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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: New Insight
    Posted: August/19/2010 at 22:29
Now i am by no means an expert in evaluating rifle scopes, but a member of this board recently brought up an issue about Leupold scopes that kinda put me in research mode. Now I have ( at least thought) that i was fairly knowledgeable about this company and their trade practices. To bring everyone up to speed i have used Leupold scopes with great results for many many years. Mainly the vx 3. My understanding was that the upper line Leupold were all American made with no Chinese or foreign influence other than lenses. (Asian) Now lets not kid ourselves, I have always understood that a better optics could be purchased at a lower price. And i fully understand what good glass looks like. I own a vintage Steiner Penetrator and its a beast in low light. But i have always stuck with Leupold because they were an American company with a great warranty.Recently a member of this forum brought to light just how much American their is in this American scope. I did some research that revealed to me that i might just need to contact Leupold myself and ask them about this. I have spent over 1200$ ordering a vx 7, so i emailed Leupold and asked if their was any foreign parts other that glass in this scope. Long story short they never emailed back. I asked the owner of the gun shop whom is a good friend to cancel the order. Now im not gonna bail on Leupold over this and for all i know the vx 7 may boast all American made parts and be the best scope on earth. The point is my $1200 is gonna go toward either a Swarovski PH, Zeiss Diavari, or a Kahles. I know that their has to be a scope marker for all price ranges for the occasional hunter up to the hard core hunters whom travel the world. Im by no means the latter, but for the 1200 dollar investment im gonna by the best i can get and know that no Chinese influence exist in the scope. Their may be a market for this but not in my gun cabinet. I will follow up soon when i decide between the Swarovski or the Diavari. I welcome to any comments or reviews on either scope. I sincerely appreciate all the the great advise from this forum      
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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pyro6999 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2010 at 23:13
as far as i know us optics is the closest thing to a really "made in america" scope. pretty much everything but the glass is made here. i may be wrong, but thats what ive been told. the vx3 and vx7 both contain foreign parts, they may be assembled in oregon, but not all the parts are made here.
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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2010 at 23:39
Which Steiner Penetrator do you have ?
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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 00:13
3x12x56. Brightest scope Ive ever owned. And its prolly 20 years old 
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 02:33
Yea, Made in China gets me big time too. I bought a Peltor earprotectors. Got home on the back "Made in China"
Like some-one said... my stuff is all so old it still says on the label "Made in the USA" or whatever country you live in!!!!
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 11:03
My understanding it the MK4 VX3 and VX7 scopes are all made in Oregon with exception of the glass. 


Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 11:16
All parts are made in Oregon or all assembly is in Oregon?
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 11:19
The video makes me assume both.  Unless they are flat out lying, which I doubt they are.
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 11:28
Watching it again it sounds like VXII as well.
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 15:14
I saw the factory tour video also. And took away the impression that all parts were manufactured in the US. At least on upper end stuff. What got me was the rep not emailing me back with at least an assurance that the 7 is all American made with exception of lenses. Ive been combing the sample list for a nice German substitute for my Accumark.  
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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Jon A View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jon A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 15:56
If all of their content except for glass was made in the US, why aren't they marked "Made in the USA?"

The Nightforce F1 and compact scopes are marked "Made in the USA" and their glass comes from Japan.  A reasonable assumption would be Leupold would mark them as such if they could but for some reason they can't--and it's due to more than the glass.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 16:19
I have never seen Leupold specify what is made where, so you may not be able to really find out.

I did hear it from a couple of sources that all the maintubes are machined in Oregaon and I would not be surprised if quite a few other parts are as well.

However, a lot depends on the on how the scope was designed to be assembled.  There are sub-assemblies in it that can be put together elsewhere and then shipped to be assembled together with the rest of the pieces in the scope.  For example, if I was making these decisions at Leupold, I would probably be looking at the relay system assembly to be done elsewhere and to a tight spec.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 17:13
I beleive the Premier scopes are made in the USA/glass from Germany.
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pyro6999 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 18:01
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

The video makes me assume both.  Unless they are flat out lying, which I doubt they are.

its for marketing, i wouldnt trust it any further than i can throw it.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 22:21
Would you gentlemen not agree that for that kind of money i would be better off to just buy the Swaro or Diavari? or heck for that matter a Meopta. They seem to be nice scopes. Made in Austria?? for that matter where would they rank with a Swaro maby a step down??
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 22:33
By any chance have you looked at the SampleList here. Some nice Diavari's for $1100-1200 ish.
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pyro6999 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 22:50
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

By any chance have you looked at the SampleList here. Some nice Diavari's for $1100-1200 ish.

that would be a nice choice especially at those prices.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 22:57
ya i visit the sample list frequently. I have narrowed it down between the Swarovski 1.5x6x42 PH and the Diavari 2.5x10x42. Im really getting into the 40 to 42mm objective scopes and outta the 50mm scopes. IM looking to mount the scope as low as possible. My hunting spots do not require a shot over 150 yards. I probably should leave the 257 Wby ant home and take the 243 but hey i love my Weatherby even if it costs 3 bucks a shot. Ha. But i have narrowed it down to those particular scopes. their around the same price and from my research on this forum i have concluded that they are very very close in optical performance.  
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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pyro6999 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 23:00
both are excellent choices, i dont think you can go wrong ( optically) with either, considering your short shots the ph would serve you well. if you really want the zeiss though 2.5x would be plenty low for them close shots.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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jgm1981 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgm1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2010 at 23:15
The Zeiss seems to have received the highest marks on the scope scale. The Swarovski is right up there also. Im just hearing that the Z6 blows the PH away in almost every category. To bad there alittle out of my price range. I did here that Swaro recommends 30mm version for Magnum rifles. Kinda funny to me because i have never herd of a company doing this. I figured any premium made scope 1 inch or 30 mm could hold up to the heavy hitters. The 257 is no 340 but it does pack a bit of a punch. The vx 3 i removed from it help zero well and is still functioning well on my 243      
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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