Redfield scopes: update from Leupold

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I've been a big fan of Redfield Revolution riflescopes for several years. They've always represented a terrific value for a quality optic. When Leupold bought Redfield, they did a fine job of restoring Redfield's good name.

So, when I called Leupold a couple of weeks ago about another matter, I asked the tech support guy what was going on with Redfield, and here's what he said.

Redfield has not been "discontinued". Production has been put on "pause" for the moment, and at some point in the future, production may start up again. However, it's not planned in the immediate future, meaning about the next year.

Now, I'm going to speculate a little. I also notice that the more popular VX-Freedoms are hard to come by at present. The VX-Freedoms appear to use the same turrets, at least, as the Revolutions do, and maybe even the same tubes. I'm guessing that the relative unavailability is because of limited manpower due to COVID-19-related restrictions on the part of either the State of Oregon or the City of Beaverton. Any remaining production capacity is probably allocated to VX-Freedom production since it's the new line. Once those restrictions go bye-bye, the production lines probably will ramp back up and we'll see more VX-Freedoms and Revolutions rolling out.
"SF Liberal With A Gun + Free Software Advocate"
http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/
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Re: Redfield scopes: update from Leupold

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K9s wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 12:13 am C19 has impacted a lot of industries. Firearms and optics are certainly included. Once vaccinations are common, a lot of things should bounce back... I hope.
Yeah, no kidding. The shooting sports in my house took a huge hit.

I'm glad they're just on pause, though. We need lots more kids out there with 10/22's and Redfield scopes.

CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack

Re: Redfield scopes: update from Leupold

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One may have noticed that Leupold's VX-Freedom scopes have also gone MIA. Quite a few models were listed as "No Longer for Sale". It appears that we now know why.

Checking Leupold's Web site, it looks like they've revamped the VX-Freedom line and reduced the available options. The prices are a bit higher now than in the past, with current street prices of $299 for the "low end" VX-Freedom 3-9x40 CDS Duplex.

I also notice that the VX-Freedom AR series is much more limited, with the 3-9x40 offering gone. That really sucks, because the VX-Freedom AR 3-9x40 is a really good general-purpose riflescope! It was to be the replacement, per Leupold themselves, for the Mark AR. And now it's gone. This is very surprising because 3-9x40 is the most popular size and magnification for riflescopes.
"SF Liberal With A Gun + Free Software Advocate"
http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/
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Re: Redfield scopes: update from Leupold

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Had an idea, and I wrote Leupold about it.

The Rifleman and VX-1 lines have been discontinued. Now that the VX-Freedom, with VX-2 glass, is the "low-end" for the Leupold brand, it seems to me the Redfield Revolution line would be perfect to fill that "Rifleman" slot. Since the Revolution line uses VX-1 technology, I'm imagining that the VX-1 tech has gotten less expensive to produce over the years. It's still good technology, and it'd be better than the made-in-China Crossfire II line that Vortex is peddling.

Doing this would mean quality USA-made scopes, with USA jobs, affordable to the average shooter here in the USA (and Canada, apparently). They'd take a good amount of business from Vortex, Bushnell, and others in that price range. When the Revolution was first introduced, Nikon's ProStaff, a good scope, was very popular in that price bracket. Nikon had to lower their prices to compete with the Revolution, and I find the Revolution to actually be a better scope. Leupold sold a looooot of Revolutions as a result.

It looks to me like there's a good business case for such a move.

Now, unless a Leupold employee is reading this, I realize I'm as much on the outside of Leupold as any of the rest of us here. But it does seem like it'd be a good fit. What do you all think--good move, bad move, no real difference?
"SF Liberal With A Gun + Free Software Advocate"
http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/
http://www.liberalsguncorner.com/
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