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Mark 4hd tracking issue

Was at a well known range and verified it with my range finders.
Reee….reeeee…reeee…your rangefinders have an error rate of at least 1.38% (the standard of all known lrf manufacturers) that if unaccounted for could cause an unknown error in your measurement. You need to use a certified tape, measuring from the exact center of your turrets to the target. You don’t even know what your problem is…..reeeeeeee.

Just trying to fit in here. /🙄
 
This whole thread wasn’t “how do I test tracking?” It was “is this a frequent issue with the mark4hd”.
Short answer...Yes. It also seems to be a built-in feature for pretty much all Leupold scopes. That's why I'd get them to replace it with a new one, then sell the NIB one when it comes back, and get something better.
 
9 feet will

I ran the ballistics on that, and I'm not seeing anything close (unless you're shooting a Red Ryder). Since I've screwed things up before...you mind showing a link where 9 feet equals a trajectory change by an inch? I'd like to apply the math to what I do (if it can be validated).

Running a simple test on it on JBM shows that from 91 - 110 yards... a 105gr Hybrid at 2900 FPS has a 0.0 change in drop in inches with a 100 yard zero. I ran it again with a 97 yard zero (to show what a 9' difference would do), and the only thing that changed was that the 0.0 drop changed to 89-110 yards (I stopped the testing at 110 yards). *This is just to the tenth of an inch*, and it would not affect click value of your scope during zeroing.

I'm not discounting the need to accurately measure one's zero range. However the math (at least this simple test) shows that there isn't a whole lot of error that you're going to see in either your bullet trajectory, or your click value, if you're off 9 feet at ~100 yards.

I will hold onto this sentence here for if I need to make a correctional statement if I am proven wrong.
 
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It’s not. the. freaking. ballistics.
The only thing changing is the turret on the scope, the rest is the same.

If at 100 yards 3.6”=1mil, he dialed 5mils=18” and got a bit more at 19”, that’s 19”/18”dialed=1.055 factor
100yards*1.055=105.5 yards where that paper would have to have been at for his tracking error to have been from poor distance. Not out of the realm of possibility in a bad range. His range finder should be closer than that though if it hasn’t been dropped one too many times.
 
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I ran the ballistics on that, and I'm not seeing anything close (unless you're shooting a Red Ryder). Since I've screwed things up before...you mind showing a link where 9 feet equals a trajectory change by an inch? I'd like to apply the math to what I do (if it can be validated).

Running a simple test on it on JBM shows that from 91 - 110 yards... a 105gr Hybrid at 2900 FPS has a 0.0 change in drop in inches with a 100 yard zero. I ran it again with a 97 yard zero (to show what a 9' difference would do), and the only thing that changed was that the 0.0 drop changed to 89-110 yards (I stopped the testing at 110 yards). *This is just to the tenth of an inch*, and it would not affect click value of your scope during zeroing.

I'm not discounting the need to accurately measure one's zero range. However the math (at least this simple test) shows that there isn't a whole lot of error that you're going to see in either your bullet trajectory, or your click value, if you're off 9 feet at ~100 yards.

I will hold onto this sentence here for if I need to make a correctional statement if I am proven wrong.

 
It’s not. the. freaking. ballistics.
The only thing changing is the torrent in the scope, the rest is the same.

If at 100 yards 3.6”=1mil, he dialed 5mils=18” and got a bit more at 19”, that’s 19”/18”dialed=1.055 factor
100yards*1.055=105.5 yards where that paper would have to have been at for his tracking error to have been from poor distance. Not out of the realm of possibility in a bad range. His range finder should be closer than that though if it hasn’t been dropped one too many times.

100% agree it isn't the ballistics.
 
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Tested 3 mark 4 hd in the last couple weeks, they all tracked better than the 9-10 mark 5s we tested

Target measured out to 100 yards with a tape measure, 10 mil dot Target perfectly vertical

20250510_194732.jpg
 
I like it, thanks!

That does require a 30 MOA dial though (and is closer to 10')...so the amount of discrepancy is dependent on the amount dialed.

If you cut it in half (15MOA dial and 3 yards off) ... you're less than a half inch in discrepancy...which makes sense.

In mils it works out to 100 yards x 10 mils x .03599 for a 36” POI shift or 103 yards x 10 mils x .03599 for a 37” POI shift.
 
For the sake of possibly eating crow I will confirm my 300’ tape measure (yes tape measures are frequently off), and I will go back out to the range with both mark4s on Monday.
You’re putting a lot of effort into not sending the scope back. Save money and send them back. Retest when Leupold gives them a clean bill of health or replaces them.
 
Cajun.... listen to the advice given here, but satisfy your curiosity as well. It's called the learning process.

I've explored many dead end rabbit holes before getting to the quick answer given on the Hide, but what I learned was priceless.

It helps you better understand WHY... and your thread is another good example.

Crow shouldn't taste bad.
 
You’re putting a lot of effort into not sending the scope back. Save money and send them back. Retest when Leupold gives them a clean bill of health or replaces them.
My issue is I honestly really like these scopes (other than the tracking issue). So I want to test them both tomorrow to verify that they need to go back because I have two nfl hunter matches coming up and I really don’t need another headache
 
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