Warning on new Leupold scopes

[Andrew NOLA]

I have purchased 2 2-12 VX-6HD gen 2 CDS-SZl2 and 3 3-15 VX-5HD and just started to mount the first one on a rifle and came across the child proof battery covers these new scopes now have that require a special tool to deal with the batteries.

This is a horrible idea - I would have been taking these scopes to Africa but will not now as I refuse to be chained to something that I can not handle with just my fingers or commonly available tools.

I now have thousand of dollars worth of scopes that I consider garbage and would have never bought had I known of this non advertised feature. It is not disclosed it the website

I have no young children and these live in a safe unless I am working with them. Think about it - a toddler would have to have access to the scope, would have to know to unscrew the battery cover, would have to have the finger strength to do so and then would have to swallow the battery. And would have to be non supervised in the amount of time it would take to do all of that, all while playing with scopes which range into the thousands of dollars.

I have sent an email to Leupold to see if they have replacement battery covers that do not require a special tool to use.

I will revert with their response

 

[Datchew]

Let's hope this is a short lived gimmick by Leupold

I think they're base in Oregon? Having spent 2+ years on the Southside of Portland I can attest the state gov is insane. Perhaps this is a gov required feature?

Looking forward to hearing what they say.

 

[TOBY458]

About like those silly key hole locks that S&W puts on their revolvers. I’m sure this was recommended by a team of attorneys.

 

[Paul K]

That is reminiscent of the finger print safeties they tried to put on guns some time ago. So much crap and such a small shovel.
Paul

 

[USMA84DAB]

I wrote and asked about it as well. Like I need another tool to keep track of and haul to Africa?!?!?

 

[ftrovato]

I like the idea.

These batteries are deadly to children. If this saves one child's life I'm fine with the compromise it imposes.

One might not have children around but who knows where the scope might end up 10 or 20 years from now...

My VX-5 has cross hairs regardless of if red dot is on/off.

If one doesn't subscribe...sell it...knowing Leupold is doing their part to protect our kids and their kids...

 

[JimP]

Here are a couple of solutions. One is to just replace the battery before you head out on a trip. Granted this isn't going to guarantee that it'll work when needed but it should.

The other one is to just not purchase a scope that requires batteries.

I agree with ftrovato, with a problem if a child gets a hold of the battery and swallows it and in today's world of liability law suits Leupold is just covering their rear end. I would expect for all manufactures to do the same sooner than later.

 

[BryceM]

Nanny state..... in the extreme. Lunacy. When was the last time you let your grandkids play with your rifle scopes?

 

[mitch4570]

Hell with that I survived in a household that was full of guns, ammo, chain saws, circular saws, knives, lead paint, and other such things. Watch your children and teach them how to be safe around guns ammo and sharp things. Government should not be involved in things they do not under stand. Show me something our goverment gets right. Government is no replacement for parenting.

 

[dchum]

Let me know when you put them up for sale on here

 

[BJH65]

I like the idea.

These batteries are deadly to children. If this saves one child's life I'm fine with the compromise it imposes.

One might not have children around but who knows where the scope might end up 10 or 20 years from now...

My VX-5 has cross hairs regardless of if red dot is on/off.

If one doesn't subscribe...sell it...knowing Leupold is doing their part to protect our kids and their kids...

Certainly understand the concern of a child swallowing a lithium CR2032 battery although unsecured firearms account for far more child deaths. I don’t know the stats on exactly how the children acquired the batteries leading up to them swallowing them but I suspect they were either loose batteries or removed from a toy (there are laws I believe requiring toy manufacturers to safeguard against this) and Duracell now puts a very bitter non toxic coating so they will spit them out.

I’m not sure I can buy into your argument “if it saves one child’s life.” That is the exact rational anti gun folks use. I think educating the public these small batteries can be lethal to children if swallowed, proper disposal like wrapping old ones in tape before disposal and the toy industry is already dealt with it but a scope isn’t a toy and usually attached to a gun.

 

[ftrovato]

Certainly understand the concern of a child swallowing a lithium CR2032 battery although unsecured firearms account for far more child deaths. I don’t know the stats on exactly how the children acquired the batteries leading up to them swallowing them but I suspect they were either loose batteries or removed from a toy (there are laws I believe requiring toy manufacturers to safeguard against this) and Duracell now puts a very bitter non toxic coating so they will spit them out.

I’m not sure I can buy into your argument “if it saves one child’s life.” That is the exact rational anti gun folks use. I think educating the public these small batteries can be lethal to children if swallowed, proper disposal like wrapping old ones in tape before disposal and the toy industry is already dealt with it but a scope isn’t a toy and usually attached to a gun.

As long as these batteries are made there will be accidents.

I'm in favor of all ways to prevent those deaths til better technology rids us of these batteries.

Stopping production is where the final answer will reside....however all scopes manufactured that use them will be around for ages...

Then again, I ate a button when I was an infant. ;-)
So to your point, we all have to take responsibility.

 

[ftrovato]

Nanny state..... in the extreme. Lunacy. When was the last time you let your grandkids play with your rifle scopes?

Good advice. I dont lock my extra scopes. I guess I should. So many places to make mistakes...

 

[Joker12]

There are lots of really fine scopes that don't use batteries.

 

[Denvir Tire]

The CR2032 battery is in virtually every automobile remote key fob. Somehow the automobile manufacturers don't seem overly concerned, there must be something behind this regarding Leupold's actions.

 

[Mike B.]

Certainly it doesn't require this specific tool to unscrew that cap? Looking at the design, I can think of all kinds of things I could try that would be readily available anywhere you might be while on a hunting trip if you lose or don't have access to this tool? Or am I totally smoking crack and there is some type of push button locking mechanism that also has to be pushed while spinning the cap? I only run Leupold on my rifles and I love them for being lightweight along with the other features. I just don't see the issue here from the outside looking in, but I admittedly do not have one of the Gen 2's yet.

 

[Throwback]

I cant help but envision a child holding a RIFLE with the scope on it (with the deadly battery) that they probably got out of a gun safe. Some irony in there somewhere. I think its overkill and the opposite of KISS.

 

[JimP]

I just spent 10 minutes online trying to find the problem that you are saying that there is as far as taking the battery cover off. All I can find is to twist the cover counter clockwise with no special tool needed.

Some pictures of your cover might clear up a lot of things.

 

[Graham Hunter]

I have a shop full of Leupolds and have no idea what you are talking about?

 

[BonUm16]