Leupold Binos - Made In China?

X-man

X-man

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I've been looking around for a new set of binos and had planned on buying a set of Leupolds. The new "Tactical" series with mil-dot of TMR reticles interested me as they would match up with my Leupold scopes and help practice ranging, etc...

However, after doing some research it appears as if this series is actually built in China and not the USA! That sucks! Anyone know what binos series by Leupold are actually made in the US? I haven't had too much luck with Chinese stuff, other than my Norinco M14S. If I'm going to be dropping over $500 on a set of binos, I don't want to be buying Chinese!:)

Any dealers want to jump in here?
 
I stumbled upon some complaints that Leupold quality dropped since 2007. This can be attributed to the fact that they started to make them in China. It's very scary trend in US economy that asks for disaster. For that reason I am not buying Leupold out of principle. Imagine how many high-tech jobs were lost?
 
The only Leupold binos and spotters made in the USA are the gold ring models. All the others are made off shore usually in China. As far as I know, no US jobs were lost as Leupold did not previously make less expensive binos and spotters in the USA and were just trying to capitalise on this segment of the market previously held by it's competitors who were already having their product made in China. Currently all of the rifle scopes are manufactured in Beaverton Oregon USA. Phil.
 
Have a look at the GR spotting scope, as it's available with a Mil Dot or TMR reticle, which is a great idea IMO.
 
Despite the 'cheap' opinion on Chinese/Asian products, there are alot of great optics made over there. I can strongly recommend the Nikon Monarch line for a top quality bino for little money.

Made in the Phillipines but at a brand new facility (when Nikon built it a few years back). I have used their binos for years with excellent results.

Some of the best manf is also happening on that side of the planet as they have all the new factories built to the best standards. The only 'cheap' part is the labour - some are highly skilled but poorly paid by our standards.

Just remember, who makes the most industrial robotics, electronics, and other high tech gear. Sorry, its not the Swiss or Scandinavians or US or anyone else in the G8.

Jerry
PS Leupold has outsourced their lenses forever. Pretty much all come from Asia. Same can be said for most brands even those costing several thousand.
 
I have a pair of Nikon Monarch 10x42 bino's that were assembled in China. At first I was really disappointed to see the tiny "Made In China" sticker hidden under one tube but then I started using them. Now I don't even think about where they came from, they just work great and are the brightest, clearest bino's I've seen for less than $350.

Don't write off stuff out of hand because it comes from China. Many of the factories are brand new and the quality is good. Just look at the iPhone.
 
Sorry but can't disagree more, your eyes are too valuable to be looking through chinese glass. if you compare them side by side to glass made in europe you will notice you eyes making continuous tiny focusing adjustments with the chinese junk. Dont ruin your eyes. I put down a pair of Geovids made in Portugal, $600 off as the glass was not good enough. do yourself a favor and buy a 20 year old pair of european binos or scope before buying chinese. your eyes are worth it.
 
dizzy said:
Sorry but can't disagree more, your eyes are too valuable to be looking through chinese glass. if you compare them side by side to glass made in europe you will notice you eyes making continuous tiny focusing adjustments with the chinese junk. Dont ruin your eyes. I put down a pair of Geovids made in Portugal, $600 off as the glass was not good enough. do yourself a favor and buy a 20 year old pair of european binos or scope before buying chinese. your eyes are worth it.
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I thought Portugal was in Europe. I couldn't disagree more with your opinion that all Chinese (and I suppose from your statement) all glass not made in Europe (Germany/ Austria) is crap. To think that all 20 yr old binos and scopes made in Europe are better than anything you can buy from China at any price is quite short sighted. There is no doubt a lot of inexpensive glass that comes out of China and the price reflects the quality at the bottom end that but at the medium price point most European companies would have trouble building something of equal performance for the price. With modern advances in grinding lenses and modern coatings, I think no matter how good your old European glass is the new stuff from China, Japan and the Orient is pretty amazing for the money. The good optics plants in China were set up the Germans. I sell almost all optics available in Canada including the good stuff from Germany and Austria ( Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica) along with all the stuff from the US, Japan, China , Korea, The Philippines (Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Bushnell), and believe all countries and product lines in binos and scopes are relevant depending on their features, reliability, warranty, availability and of course price. Phil
 
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