Leupold LPS: Use it or buy new

[skydiver386]

Rummaging through one of my safes, I came across some old Leupold boxes and one felt heavier than the others. It turned out to be a silver box with an LPS scope that I purchased new more than 20 years ago, and never mounted on a rifle.

I have several PG caliber rifles under construction that would be a good match for this scope, but I understand optics make leaps and bounds in quality every year.

Should I send it to Leupold and have it cleaned, inspected and dry nitrogen purged and use it on my new .257 or .280? Or sell and buy a newer scope in the same price range?

 

[wvfred]

I sent my 1.5x6 LPS in to be cleaned and serviced and they just sent me a new VX HD in place of it.Leupolds customer service is hard to beat!

 

[375Fox]

Use it. No reason to have it cleaned and purged if new in box.

 

[skydiver386]

After looking through the scope beside a few others, I think it's best to take a trip to Oregon for a little freshening up. The view looks cloudy, a little yellow and fuzzy.

Called Leupold and a nice young fellow named Nick said it may or may not be possible to service this scope. If not, I'll ask if they can swap it for a VX5HD.

 

[375Fox]

After looking through the scope beside a few others, I think it's best to take a trip to Oregon for a little freshening up. The view looks cloudy, a little yellow and fuzzy.

Called Leupold and a nice young fellow named Nick said it may or may not be possible to service this scope. If not, I'll ask if they can swap it for a VX5HD.

I’m surprised to hear that if new in box. My oldest Leupold was given to me by my dad from 1987. Still clear.

 

[skydiver386]

The only logical explanation is that it may have been exposed to high heat when I lived in Arizona, and put some things in storage when I retired from the Army. I've had several dozen Leupold scopes that are much older than this one, and none have ever looked like this.

 

[wvfred]

They swapped mine for a VX6 HD.

 

[CBeck]

Surprising…I have and old red field wide field scope form the 70’s clear as the day it was made. I can’t believe storage or not it would have any effect on clarity.

 

[skydiver386]

Getting the scope ready to send to Leupold Customer Service and found the original receipt in the bottom of the box. Ahh the good old days. I bought this at Welchers Gun Shop in Tacoma,Wa and paid $579.95 for what was at the time their most expensive line of scopes. This was in May of 2001. I think their top line now is somewhere around $1,500.00, so we’ll see what they do for a repair or replacement.

 

[375Fox]

Getting the scope ready to send to Leupold Customer Service and found the original receipt in the bottom of the box. Ahh the good old days. I bought this at Welchers Gun Shop in Tacoma,Wa and paid $579.95 for what was at the time their most expensive line of scopes. This was in May of 2001. I think their top line now is somewhere around $1,500.00, so we’ll see what they do for a repair or replacement.
View attachment 667320

I wish Leupold still made scopes like that. Just a simple tough scope. No CDS dials.