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Leupold FX-II 2.5x20mm Ultralight Riflescope By Rick Ryals  The Leupold Ultralight line
of riflescopes includes 2.5x20mm, 2-7x28mm and 3-9x33mm scopes. These are
slimmed down and lightened versions of Leupold's standard FX-II and VX-II
scopes. They were originally offered as the Compact line and were built to the
standards of the current VX-1 scopes. When they were upgraded to the Ultralight
series, they were brought up to VX-II standards. The subject of this review
is the Leupold Ultralight 2.5x20 fixed power riflescope. It is indeed ultra
light at only 6.5 ounces. In fact, it is the lightest and smallest scope of
which I am aware. It is the only fixed power scope in the Ultralight line. This scope is suitable for
use on short, lightweight rifles, short to medium range rifles and heavy
kicking dangerous game rifles. Its short 2.1” eyepiece and long 4.9” eye relief
make it a good choice for hard kicking firearms. The length of the eyepiece
is a factor that is often overlooked in choosing a scope for a hard kicking gun.
The distance between the rear scope ring and your eye is pretty much fixed. Because
of this, the longer the eyepiece the more the scope encroaches into the space
available for eye relief. Long eyepieces often require extension rings to move
the scope far enough forward. This will not be a problem with the 2.5x20
Ultralight. Leupold has an excellent
reputation for reliability, quality and customer service. Leupold scopes are
also highly regarded for their optical quality. At a retail price of approximately
$270, this is not an inexpensive scope. However, the overall quality in design
and build, unlimited lifetime warranty and the backing of a solid company like
Leupold justifies the price. Here are some basic specifications.
The scope finish is matte
black with the classic Leupold gold ring near the end of the objective bell. The
Leupold name is stamped in white on the left side of the windage/elevation
adjustment housing, with the serial number in white letters on the bottom of
the housing. Near the end of the objective the words “FX-II 2.5x20mm
Ultralight” are pressed into the matte finish, black on black. All lenses are fully
multi-coated for good light transmission and to suppress flare. The Ultralight
2.5x20 offers a clear and crisp view edge to edge. Focus to the eye is achieved
by turning the eyepiece, which is secured in place with a lock ring. The model reviewed has a
wide Duplex reticle, but a heavy Duplex is also available. The inner crosswires
are thin in the wide duplex, covering about an inch at 100 yards. With the
heavy duplex, the inner wires are much thicker, subtending nearly 3 inches at
100 yards. I would prefer the thick outer wires of the heavy duplex combined with
the thin inner wires of the standard duplex. However, for practical purposes,
the heavy duplex reticle as offered could still be used on medium game out to
around 300 yards. Windage and elevation adjustment
is accomplished by 1/4 moa clicks. The adjustment knob clicks are positive and
are easily made using any kind of coin. I have had this scope on a number of
different rifles and have never had a problem resighting it. This is a very trim, compact
and lightweight scope. Unlike some compact scopes, it is easy to mount on a
variety of rifles. Due to the straight objective, the mounting area fore and
aft of the adjustment housing is long enough to allow the use of standard
rings. The short 2.1” eyepiece allows the user to take advantage of the
generous eye relief. The eye relief of this scope
deserves mention. 4.9 inches is very generous, even for hard kicking rifles or
slug guns. It is not critical, giving you about an inch of flexibility in fore
and aft eye placement while retaining the full field of view. In addition, the
large exit pupil allows a good bit of latitude horizontally. The main drawback of the
2.5x20 Ultralight, if you want to call it that, is that it is a fixed power
scope. Fixed power scopes are not very fashionable these days. So, why would you
buy this scope when you have such a wide selection of variable power models? The primary advantages of a
fixed power scope over a variable are superior optics, simplicity, reliability,
lower cost and lighter weight. Fixed power scopes have fewer moving parts, so
there is less that can go wrong. Since fixed power scopes are simpler to build,
they also cost a little less than a comparable quality variable. Because there
are fewer lens elements and parts inside, they weigh a couple ounces less. One
additional advantage is that, since you can't fiddle with a magnification
setting, you will not have your scope set at nine power when you come across a
deer at 20 yards. I think that the greatest
advantage of the Leupold 2.5x20mm scope is its size and weight. It is a perfect
match for the carbine style rifles I so admire. Its 8.0 inch length does not
overpower a short rifle and its 6.5 ounces do not unbalance a lightweight
rifle. It is well suited to rifles like the Kimber 84M, Ruger M77 RSI,
Remington Model Seven, Browning BLR, Winchester 94 AE and the Marlin 336. I own many variable power
scopes. They provide flexibility on all-around or multi-purpose rifles.
However, fixed power scopes of mid-range power such as 2.5x and 4x are suitable
for many of these same uses and types of rifles. For a rifle that you intend to
use for particular types of hunting or in certain types of terrain, a fixed
power riflescope is a sensible choice. As I get older, I find myself gravitating toward simpler things. The Leupold Ultralight 2.5x20mm is a simple scope that is a great value in a compact, lightweight package. I don't plan to put one on all of my rifles, but it is a great match for my Ruger M77 in .358 Winchester. |