I have a couple of 12X Leupolds. They are the M-8 with adjustable objective. These scopes are very reliable and considering that the new 12X target scopes are very pricey at $579.00 to $599.00 depending on who your looking at.I would not think twice about buying a NIB 12X Leupold for $300.00 to $400.00. What is the scope going for that you are looking at?

 

Any experience or knowledge would
be appreciated.

The year that this scope was made can be determined by serial number.

Any clue as to how big the dot is? For a 12X scope, if dot covers 1 inch or greater diameter at 100 yards, then this dot was designed more for hunting. If dot is .5 inches at 100 yards, or less, then this dot is designed more for target work. Anything in between .5 to 1 inch @100 yards, suggest a more general purpose dot, a hunter that needs as little finer dot, or a target guy that wants a slightly bigger dot to see better.

See http://www.leupold.com/tactical/resources/faq/#questionNine.

When was my scope manufactured?

Every Leupold scope produced since 1974 will have a letter included in the serial number acting as a date-code. Scopes using a letter as a prefix (the beginning of the serial number) were produced between 1974 and 1992. Scopes using a letter as a suffix (the end of the serial number) have been produced after 1992. On the chart below, you will notice the letters "I," "O," and "Q" have been omitted as they are easily mistaken for "1," "0," and "0" respectively.
Prefix: Suffix:
E = 1974 A = 1993
F = 1975 B = 1994
G = 1976 C = 1995
H = 1977 D = 1996
J = 1978 E = 1997
K =1979 F = 1998
L = 1980 G = 1999
M = 1981 H = 2000
N = 1982 J = 2001
P = 1983 K = 2002
R = 1984 L = 2003
S = 1985 M = 2004
T = 1986 N = 2005
U = 1987 P = 2006
V = 1988 R = 2007
W = 1989
X = 1990
Y = 1991
Z = 1992

 

varmintjaeger,

They are asking 420.00 OTD.
That puts it a bit past the high side, and
corroborates a gut feeling I have about
the scope and the price.

Thanks for the your information and your
experience.

Regards,
Old 112
---

MGT,

I did not ask about dot size, but I will.
Also, thanks for the number/letter/date data.
I used it to check dates of my two Leupolds.

Regards,
Old 112

 

Leupy M8 Price

I bought one (I think off the classifieds here) w/in the past year: $250-275 (CRS so not sure exactly).

Like new (it's an "E" suffix and the prior owner said that if I ever wanted to sell it... give him 1st shot...)

Just today using it, I put 5 Wally World Federals into a 1" dot at 50 yds from a 10" Contender .22 Match barrel off a makeshift rest...

HTH

VR
Earl