Leupold products discussion

[crazy_davey]

I was checking out another out forum and the topic came up of rifle scopes. There were some comments made about Leupold products by one member that he and his buddies seemed to make up over coffee talk or whatever.

My personal opinion, Leupold is trying to appeal to larger markets by introducing well-priced optics much below their normal MSRP... tells me the quality isn't the same as the 'real' Leupold products... so why bother.

Most of the stuff you see are hybird products with either Wind River or Minox (both owned by Leupold).

Yes there are Leupold Gold Ring products currently in production that are below the $750-1000 range but they are re-branded hybrids.

just want people to understand that when you are purchasing a Leupold product - the same product people know of by reputation and word of mouth are not in the $500 and less category.

When Leupold starting selling Leupold Gold Ring and Leupold Green Ring products they introduced Leupold Wind River as the green ring product and can only be called a hybrid since it is still a Wind River product with Leupold letters on it.

Anyone have any thoughts on these comments?

I myself dont use Leupold binoculars(I use Swarovski) So I have never spent any time reseaching who manufactures their binocular line. I was under the impression that they manufactured their own Wind River line, maybe I am wrong.

What about the comment that Leupold Gold Ring products currently in production that are below the $750-1000 range are re-branded hybrids. VX-II and VX-III's are re-branded hybrids

 

[graylake]

my understanding of the windriver line was because of the naturalists(Bird Watchers). A big portion of that crowd does not hunt and the Leupold name goes hand in hand with hunting.

So they came out with the Windriver line to try and get a portion of that demographic.

Just my understanding

 

[TRG-42]

Their Gold Ring products are made in house ( glass from Japan ) . The non gold ring stuff is made overseas ( example the rangefinder is made in China )

As far as the prices getting lower, there was a great article in Rifle magazine this month. Talks about how through modernization ( CNC machining centers etc ) that the bang for the buck from Leupold has become better. Even their low end Rifleman series are machined in house. The previous low end line from Leupold ( Vari-XII ) was made from more parts ( the turret housing, objective bells etc were glued together ). The new Rifleman is a 2 piece. Not quite up to the one piece machined from companies such as S&B but certainly an improvement from before

Although this lower end scope use less costly friction adjustments keep in mind this was good for the Vari-XII family for decades

Bottome line don't let the price of the lower end Leupold fool you. Also the new generation VX line are NOT rebranded hybrids . Those guys have no clue what they are talking about

As far as their "green ring binos" and wind river products go , some might frown they are made ...gasp..overseas but the reality is most moderately priced binos are

The reality is they sell way more mid range price binos $700 below than they do the higher end. I think its smart for leupold to go after that segment of the market.

You don't want asian made binos, buy the Kahles / Minox / Steiners but you are into the $1000 range. Want top end by the Swaros, Zeiss, Leicas

As far as the Leupold owning Minox I find that hard to believe

 

[crazy_davey]

Minox as I believe it is distrubuted through Leica.

 

[Duck_Hunter]

mmmmmm.....nightforce scopes. Although i have a varixlll on my rifle and love it I think there are better scopes out there once you get over the $1000 range such as......nightforce.(<-its on my wishlist, hahaha)