Leupold 45x won't stay in focus.

J

JCummings

New member
I have a side focus Leupold 45x 45mm Competition scope I bought new 3 years ago for my 30BR VFS rifle.
Upon first mounting I found the scope would not hold focus.
After every shot was fired the scope was blurry and required refocusing.
I sent the scope into Leupold for service.
Upon return there was no note as to what was found or done.
I've used the scope for only part of this season as health issues prevented my shooting the past 3 years.
Last week at the range I noticed the scope is again loosing focus after 2-3 shots.
Has anyone else had an issue with this?
Is the recoil on the 30BR more than this scope can handle?
I have other scope I can used such as Nightforce 12-42 which I'm sure can handle it.
I will have to return the scope to Leupold again but will have lost all confidence in it.
Unfortunately I also am facing another surgery which will keep me from shooting until next Spring so even after service it will be a while before I can make sure it works.
Thoughts?
James
 
This model Leupold scope will certainly handle the recoil from your 30BR and then some. I suggest you send the scope back explaining the present problem along with your previous history with it. I hope Leupold will make it right as past history has proven they most often do.

Good luck with this instance...virg
 
Well, I've been some where similar, so you've got my sympathy -- which I know doesn't do much.

It's the objective, not ocular you're talking about, right? So parallax is affected as well as the blur. There was a three-year span where I had to have other people set the parallax on all my BR rifles; all I could ever see was a blur. The plus was the center of the blur was still the center, but you do have to deal with parallax. Oddly enough, a chance change in my eyeglasses prescription solved the issue.

I think you too are going to need another shooter to help, though for a different reason. The 45-X comp model can take the recoil, generally. It's worth another trip back to Leupold. It could be that if you put a note in with the scope when you send it back, the Leupold tech will respond.

In any case, you're going to need someone else to test it after it's fixed & before you are. There are other guys in Vermont that shoot BR, right? Cajole, bribe, whatever works.

Good luck with it,

Charles
 
Maybe it's not the scope, could be the recoil from the 30BR affecting your vision............................

Later
Dave
 
Hi Jim: Sorry to hear about the problem with your Leupold and also the coming surgery. I have a 45x45 Leupold on my 30 BR with nearly 3,000 rounds down the tube and never a blip or hiccup. I am a long time believer that Leupolds are a good scope and a good company so I hope they get it sorted out for you. Good luck with the coming surgery and God be with you ...

Reed
 
Given whats going on with my neck, perhaps it is me and not the scope. I should have someone else look at it.
It did seem to be working fine after it came back from Leupold, but then, my neck was not a problem then either.
I have asked Leupold how they would like me to deal with this.
I'm sure if the scope is at fault they'll make it right.
It would be good if I could get a second set of eyes on it first in case my health issue is causing the problem.
I hadn't thought of that.
That's why I throw thing out here for feedback.
Thanks!
 
I bought one, same model. Had the same problem. Sent it back, the paperwork on return said they saw no problem. I sold it, and have not bought another Leupold since.

If there is a problem, at least admit it.
 
Are you adjusting the focus/parallax correctly? You need to go to zero or infinity, I forget which and go only in one direction. You can't go back and forth.

Greg J
 
I do not have any trouble with the reticle. I can and do focus that first if needed. It does not go out of focus.
The objective image is what changes. No matter how I start, infinity to focus or near to focus, after 2-3 shots the image down range is no longer clear.
I can easily readjust the side focus for a clear image but again 2-3 shots and the sight picture is blurred.
 
That is a bummer. I would send it back to Leupold. I liked my 45x45. I wish I hadn't tried to jigger around with a combo that was shooting well.
 
JCummings said:
I have a side focus Leupold 45x 45mm Competition scope I bought new 3 years ago for my 30BR VFS rifle.
Upon first mounting I found the scope would not hold focus.
After every shot was fired the scope was blurry and required refocusing.
I sent the scope into Leupold for service.
Upon return there was no note as to what was found or done.
I've used the scope for only part of this season as health issues prevented my shooting the past 3 years.
Last week at the range I noticed the scope is again loosing focus after 2-3 shots.
Has anyone else had an issue with this?
Is the recoil on the 30BR more than this scope can handle?
I have other scope I can used such as Nightforce 12-42 which I'm sure can handle it.
I will have to return the scope to Leupold again but will have lost all confidence in it.
Unfortunately I also am facing another surgery which will keep me from shooting until next Spring so even after service it will be a while before I can make sure it works.
Thoughts?
James
Click to expand...

