Why did Leupold discontinue the LCO?

Published on January 27, 2022
Duration: 11:03

The Leupold LCO red dot sight was discontinued due to its high MSRP, lack of popularity, and Leupold's tendency to abandon experimental products. Key technical flaws included Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) causing flicker and internal reflections, while its night vision performance was mediocre. The D-EVO offset prism scope and HAMR were also discussed as less successful experimental optics.

Quick Summary

The Leupold LCO red dot sight was discontinued due to its high MSRP ($700-$900), lack of popularity, and Leupold's tendency to abandon experimental products. Key technical flaws included PWM flicker and internal reflections, impacting its usability and market appeal.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Leupold's Experimental Optics Era
  2. 00:34Leupold LCO Overview & Discontinuation
  3. 01:15LCO Physical Specs & Mounting
  4. 01:52LCO Controls & Battery Life
  5. 03:05LCO Technical Flaws: PWM & Reflections
  6. 04:17LCO Night Vision Performance
  7. 05:40The Leupold D-EVO Offset Scope
  8. 07:32D-EVO Usability & Specs
  9. 08:40Reasons for LCO Discontinuation
  10. 09:30The Leupold HAMR

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the main technical issues with the Leupold LCO red dot sight?

The Leupold LCO suffered from Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) causing a noticeable flicker, and internal reflections of the emitter assembly, particularly in high-angle light. These issues impacted its overall performance and user experience.

Why did Leupold discontinue the LCO Carbine Optic?

The LCO was discontinued due to a combination of factors: a high MSRP ($700-$900), low market popularity, and Leupold's tendency to abandon experimental products rather than developing second-generation versions to fix known flaws.

How did the Leupold LCO perform in night vision conditions?

The LCO's night vision performance was considered mediocre. While it had high glass quality, light transmission was lower than competitors. The NV brightness settings were poorly spaced, often being too dim or causing blooming.

What was the Leupold D-EVO designed for?

The D-EVO was a 6x offset prism scope intended to be mounted behind the LCO. It allowed shooters to switch between 1x and 6x magnification by slightly shifting their eye downward, without moving their head.

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