Leupold VX-Freedom vs. American Marksman

[DannyLandrum]

Leupold VX-Freedom vs. American Marksman

Which one is better and what's the difference? They're very close to the same price for the same config.

 

[Skylerbone]

Marksman gives you a slightly wider FOV through the power range and a 1 oz weight advantage. Cons include less windage and elevation adjustment and it’s discontinued.

I can’t give a precise reason why, maybe concern over possible quality slippage at Leupold, but I’d sooner find an NOS VX-2 or buy a VX-3. I do have a VX-Freedom so I cannot say I would never...I also have a -1, a -2, and three Mark ARs.

 

[cdb1]

I know nothing about the Marksman. When the Freedom came out I called the Leupold rep who covers Dallas/Fort Worth cuz we had a good relationship when I was selling optics, even though I was a peon and he could have easily blown me off. He said the Freedom was VX-2 glass and everything else was either VX-1 components or components of VX-1 quality.

I’m also of the same mind as Skylerbone about tracking down a New Old Stock VX-2 or a VX-3 and it’s not just because he’s my hero. I personally believe a VX-2 is a big step up from a Freedom and a VX-1.

 

[Axis II]

I looked through a vx2 and freedom and IMO the original vx2 is better.

 

[LiveLife]

Marksman ... and it’s discontinued.

It's available from Cabela's/Bass Pro for $179 - https://www.cabelas.com/product/LEUPOLD-AMERICAN-MARKSMAN-IN-RIFLESCOPE/2582141.uts

This Leupold response from Cabelas's Q&A page

The Leupold® American Marksman 3-9x40 fits in the VX-1 line of scopes. This is a Cabela's exclusive rifle scope and it was introduced the last week of July 2017.

My comparison review with Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...mendation-for-308.842282/page-2#post-10944780

 

[Nature Boy]

I saw this deal on Optic Planet. Have never looked through one but for $188 it doesn’t look like you’re risking much considering it is a Leupold

https://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-vx-freedom-3-9x40-1-inch-riflescopes.html

 

[jmr40]

To be fair I've only looked through the VX Freedom in a store and no experience at all with the Marksman. But do have some experience with older VX-2's, VX-3's and older versions. Leupold upgraded the entire VX lineup in 2012. With older scopes I'd go VX-3 at a minimum. But a 2012-2017 VX-2 sold at about $300-$350 is every bit as good as the older VX-3.

If considering a VX-1, or something in that price range I think the $199 Burris FF-II is the better scope at that price. And if considering the current VX3 the now discontinued Zeizz Conquest is a better scope IMO. While not sold by Zeiss, Meopta still carries it. Meopta always made it, Zeiss just re-badged it.

If the new VX-Freedom compares closer to the VX-2 then I'd think it a darn good scope for the money. If it is closer to the VX-1, maybe not. The jury is still out.

 

[cdb1]

To be fair I've only looked through the VX Freedom in a store and no experience at all with the Marksman. But do have some experience with older VX-2's, VX-3's and older versions. Leupold upgraded the entire VX lineup in 2012. With older scopes I'd go VX-3 at a minimum. But a 2012-2017 VX-2 sold at about $300-$350 is every bit as good as the older VX-3.

If considering a VX-1, or something in that price range I think the $199 Burris FF-II is the better scope at that price. And if considering the current VX3 the now discontinued Zeizz Conquest is a better scope IMO. While not sold by Zeiss, Meopta still carries it. Meopta always made it, Zeiss just re-badged it.

If the new VX-Freedom compares closer to the VX-2 then I'd think it a darn good scope for the money. If it is closer to the VX-1, maybe not. The jury is still out.

I’d take a Fullfield II over a VX-1 too. I’d always heard the Conquest and MeoPro were the same scope and assumed it to be true. I’ve had a Conquest for some time and purchased a MeoPro four years ago. In appearance they are definitely not the same. Looking through them the glass doesn’t seem the same either. Meopta made the Euro Instinct for Cabela’s. I’m not sure about the glass but in appearance they are the same as a Conquest.