Jim,
I had a NF BR scope that did the same thing. The problem was in the front objective recess...the front lens was moving and when it did scope would defocus. Yours sounds like a problem in the focus mechanism. I would not accept a fix on your unit. I would ask for a new replacement or your money back. If they give you a new one send it to Bob Brackney and have him freeze it and install his external adjust rings. You will never regret it. Good luck with your surgery! Greg
 
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If I remember correctly in order to eliminate any backlash on side focus scopes you have to allways start from infinity and come back but not past the desired setting. Don't know if this would make a difference on certain scopes or not!
 
found this helpful little note at 6mmBR.com: http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html. It explains that the side focus scope " Has more mechanical systems to fail. More expensive to make, if done well". I guess that means more likely to fail too.
It explains the need to focus from infinity but that has nothing to do with this. The problem is not getting it focused. The problem is that it won't STAY focused.
 
There are tons of people using Leupold LCS scopes on 30BR's far too many for the scope to simply not be able to handle the recoil. I have one on a 30x47 that works fine. There was an issue a while back with rings being too tight and distorting the tube that caused a lot of people to use one double screw Kelbly ring and one single on Leupolds but I think that was a POI shift problem not a focus shift.
 
Dick:
I too doubt that the 30BR is "too strong". This is, however, a LV 6PPC sporter rifle that was converted to 30BR. So, this scope is the seeing more recoil than most of the 30BR rifle scopes are.
Since it seems something must "work loose" for this failure to hold focus to occur I would think that the higher the recoil the more likely for a scope to do this. Hence my comment.
Still, this is not at all beyond what one should be able to expect such a scope to handle. Obviously most do or this would be a very common problem. Your 30x47 certainly has more recoil without a problem.
 
JCummings said:
I have a side focus Leupold 45x 45mm Competition scope I bought new 3 years ago for my 30BR VFS rifle. Upon first mounting I found the scope would not hold focus. After every shot was fired the scope was blurry and required refocusing. I sent the scope into Leupold for service. Upon return there was no note as to what was found or done. I've used the scope for only part of this season as health issues prevented my shooting the past 3 years. Last week at the range I noticed the scope is again loosing focus after 2-3 shots. Has anyone else had an issue with this? Is the recoil on the 30BR more than this scope can handle? I have other scope I can used such as Nightforce 12-42 which I'm sure can handle it. I will have to return the scope to Leupold again but will have lost all confidence in it. Unfortunately I also am facing another surgery which will keep me from shooting until next Spring so even after service it will be a while before I can make sure it works Thoughts? James
Click to expand...

I've never had a focusing problem per se with either of my Leupold 45X45's. I do however make PARALLAX adjustments as the day progresses and conditions change.

What does your Ophthalmologist [Vitreous and Retina Specialist] have to say, if anything, about what you may be experiencing? I've got a good one, a shooter himself, and a member of the Austin Rifle Club.
 
Your eyes are OK - it's the scope.

I have one that does the same thing exactly. The Southeast region members had Leupold engrave "Made especially for Wilbur Harris" on the big end and gave it to me before they hit the market. My most prized possession. I can't send it to Leupold in fear that something will happen to it but like your scope, it's "liveable", particularly on my rail gun.

I should put it in a display case but then I wouldn't get to show folks the engraving that I'm so tickled about.
 
Wilbur: with you and Wayne that makes at least two other Leupold 45x45mm scopes that do this besides mine.
In your case it's too bad it is a "special" scope.
Since I do not experience anything like this with any of my other numerous scopes I too am sure it is the scope.
I suspect it best to let Leupold service it then sell it as I will never really trust it in the future.
I think I'll try one of my Nightforce scopes on that rifle for a while.
 
I have two that do the same thing. More noticeable on the 30BR than 6PPC. I found that turning the dial toward focus in the counterclockwise direction (or is it clockwise??) reduced the effect.
 
Shooting with things blurry has never bothered me. Don't know what I would do if they were ever clear... For example, I get the difference between the two letters "rn" and the single letter "m" by context.

A lack of trust is "why did that shot go there," and it takes a pretty significant blur for that to come up. POI shifts are a very different matter...
 
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