This review was originally written in Jan. 2001.
I have long been a user of Leupold scopes for both rifles and
handguns. The Leupold Warranty is a part of the
reason why I like them so well but their
obvious quality also plays into it. Buy a Leupold, new or
used, and Leupold will repair or replace it for the rest of
your life at no cost to you other than the shipping cost to
get it to them no matter what. That's a strong warranty and
they back it up with quick turn around and no questions
asked. Even when the damage was obvious misuse like the time
I dropped a pair of Leupold binoculars onto a concrete floor,
they fixed them at no charge. Now that's a warranty I can
love and a company I can respect.
I've long suspected the Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8x36 scope
might just be the ultimate scope for a real world hunting
rifle and comments from those who owned them seemed to back
up that suspicion. For my Remington Model 700 LSS Mtn. Rifle
I chose the Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8 to test my theory. Folks
I was right!
The image from this scope is as bright and clear as from any
scope I've so far looked thru. The field of view (FOV) is
wide and excellent for the use in thick woods to which I'll
most often subject it. Still at 8X it has adequate power for
even long shots in open terrain and on the rifle range for
sight in and load development work. This rifle proved a bit
troublesome in getting it to shooting (see review of it for
details) but once I got all the bugs worked out it started
turning in groups of MOA and well under and this scope was
all I needed to coax that level of accuracy from it. I have
now used it in the field under various conditions from warm
and sunny to cold and windy and even rain and snow. It has
come thru under all field conditions.
Click adjustments are positive and audible and repeatable.
Move this one one inch at 100 yards and the bullet impact
moves one inch at 100 yards. Of course I've long ago come to
expect this from Leupold scopes and they've never failed to
deliver it. I mounted this scope on my rifle using the
excellent Leupold Dual Dove Tail Base and Rings provided by
Leupold for this project. (See separate report on them).
Long ago I purchased my first Remington Mtn. Rifle and fell
in love with it. I felt the only way to improve on it would
be for it to have a laminated wood stock and SS metal. Well
that's what Remington has done and what this Leupold Vari-X
III scope is mounted on. I put this package together to be my
ultimate all round hunting rifle for use all over North
America on any game I might hunt. I felt this scope was the
correct choice for such a rifle and now after over a year of
living with the combination I believe I was correct. I highly
recommend the Leupold Vari-X III scope in the 2.5-8x36
version for use on any big game hunting rifle for all round
use in the thick woods or open plains or even from a shooting
house over a bean field. I feel it is all the scope a hunter
should ever need for a real world hunting rifle. If you can't
see to place the bullet properly
with 8X then you really are too far away to be shooting
anyway. This scope mounts low over the receiver for proper
eye placement on the stock for quick use when shouldered. I
like it and give it the Graybeard Seal of Approval.
This
won't be the last or only one of these scopes on my rifles.
Leupold Advertising Copy from the Leupold Website:
Vari-X III Scopes
Effective light management is more than just fancy
engineering talk. It's often the difference between getting
your shot or not.
Thanks to its superior light management qualities, the
Leupold Vari-X III has arguably been the the finest choice
for hunting in low-light conditions. Now Leupold is proud to
introduce the definitive low-light hunting scope: three new
Vari-X III scopes equipped with exclusive Leupold Illuminated
Reticle technology. Available in Vari-X III 1.5-5x20mm,
3.5-10x50mm, 4.5-14x50mm Adj.Obj., and tactical models. The
bright, crisp Illuminated Reticle helps you acquire targets
and place shots faster and more accurately in even the most
extreme low-light conditions.
With its 11 intensity settings, you can adjust the reticle to
match the light conditions - even the brightest setting won't
overpower the target or affect your low-light vision.
In bright light, switch the reticle off and it reverts to
black. Of course, each scope, including the electronics,
meets the Leupold standard for waterproofing and durability.
The 1.5-5x20mm is available with either a Duplex or German #4
Illuminated Reticle. The 4.5-14x50mm Adj. Obj. is available
with a Duplex, German #4, or Mil. Dot Illuminated Reticle.
The 3.5-10x50mm is available with Duplex, German #4, or Mil.
Dot Illuminated Reticles.
The broad golden ring. It encircles the objective end of
every Vari-X III scope, and has become a recognizable symbol
of traditional Leupold quality. In fact, our Vari-X IIIs are
largely responsible for the stature of the Leupold brand name
in the eyes of the modern hunter.
Their reliability in the field is legendary and their
construction is the envy of the industry.
Parts for Vari-X III scopes are machined to closely match
their theoretically perfect shape. Any deviations are
imperceptible, measuring no more than 0.0005 of an inch in
some critical areas. When it comes to ever-sensitive sliding
surfaces, our sophisticated manufacturing processes
provide for zero clearance.
Optical quality is ultimately what convinces hunters that a
Vari-X III is both a great scope and a great value. Because
you get a sight picture that's sharp and bright. The
field-of-view is expansive. The eye relief is greater than
with most scopes on the market and always ample enough to
ensure your safety.
All Vari-X III models come with Multicoat 4, Leupold's
proprietary anti-reflective lens coating. Six models have a
range estimating function: 1.75-6x32mm E, 2.5-8x36mm,
3.5-10x40mm, 3.5-10x50mm, 4.5-14x40mm Adj. Obj., and
4.5-14x50mm Adj. Obj.
When you're making windage and elevation adjustments, four
audible clicks move the point-of-impact one inch at 100
yards. Once sighted-in, pointer dials let you mark your
original zero. This lets you make field adjustments and then
return to your original zero.
Visit the Leupold Website by clicking on the name.
Or Contact them at:
GENERAL INFORMATION
503.526.5195
LEUPOLD PRODUCT SERVICE
503.526.1400
productspecialist@leupold.com
LEUPOLD DEALER
DIRECT LINE
To locate dealers near you,
call 800.929.4949
LEUPOLD'S MAILING ADDRESS
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.,
PO Box 688, Beaverton, OR 97075-0688
USA
LEUPOLD'S SHIPPING ADDRESS
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.,
14400 NW Greenbrier Parkway,
Beaverton, OR
97006-5791 USA
LEUPOLD'S FAX
503.526.1475
DIRECTIONS TO LEUPOLD & STEVENS
503.646.9171 EXT. 308