4" nominal). Shoot a shot. 16 clicks (4") right. Shoot a shot with the same point of aim as all other groups. 16 clicks (4") down. Shoot a final shot.

Adjust 16 clicks left, and shoot the original spot again - starting round two. Continue through 3 or more rounds of shot-adjust-shot-adjust... etc.

Take your targets down, and find the exact centre of each 3-shot group. Draw straight lines connecting them. If it doesn't look like a perfect square, then you or your scope have an issue. Naturally a few degrees out of square isn't a huge issue... but if there are serious misalignments between where the groups ARE and where they SHOULD be...

Here's a box shot with a Schmidt and Bender scope, as described above.

TargetBoxCrop2.jpg


-M
 
"sometimes takes a few shots to get the point of impact to move after adjustments have been dialed in"

Chinbullco,
What does this mean....the scope needs the recoil of the gun to settle in after adjusting? Never heard of this, please let me know.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
"sometimes takes a few shots to get the point of impact to move after adjustments have been dialed in"

Chinbullco,
What does this mean....the scope needs the recoil of the gun to settle in after adjusting? Never heard of this, please let me know.
Click to expand...

Used to be fairly common with scopes, not so much now. - dan
 
Mount Sweetness said:
If you have first hand experience with the 3-9x40 Leupold VX-I scopes:
- are the adjustments actually 1/4in at 100yards....or are they more like 1/2in or something else?
- are the adjustments consistent from scope to scope?
- do they hold their zero with confidence?

They are listed as 1/4in, but please from first hand experience...what have you found?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The VX-I has the old style friction adjustments. They are not as easy to adjust as a more modern mechanism, but they stay put when you finally get them dialed in. There is no direct mechanical connection between the turret adjustment wheel and the adjustment mechanism within the scope.

Don't worry about it. It's how they work. You could adjust it 1/4 MOA and it might not move impact at all. Then you adjust another 1/4 MOA and it jumps a full 1/2 MOA. Just keep adjusting until it's where you want it. I find that tapping the bottom of the rifle with the heel of your palm after making the adjustment helps to get rid of the backlash.

If you want to upgrade to a VX-II scope you get the click type positive adjustments. Scopes with friction type adjustments are good for people who sight in their rifle and then leave it there. They would not be a great choice for people who make frequent adjustments to their scope settings.

The older Vari-X models had the friction style adjustments, as did the fixed power M models.
 
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Doc M said:
If you're worried about the adjustments on the scope, you can always shoot "the box."

Start with a single shot, on a very precise point of aim. Benchrest targets are great for this, especially a benchrest "square" stapled to a larger piece of paper.

Go a certain amount of clicks up. Same original point of aim. Say 16 clicks (4" nominal). Shoot a shot. 16 clicks (4") right. Shoot a shot with the same point of aim as all other groups. 16 clicks (4") down. Shoot a final shot.

Adjust 16 clicks left, and shoot the original spot again - starting round two. Continue through 3 or more rounds of shot-adjust-shot-adjust... etc.

Take your targets down, and find the exact centre of each 3-shot group. Draw straight lines connecting them. If it doesn't look like a perfect square, then you or your scope have an issue. Naturally a few degrees out of square isn't a huge issue... but if there are serious misalignments between where the groups ARE and where they SHOULD be...

Here's a box shot with a Schmidt and Bender scope, as described above.

TargetBoxCrop2.jpg


-M
Click to expand...

There are no "clicks" on a scope with friction type adjustments, unfortunately, and the box test wouldn't mean a great deal on a scope with friction type adjustments. It's the nature of the beast.
 
stubblejumper said:
I won't own such scopes,since they obviously have a design flaw.
Click to expand...

You aren't exactly Leupold's biggest fan anyway, are you? :p

Not so much flawed as outdated. It works but it's 60 year old technology. Even the cheap-cheap chinese scopes have better adjustments than the a VXI or Rifleman scope.
 
You aren't exactly Leupold's biggest fan anyway, are you?
Click to expand...

I actually do own some Leupold scopes,I have two of the VXII 3-9x33EFR model on my rimfires.They are certainly overpriced,but the selection of decent scopes that have the parallax adjustable for use on rimfires,is quite limited.As far as scopes suitable for big game hunting are concerned,I don't use Leupold.
 
Leupold should drop all friction adjustments to Redfield, and drop one of either the Rifleman or VX-I all together.
I got it dialed in now and like jethunter said...once it's set it's set.
 
jethunter said:
There are no "clicks" on a scope with friction type adjustments, unfortunately, and the box test wouldn't mean a great deal on a scope with friction type adjustments. It's the nature of the beast.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize the VX-I were friction adjust... that makes a lot of sense now.

Yeah, doing a box with friction-type makes about as much sense as voting for Obama. My bad for not knowing the VX-I was friction and not clickity-clack like my Mark 4 LR/T.

-M
 
I have a Vari X II and it uses friction adjustments. Works just fine and only needed adjusting initially when the scope was first installed. As far as I'm concerned, 1/2 moa markings on a hunting rifle is perfectly workable. It should get you to within 1/4" at 100 yards, and that's close enough for the inherent accuracy of pretty much any hunting rifle.
 
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