Leupold Am Marksman 3-9X40?

[ESquared]

Got my Cabela's/Bass Pro Hunting Event flyer the other day, and was struck by the particular Leupold:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/leupold ... ifle-scope

You all know I know nothing about scopes, but would this one be on a "short list," at $160.00?

Too much / too little for either a .357 or 30-30 at 100 to 200 yds?

Would it be accommodated by short rings, so I'd not have to worry about cheek pads and such?

Like most folks, I'm looking for versatility, value, rugged build and good optics. But I'm clueless.

Thoughts?

[Shakey Jake]

Can't go wrong with Leupold scopes for sure. I really like my Burris Fullfield E1 and Fullfield II scopes. Good optics at budget prices:
https://www.sportoptics.com/burris-fulf ... copes.aspx

[ESquared]

Can't go wrong with Leupold scopes for sure. I really like my Burris Fullfield E1 and Fullfield II scopes. Good optics at budget prices:
https://www.sportoptics.com/burris-fulf ... copes.aspx

Thanks, Jake, have read/heard great things about the Burris line as well.

But when you look at either of the Burris scopes side by side with the Leupold, they look like apples and oranges.

Specifically, the Fullfield II is about the same money as this Leupold will be when it goes on sale.

All this coming from a guy who shot Nikon DSLR for years and loves their lenses. Maybe just go that route?

Seems like it's all good, +/-.

[Mags]

...Would it be accommodated by short rings, so I'd not have to worry about cheek pads and such?
Thoughts?

Start with getting the mechanical specs for the scopes you are considering. Do some math to determine the minimum height rings so as not to have mechanical interference of the scopes eye piece and objective lens bells with parts of the Henry such as the hammer when cocked and the buckhorn sights if you plan to leave them in place.

Then go to your LGS with your Henry and have them test fit you up with the scope and rings. Do this before buying a scope. The bell lens on your scope could force you into a ring height that might force you into cheek pads. If you have Sportsman Warehouse they do these fittings. I did not go this route. I did trial and error and it cost me in expense for a set of rings I won't use.

For myself I figured out I wanted my scope rings as low as I could get them mechanically to minimize hold over/under inside or beyond my scope zero.

[ESquared]

...Would it be accommodated by short rings, so I'd not have to worry about cheek pads and such?
Thoughts?

Start with getting the mechanical specs for the scopes you are considering. Do some math to determine the minimum height rings so as not to have mechanical interference of the scopes eye piece and objective lens bells with parts of the Henry such as the hammer when cocked and the buckhorn sights if you plan to leave them in place.

Then go to your LGS with your Henry and have them test fit you up with the scope and rings. Do this before buying a scope. The bell lens on your scope could force you into a ring height that might force you into cheek pads. If you have Sportsman Warehouse they do these fittings. I did not go this route. I did trial and error and it cost me in expense for a set of rings I won't use.

For myself I figured out I wanted my scope rings as low as I could get them mechanically to minimize hold over/under inside or beyond my scope zero.

For my BBS .357, I was just considering going with the Henry one-piece base/ring set-up, since the Leupold has 1" tubes. If I end up with a 30-30 down the road, I'd start over with new rings, maybe the Talley that Henry sells as well. Bad idea(s)?

https://henrypride.com/collections/rifl ... 1320460313

[ESquared]

Digging deeper, it looks like, according to Leupold's website, that this particular model is "no longer available for sale."

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rifle-sc ... man-3-9x40

...but when you type this description into Amazon, it pops up a VX-2 at the same $229.xx price. Apples to apples is hard enough between brands, but comparing this discontinued Leupold with currently available Leupolds is above my pay-grade.

Here's Amazon's
https://www.amazon.com/Leupold-LP110797 ... cope&psc=1

I'm not afraid of getting a discontinued model, given Leupold's reputation. Help!

[tractortad]

I think this is a Cabela's exclusive version of a VX-1 Leupold scope, which is no longer made by Leupold (VX-1 & VX-2 have been replaced by Leupold's VX-Freedom series). The old VX-1's were solid scopes, but their optics (glass) was not as good as the VX-2 glass. The new VX-Freedom series supposedly uses the old VX-2 glass at a lower price point, which (in my opinion) makes them a better bargain. If it were me, I'd spring a couple more ten spots and buy Leupold's VX-Freedom 3X9 - I've got two of these on a couple of 22LR bolt rifles and they are really nice scopes for the $...

Midway has these on sale right now for about $180 (after 10% off coupon presently offered)...

[ESquared]

Thanks, TT, as always. I've been researching the interweb and you're exactly right, it's a Cabela's exclusive, made by Leupold and is comparable to the VX-1 line.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?t ... ng.825138/

Will check out the VX-Freedom at Midway! Thanks for the tip!

