It's pretty simple really, scope isn't worth a thing to me while it's getting serviced. I have sent enough of it back. Except for the top tier stuff Leupold is still living off of its old name. Much like Remington had been. By the time I get to the Mark 5 scope I'll be spending my money on a different brand. You do you, fine if you are happy with their products. I have personally dealt with a lot of failure from their products. You can call me whiny, don't care. When you have to go on about how great a product is because of the warranty, it should tell you something.
I just had a pair of Leupold binoculars split in two when the weather got cold and the plastic got brittle. I sent them back on my dime and I got an email back saying I should expect five weeks for repair or replacement. THEY SPLIT IN TWO! I wish those fine Americans would send me a new pair now.
What I do not choose to afford is the missed opportunity. More specifically, my son's opportunities since this is to be his. After spending the better part of a month getting my son on his first buck, I'll be damned if I want to look into a scope and it be broken. I was looking at some Nightforce scopes on sale in Sportsman's Warehouse. Always heard they are top notch. This is a bit excessive, but, a testament to their sturdiness.
I'm afraid that all the talent that a spendy scope possesses would be lost on my poor marksmanship with a rifle
Red hawk rifles has some demo Zeiss scopes on sale right now. I ordered another conquest v4 6-24 x 50. Have dialed and killed with it up to 620 yards on my 300 wsm and the zero stop is fantastic. I think the glass is on par with a Z5. I hear the new vortex HD is good too.
That's a stupid rule of thumb probably put out there by the Zeiss or Swarovski families. A Vortex CrossfireII or Leopold equivalent will do almost all you need for hunting in North America. My uncle did a lifetime of hunting out west with a mdl70 270 with a 1-4x Weaver scope. Didn't need a 6-50 on a 6.8 western to take game. In WI a 300 savage99 with a peep site suffices.
The fine American workers at Leupold just sent me an email saying that the binos I sent them in two pieces could not be repaired. Duh. I get free new ones! Oh but they are back ordered so if I don’t get them in six weeks I am to call. Mind you they fell one foot in 28 degree weather and split in two. I hear my door to Leupold closing.
