Leupold riflescope questions

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newfrank

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Hello,

I just picked up a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 for my brand new winchester model 70 in 300 win mag, which I installed yesterday.

I also have a savage 111 trophy hunter in .270 that has the weaver 3-9x40 scope that came with it. I noticed yesterday that the reticle on the scope is canted (i.e. it rotated itself inside the housing) by about 20-30degrees. It is quite significant and I am not sure why it has happened. Anyways, a local shop is selling a Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 BNIB for a decent price.

My question is this: What is the difference between the VX-2 and the VX-Freedom? I can't find anything definitive. I'm not sure if it is really just subjective or what.
If it is the "same quality" as the VX-2, then i may as well get it for the .270, but if its better than my vx-2 then is it worth switching out the scopes and putting the freedom on my new 300 win mag and the vx-2 on my .270?

As an 'aside', the shop also has a Bushnell Elite 3-9x40, I'm not sure exactly what is it beyond that but that is another option.

Thanks,
Frank
 
I think was covered in a thread that I started a few years ago, in a reply posted by Korth:https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...pold-scopes-what-is-happening?highlight=Korth - I think VX-Freedom replacing several series - might be like - VX-1 exterior tubes, VX-2 interior lenses and erectors, VX-3 coatings - or something like that. But you are correct - almost need a guide book to sort through various models of Leupold that were offered at one time or another... Vari-X II is not VX-II is not VX-2, and so on. There used to be a chart on Leupold.com to show differences - years of production, coatings, etc. - not there any longer - probably they found too confusing to keep up.

For various rifles, I have bought 3 of the 3-9x40 VX-Freedom and one VX-3i for another rifle. Also have a VX-Freedom 2-7x33 Rimfire - can not find a performance difference to my VX-1 2-7x33 Rimfire. When our son wanted a "better" scope for his centre fire rifle, we decided a certain price level - wanted VX-2 features - observed on CGN many ads where people pricing older "lower level" Leupold as if they were newer or top-of the line.

So, for me, have not yet found any way that VX-Freedom is "less of a scope" than the VX-2's. Maybe others have? I certainly would not pay more for a used VX-2 than what new VX-Freedom were going for - all was done in 2019 and 2020, so pretty much a year or more out of date, now...
 
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Very good to know, thanks for the link to your post!

Sounds like the vx-freedom is a good buy and should do me just fine!

Frank
 
newfrank said:
Very good to know, thanks for the link to your post!

Sounds like the vx-freedom is a good buy and should do me just fine!

Frank
Click to expand...

I don't own a VX-Freedom scope yet but everything I have heard is that that they are a good successor to the VX-1/2 that they replaced.
I own a VX-2 and a couple VX-3 scopes and actually haven't even looked through the newer Freedom scopes yet but they seem to be getting good reviews.
If I needed a scope now I would definitely give them a look. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a used Leupold either but I certainly wouldn't pay near new pricing for one that some folks seem to be asking.
 
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My only complaint with the Freedom models is an aesthetic one ... the turet body is a bit blocky for my taste. That said, I compared a vx3-hd beside the freedom 3-9 and visually had a hard time giving an edge to the vx3.
 
So bit of an update - I ended buying the VX-Freedom for my .270. I stopped at the store just to take a look at it and apart from the blocky turrets like deerfarmer mentioned it looks great. It has a matte body and I got the "hunt-plex" reticle. The glass looks to be just as clear as what's on my VX2. Same magnification, 3-9x40mm as well.

I'm going up to northern Ontario in mid-September to setup a new blind and to do some shooting on a friends farm. Looking forward to seeing how things shoot!

Frank
 
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I think you’ll be happy with the Freedom. I have couple of them, and a VX2 and VX3, and I can’t tell any difference looking thru them
 
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