Not a fan of this model - Leupold VX-3i LRP 8.5-25x50mm Side Focus TMOA Rifle Scope

I found this scope locally and was able to handle prior to purchase. In the store I was able to compare glass side-by-side with several other makes, manufacturers, and price points. This particular store has a window in their optics department that overlooks a field with a treeline at 250yds and a farmhouse at 750yds. At all distances, the glass quality was superb. Great clarity, good resolution, high contrast (which is a big selling point for me), and I really, really liked the TMR reticle. The turret clicks were phenomenal, very precise, tactile, and audible. I was thrilled! All that for about 1/2 the price I was willing to spend that day. I raced home to mount to my Tikka, feeling like I'd just won the lottery.

But there are things that are harder to notice when you're fighting your own steadiness, and holding a scope freehand in a store..

With the scope sitting loosely in its mount, I began adjusting position. I noticed that the eyebox seemed more picky than it had earlier, but not a huge deal. So I adjusted for proper eye relief. Got it close and noticed I was only around 12x magnification. Whoops. Turned to 25x and my sight picture was gone! Must have moved it. Reset eye relief at full mag, and snugged the rings. Things were looking good until I backed the magnification down again. Sight picture gone! After some soul searching, I discovered that Leupold lists eye relief as 5.3-3.7 inches, which is a rather unforgiving change of 1.6inches across the magnification range. I was pretty disappointed at that fact, as changing position, readjusting cheek weld, and trying to compensate for 1.6inches of change in posture is annoying to say the least. Still, I was determined to make it work, though my earlier enthusiasm had nearly evaporated at that point. The straw that broke the camel's back was the horrific tunneling at the lower end of the zoom range. I have never had a higher-end scope tunnel to the point where you could see the entire outside edge of the lens, and what's more, the way it transmits light, the entire edge of the lens glows like a halo- in even medium sunlight.

I'd had enough. I moved on and got something else. I'm not loyal to any brand; If a product represents features, quality, and value, I will consider it. I will look at other Leupold products in the future, albeit more carefully. People seem to love the scope in general, so maybe I'm just a picky weirdo, but these are the real issues I found with the LRP, that should at least warrant acknowledgement and consideration prior to purchase.