Reliability is paramount! - Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44 Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube, Second Focal Plane

My recent experience with Leupold has made me a Vortex customer for life!
I've always used both Leupold and Vortex on a variety of rifles. Vortex has proven to be supreme. This particular scope is by far the best bang for the buck. The clarity, weight and reliability is excellent. But what I love most is the simplicity of the Dead Hold Reticle. It's just works for all age hunters. My annual out of state hunting trip came, and while siting in my new Browning 308 X-Bolt, my new, out of the box Leupold lost focus and became inoperable. You could hear something rattling around inside when you tilted it up and down. I hurried home to give them a call and get a replacement on the way so that I could have it ready for my hunt. Once on the phone VIP told me they couldn't help and sent me to tech support. Once on hold with tech support it told me I was the 40th caller in the queue. Now, how big of problem does Leupold have, when you're the 40th caller in the queue on the 23rd of December? I never did reach anyone and hung up vowing to never purchase another product from them again. Vortex isn't perfect, but their customer service had another scope in the mail as soon as they had the tracking notification on the one I was returning. My new scope probably arrived before they received my old one. And, Vortex supplied a free return label as compared to having to pay the UPS ground delivery of $70, to send my defective scope back to Leupold. Leupold is not the company it once was. Vortex has taken their spot in the world of hunting where cost, customer service, lifetime warranty, and reliability are important. Leupold's lifetime warranty means nothing when they leave you hanging before your big hunt.