[ESquared]

Maybe I'll just get a Nikon Buckmaster II and stop driving myself (and you all) crazy.

[JEBar]

Maybe I'll just get a Nikon Buckmaster II and stop driving myself (and you all) crazy.

that is exactly what we have done .... we have a Nikon on our 357 and 44 Mags .... they perform extremely well .... If I were to buy a Henry 30-30, that is what we would mount on it

[ESquared]

Maybe I'll just get a Nikon Buckmaster II and stop driving myself (and you all) crazy.

that is exactly what we have done .... we have a Nikon on our 357 and 44 Mags .... they perform extremely well .... If I were to buy a Henry 30-30, that is what we would mount on it

3-9X40 or 4-12X40?

[JEBar]

or 4-12X40?

it would depend on pricing .... 3-9X40 would do fine but if I could get a 4-12X40 for about the same amount of money, that's what I'd buy .... I've had a 3X9 Nikon on my Browning BLR 308 since it was made in 1970 .... a 308 has a considerably longer range than a 30-30 or 357 .... that 3X9 has served us well and continues to do so

[Mags]

...For my BBS .357, I was just considering going with the Henry one-piece base/ring set-up, since the Leupold has 1" tubes. If I end up with a 30-30 down the road, I'd start over with new rings, maybe the Talley that Henry sells as well. Bad idea(s)?

If that works for you then not a bad idea at all. Trying things promotes learning.

I didn't see a height for the one piece Henry sells. Might want to email Alison and ask about that.

When I was shopping and checking prices I felt HenryPride was a bit over priced. For example my ring cost me about $38 (inc shipping). Henry $44 (plus shipping). My base was about $10 and HenryPride $27.

[ESquared]

After looking at a 3-9X40 (or 42) in real life at the LGS, I realize how honkin' big those scopes are and how I DON'T want one on my Henry. So I'm headed toward the Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4X20.
Can anyone vouch for some real-world range or field time with this scope on their Henry? Just don't want to make a $200 mistake.

[Mags]

After looking at a 3-9X40 (or 42) in real life at the LGS, I realize how honkin' big those scopes are and how I DON'T want one on my Henry. So I'm headed toward the Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4X20.
Can anyone vouch for some real-world range or field time with this scope on their Henry? Just don't want to make a $200 mistake.

The top zoom of 4X likely not enough zoom if shooting beyond 75yds. Recommend and 8 or 10X for 100yds,

[ESquared]

After looking at a 3-9X40 (or 42) in real life at the LGS, I realize how honkin' big those scopes are and how I DON'T want one on my Henry. So I'm headed toward the Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4X20.
Can anyone vouch for some real-world range or field time with this scope on their Henry? Just don't want to make a $200 mistake.

The top zoom of 4X likely not enough zoom if shooting beyond 75yds. Recommend and 8 or 10X for 100yds,

75 yds will be good enough for where I'm going to be, given the close quarters of SE Missouri. I just know I can't do much with my peep sight beyond 50 yds and I know that low light (early AM and twilight) will be nearly impossible for me to navigate. The VX Freedom will give me the flexibility I need, I believe, especially for this caliber (.357) and the realistic range it allows.
The other issue is mainly cosmetic, and when you get above 7X, the overall scope just gets too big for my liking.
I believe the VX will get me where I want to go, but we'll see.

[Mags]

The other issue is mainly cosmetic, and when you get above 7X, the overall scope just gets too big ...

Um, not necessarily. The 9X40 is big cosmetically, but a 8X24 is quite a bit smaller and only slightly larger than 4X20.

[ESquared]

Um, not necessarily. The 9X40 is big cosmetically, but a 8X24 is quite a bit smaller and only slightly larger than 4X20.

That's totally fair and true, but that put me into a category, price-wise, that I wasn't willing to engage in at this point.

This may or may not be the last scope I ever own in my life. If it's the last one, that'll probably mean I got all I needed.
If I need more, I'll end up buying another one, and I will have learned along the way what the next step needs to be.

I'm prepared to be perfectly thrilled with what I end up with within the next week or so,and I'm sure it will serve me well.

And by the time I get through this season, I'll have a much better idea where I'm going from here.

As usual, you and many others here have been a great source of information and perspective and I really do appreciate all the input and guidance I've received. This Henry Journey has been really fun so far, thanks to all of you!

[Mags]

This Henry Journey has been really fun so far, thanks to all of you!

True, that it is.

[Abnermal]

Your choice of a 1-4 is spot on! Got a Leupold VXR1.25-4 on a .44 Marlin and love it!