 

[LoonWulf]

If the new VX-Freedom compares closer to the VX-2 then I'd think it a darn good scope for the money. If it is closer to the VX-1, maybe not. The jury is still out.

My sample size is 1, and It appears I usually see thru leupolds optics rather poorly, so take this with a grain of salt.....
I've got a 2-7x33 VX-Freedom on my SKS.
Optically it works.better with my eyes than any Leupold I've used yet. I'd definitely put it above a newer VX-1 or Rifleman.
Mechanicaly it sighted just fine, but it feels rougher than it's predecessors.

 

[DannyLandrum]

So is it correct to say that the VX-Freedom is the new name for the VX2, and the American Marksman is the new VX1 line? Just from the pricing, this seems reasonable.

 

[cdb1]

So is it correct to say that the VX-Freedom is the new name for the VX2, and the American Marksman is the new VX1 line? Just from the pricing, this seems reasonable.

My take, and I could easily be wrong, is the Freedom is the replacement for the VX-1 and VX-2.

The Marksman I can’t get a handle on. It only came in one configuration-3-9x40 and the difference in MSRP between it and a 3-9x40 Rifleman is $10.00. It’s been discontinued according to Leupold’s website.

I was fixing to tap Post Reply but googled Leupold American Marksman instead. This tidbit popped up. It was posted on THR in 2017:
“In the Question and answer section on Cabelas website somebody asked where in fit compared to a vx-1. The cabelas response was that it was part of the vx-1 line but is a Cabelas exclusive. Looking at the specs it appears like it is basically a vx-1 with a LR windplex reticle so it should be good. Here's the exact quoted response, "The Leupold® American Marksman 3-9x40 fits in the VX-1 line of scopes. This is a Cabela's exclusive rifle scope and it was introduced the last week of July 2017."

 

[troy fairweather]

My sample size is 1, and It appears I usually see thru leupolds optics rather poorly, so take this with a grain of salt.....
I've got a 2-7x33 VX-Freedom on my SKS.
Optically it works.better with my eyes than any Leupold I've used yet. I'd definitely put it above a newer VX-1 or Rifleman.
Mechanicaly it sighted just fine, but it feels rougher than it's predecessors.

i do think people see different thing thru scopes. one time at gander they had a vx-2 display and a bushnell display side by side, i think the bushnell was the banner it was nder $100. other then the eye relief on the leupold was better the bushnell looked much better to me.

 

[cdb1]

i do think people see different thing thru scopes.

I know it’s true.

 

[troy fairweather]

To u fellas that have glasses( i should really use them myself) if u pick up a scope and its in the normal focus meaning the focus ring is all the way in. do u guys need to turn the ring to get a clear picture. for me the best focus is when its turned in all the way.

 

[cdb1]

It depends on your correction where the ocular bell is adjusted to. It could also need be adjusted all the way out. I could be remembering this wrong but I think in if you’re nearsighted, out if your farsighted.

I’m nearsighted with bad astigmatism and found out by accident a couple of years ago that I see better through a scope without my glasses on. I think it has something to do with my astigmatism.

 

[troy fairweather]

I am slightly nearsighted and have a bad astigmatism ( red dot are near impossible to use) things are not to blurry far out but there is some blur my scopes are in on the focus.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm nearsighted and use contacts, my scopes are set with the occular a ways out.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'm nearsighted and use contacts, my scopes are set with the occular a ways out.

huh maybe i am the odd ball lol. From the people that i know that have them out cant use sights anymore ether they loose one or the other sight

 

[Skylerbone]

Local stores may hate me but I adjust scopes before trying to focus them at anything. I’ve explained to more than one employee over the years what I was doing and why. Don’t get me started with binoculars!

We don’t just see differently depending on vision but color is subjective as well. There are however more things to take note of than center clarity or perceived brightness when it comes to scopes and typically buyers don’t and won’t ever know their scope’s flaws or shortcomings.

Ask yourself which of the following pictures is accurate. What gave you that impression? Which objects did you focus on as evidence? And finally, would you care if you knew or would your eyes simply prefer one over the others (disregarding the ugly guy in the middle of course).

