New Leupold Scopes

Hey, I was wondering if anyone knows what is new about the vxI and vxII scopes from Leupold. Just what is different about them and what did they do to change the vxII. Thanks, Jim

Lower quality glass being used. It will transmit slightly less light...meaning, if you hunt during the middle of the day, no big deal. If you hunt in the AM or PM around sun up or sundown, BIG DEAL! Most people do not need the extra l;ight transmission afforded by the higher end scopes, but swear by them at the same time.

While the above is true for the VXI, it is not accurate for the VXII. The latter is the old Vari-X II scope with added features: 1/4 moa clicks and the special Multicoat 4 - both were only available on Vari-X III scopes before. The new VXII will have slightly better light transmission than the older Vari-X II did.

The individual hunter must decide if his time and hunting conditions warrant the best light transmission. IME, good optics are NEVER a bad choice, even if it means waiting longer to save the money. But then hunting conditions here in southcentral Alaska are often dark and wet. Cheap scopes are, well, cheap scopes. Loosing a 60' moose because the cheap scope fogged ( as happened to a hunting partner ) is not woth the $100 savings on a cheap scope.

Jay T

That is very true. I recall listening to an Oregon coastal elk hunter cry in his beer 'cause he'd spent over $1000 on a Weatherby rifle only to lose a big bull 'cause his $40 scope fogged up and he couldn't find it in the scope 50-ish yards away.

Other folks can do what they want. On **MY** rifles, the 'old' Leupold Vari X II-s were 'entry level.' I fought junk optics too long in my teens and early 20s to want any part of it.

which is why folks used to say with conviction,

'Buy the scope and then spend what's left on a rifle.'

I say 'used' to because IMHO, the general standard of optics today is far above what it was 20 years ago.

I think it's possible to find a *decent* quality scope for $250 ...And I wouldn't argue the fact that optics of today are superior to those of 20 years ago...But, I don't believe many (or any) manufacturers that built questionable quality rifle scopes 20 years ago are producing quality goods today.