Springfield Scopes What's your opinion?

E

Emwonae

Inactive
I am considering changing from my Leupold VarixIII 3.5X10 50mm to one of the Third Gen Springfield 4X14 56 7.62 for my NM M1A. I like the illuminated reticle and built in ranging for the match grade .308 ammo but I'm not sold on the optic's quality. Bare in mind my combo performs excellently as it is and I love it. Am I crazy or is this scope as good/ Any comments.
Thanks
 
I apologize in advance, but you just might be crazy. However you did ask first, so I would tell you stay with the Leupold, no contest in quality and definitely not on warranty, Leupold is way better.

See, I saved you money. ;)

PS, if you really need illumination, there are always star shells or parachute flares... :D
 
I will second 700's opinion although I do have both. I bought the same Leupold you have Em and it would be difficult to find a better scope for less than $1200. However, in a weak moment and having some extra walking-around money, I bought a Springfield Gen II 7.62 just to see how the reticle performed. It has worked for me with Federal GM Match 168gr every time but YMMV. With that said, and if you have the money, keep the Leupold and buy the Springfield.
 
Thanks for pushing me over the edge. Because of what I've read on this board I already realized I was suffering from a temporary dillusionary state and have come to my senses. I will stay with my Leupold and spend this extra money on those Swarski binocs I've been salivating over.
Thanks to all.
 
Now that sounds like a good plan.

Take a look at the Bausch&Lomb (Bushnell) 10X40 Audubon Custom porro prism binocs. They are impressive for the price. Great for birding.
 
Springfield Warranty v. Leupold

How is the Leupold warranty better than the Springfield? SA offers a lifetime warranty. I didn't think you could get any better than that. Please inform me as I am looking into a 2nd or 3rd Gen. Springfield for my PSS. I really like the bullet drop compensator on it. Does the Leupold have something similar? I looked at their website and could find no pictures of what their recticle looks like... They REALLY need to update their site.
 
Warranties

brouhaha:

I believe the Springfiled's lifetime warranty is to the original purchaser while the Leupold's is for the life of the scope no matter how many times it changes hands.

That being said, they are the same to me as I do not intend selling either scope.
 
Leupold has bullet drop compensator scopes of a sort. The M3 tacticals, both the Mark4 10X M3 and the Vari-X III 3.5-10X40LR M3 have ballistic cams that once zeroed can be adjusted to different ranges. They are for specific bullet weights and distances. The .308 is for the 168gr, HPBT match round.

However the main advantage is they can go from 100 to 1000 yards in one turn of the elevation dial with 1 MOA clicks. At 1000 yard that is 10" per click. Some people feel that is too coarse, however as it was designed for tactical use, it was felt that the single turn minimized chances for error.
 
A lifetime warranty is only good if the company is still in business. Leupold has been around for ages. I'm not aware of any instability or chapter 11's, etc, in Leupold's past. I'm not aware of any problems with Springfield Armory at this time and they seem to be running smooth and stable, but I seem to recall some thin ice in their past.
Also, I have had occaision to use the "lifetime" warranty from both companies mentioned. The handling of the warranty services were not always equal. One was fast, easy, no questions asked and no excuses. One was eventually resolved.
Leupold manufactures it's own scope and can service any scope they ever made. I believe SA sells scopes with their name on them and who's to say the XYZ co will still be doing business with SA when you need the service?
I own and enjoy products from both. I have no financial stake in either. My thoughts, take em or leave em.
 
For warranty service, it has to be Leupold all the way for US made scopes. They are simply the best in their service and customer attention. Although I have never had a Leupold fail in the field, I pooched one in the shop by dropping it on the concrete floor. Doh!
I sent it in for repair, expecting to be billed for the work.
They replaced the scope! No charge other than S&H.
Once, I needed some extra dust covers to replace some lost ones (bad day at the range), asked them where I could buy some, and they said, "Don't bother. We will take care of it."
They sent me a bag of TWO DOZEN, for free. Included a note that said, "Give the rest of these to anyone else that needs some".
Amazing.

Leupold also makes an illuminated scope now.

The best illuminated scopes on the market are Schmidt&Bender, then Nightforce.
The S&B scopes are the best I have ever seen or used, period. Very spendy though. Made in Germany, German glass.
Amazing optics, very tough, well designed, and crystal clear in ALL conditions.
I have no experience with their warranty, as I have never seen one fail. (Obviously, I haven't managed to drop one yet)

Gale McMillan was fond of the Nightforce optics. Chuck Taylor has recommended them to me as well.
They are evidently tough enough to survive the big fifty cals., and offer superb lightgathering. Made in Japan for an Australian company. Imported to the US. No warranty info.
A police sniper friend of mine hunts varmints in Alaska during their long twilights, and uses nothing but Nightforce. He is very anal about his guns, so I assume that since they work well enough for him, nearly anyone else would be more than satisfied.
 
Thanks for the replies. There seems to be too big of a gap in price between the Leupold and the SA 3rd Gen for me to afford it. BTW, the SA website says that their scopes are .50 cal certified also. I think that means they'll be strong enough for my purposes of target shooting and the VERY occasional hunting.
 
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