To me the obvious answer is “wow, that iPhone takes lousy pictures”.

 

[troy fairweather]

Local stores may hate me but I adjust scopes before trying to focus them at anything. I’ve explained to more than one employee over the years what I was doing and why. Don’t get me started with binoculars!

We don’t just see differently depending on vision but color is subjective as well. There are however more things to take note of than center clarity or perceived brightness when it comes to scopes and typically buyers don’t and won’t ever know their scope’s flaws or shortcomings.

Ask yourself which of the following pictures is accurate. What gave you that impression? Which objects did you focus on as evidence? And finally, would you care if you knew or would your eyes simply prefer one over the others (disregarding the ugly guy in the middle of course).

To me the obvious answer is “wow, that iPhone takes lousy pictures”.
View attachment 809795


View attachment 809796


View attachment 809797

great photos u should get them framed i do have a little color blindness mostly with purples and greys like my dad he has 20-10 vision and he is 62.

 

[Gtscotty]

I like that the Freedom line has a locking ocular bell, the free rotating, and sometimes shiftable (waggle-able?) ocular on the VX-2 line is what drove me up to the VX-3i line.

If you're looking for deals, the last scope I bought was a Nikon Monarch 5 on clearance:
https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-monarch-5-rifle-scope-2-10x42mm-ed-advanced-bdc-reticle-matte.html

An extra 10% off coupon I found online brought it into the general price range you're looking at, but in my opinion, it's a sizable step up in terms of optical quality.

 

[troy fairweather]

I like that the Freedom line has a locking ocular bell, the free rotating, and sometimes shiftable (waggle-able?) ocular on the VX-2 line is what drove me up to the VX-3i line.

If you're looking for deals, the last scope I bought was a Nikon Monarch 5 on clearance:
https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-monarch-5-rifle-scope-2-10x42mm-ed-advanced-bdc-reticle-matte.html

An extra 10% off coupon I found online brought it into the general price range you're looking at, but in my opinion, it's a sizable step up in terms of optical quality.

how do u like the nikon 2-10 and what rifle is it on

 

[Gtscotty]

how do u like the nikon 2-10 and what rifle is it on

Don't want to derail, but it's on my 18.5" .30-06 X-Bolt.

It's not my smallest scope, and it weighs about 16oz, but it is quite good for the price optically, and the BCD reticle works pretty well for my load 180gr Accubond @ 2,690 fps out to the 500 yds I've tested it. The included caps are pretty worthless and kept popping open and filling the lenses with snow while I was elk hunting a few weeks ago, but I like the scope itself.

Here's a comparison to my Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36 B&C.


300 yd check target, the Browning/Nikon is upper left, a bit high for the sake of being on at the 400yd hash. Two different 6.5 loads with the Kimber/Leupold on the bottom.

 

[troy fairweather]

Don't want to derail, but it's on my 18.5" .30-06 X-Bolt.
View attachment 809892 View attachment 809893
It's not my smallest scope, and it weighs about 16oz, but it is quite good for the price optically, and the BCD reticle works pretty well for my load 180gr Accubond @ 2,690 fps out to the 500 yds I've tested it. The included caps are pretty worthless and kept popping open and filling the lense with snow while I was elk hunting a few weeks ago, but I like the scope itself.

Here's a comparison to my Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36 B&C.
View attachment 809894

300 yd check target, the Browning/Nikon is upper left, a bit high for the sake of being on at the 400yd hash. Two different 6.5 loads with the Kimber/Leupold on the bottom.
View attachment 809897

looks good on that browning. i really like that kimber, i would like to get the hunter in 280 imp one day. thanks for the photos.

 

[cdb1]

Local stores may hate me but I adjust scopes before trying to focus them at anything. I’ve explained to more than one employee over the years what I was doing and why.

When I was selling scopes I expected customers to do that, if they didn’t I had them do it. It was very surprising to me the number of people who didn’t have a clue that they should adjust the ocular to their eyes.

Many times after someone said they had looked through a particular scope and the glass sucked, after having them adjust the ocular the scope suddenly had great glass.