Rifle Scopes My Leupold Mk6 3.5 - 18 TMR review

[usmc1488]

LOVE IT!! Im sure you can guess from my screen name that Im a Marine. Being such Ive been exposed to S&B, Knight Force, and Leupold (haven’t been with anyone who has Premiere).
I use to think that the MK4 3.5 x 10 FFP Mil dot was as good as the others listed (still do by the way) as far as optical quality, build quality, tracking, and the “feel” of the turrets.

The MK6 has blown my mind, the turrets are amazing. They are 1/10 mil, each 10th is met with a satisfying click, I don’t understand people who say they feel mushy. The zero stop is easy to use, and you don’t have to “float” the dial to set your zero. All you do is lift up the ring that is numbered 1-10, and realign the number “0”. You can float it if you want to have more than 20mils of elevation, but with a 20moa base that’d be some crazy distance!

The glass is crystal clear at 3.5, 18, and anywhere In between. I love the TMR reticle, it isn’t busy like a Horus reticle, and it is finer than a mil dot with it’s half mil hashes making distance estimation accurate and easy. Yes, there isn’t illumination for the reticle, I never understood the need for it, never used it on our issued weapons, and don’t understand the need. Seriously, zero difference between the clarity with this and an S&B or KF.

Build quality: this thing is built like a tank, love the 34mm tube, it just seems more rugged than the 30mm scopes out there, yes I know the diameter adds into more elevation but it’s ruggedness is impressive. Performed a box drill multiple times this weekend and it returned to zero, PERFECTLY.

With the mil discount this scope becomes really hard to beat. Want more magnification, Im sure the MK8 is just as excellent.

On the M40

 

[GUNNER10]

Yeah, a lot of people still can't believe that leupold upped there game and is producing some of the products available, period

Add in the military discount, it would be redicuolous to pass on a new leupold.

Have the 6-20 m5a2, upgrading to a mk 8 later this year.

 

[generalzip]

Thanks for the review! Been waiting for one! The lack of illumination was the one thing holding me back from this. I was looking at this scope and the new Premier Light tactical which seems almost perfect for what I need. My buddy is also in the military and was looking at the same scopes. Would you mind sharing how much you really save with the military discount vs. just ordering from somewhere online? I'd like to know if its worth going through all the trouble.

 

[unreconstructed]

here you go...

Leupold Tactical Fed/Mil Program | Leupold

 

[Bruiser_Joe]

YES its worth the hassle, the leupy mil discount is one of the best out there.

 

[generalzip]

Awesome thanks good to know. I'll have to give them a call. Still have the Premier LT in the back of my mind.

USMC: In your experience why do you feel the illumination option is worthless? If I can convince myself I don't need it, it would really help me in my decision. How do you like the turrets on this scope vs. the S&B? I like the pinch and turn style so they wont move when the rifle is slung, but do they get annoying to use? I heard there were some reliability issues with some of the turrets. Thanks!

 

[usmc1488]

Yeah, a lot of people still can't believe that leupold upped there game and is producing some of the products available, period

Add in the military discount, it would be redicuolous to pass on a new leupold.

Have the 6-20 m5a2, upgrading to a mk 8 later this year.

If that scope is the 34mm tube one Id be interested in it down the road when you make the upgrade.

 

[usmc1488]

Awesome thanks good to know. I'll have to give them a call. Still have the Premier LT in the back of my mind.

USMC: In your experience why do you feel the illumination option is worthless? If I can convince myself I don't need it, it would really help me in my decision. How do you like the turrets on this scope vs. the S&B? I like the pinch and turn style so they wont move when the rifle is slung, but do they get annoying to use? I heard there were some reliability issues with some of the turrets. Thanks!

Love the turrets, they are very precise, can move 1/10 at a time with ease even if it is at the 5 mil notch which has a hard detent. The turrets are nothing like any one else’s, and I think they are the best in my opinion. Some people have passed them off as broken when they didn’t read the manuals or understand them.

I don’t get the lighted reticle thing. If it is too dark to see the target what good is the reticle being bright? I could maybe see it adding 30 minutes of shooting time right when the sun goes down and there is some light left to see the target but not the reticle, but I still never found a use.

Need to shoot in the dark, get a NVD.

 

[usmc1488]

YES its worth the hassle, the leupy mil discount is one of the best out there.

This, not even a hassle, send an email from your .mil email and you will get sent the program info.

 

[thrusty]

The Mk6 looks like a winner from what you say - nice review....I'd like to see some more photos of it if you have them. What ring height were you using?
I'd like to get a Mk8....but I'm a big fan of their TMR reticle and I don't see that offered. bummer. H-58 is just too busy for my tastes...

 

[usmc1488]

The Mk6 looks like a winner from what you say - nice review....I'd like to see some more photos of it if you have them. What ring height were you using?
I'd like to get a Mk8....but I'm a big fan of their TMR reticle and I don't see that offered. bummer. H-58 is just too busy for my tastes...

They currently offer the mildot in the Mk8 and will offer the TMR latter this year. The rings are USMC Badger High. What photos would you like? I could take more when I get home.

PS
The power control is awesome! Easy to use, and doesnt rotate the cap like KF and others!

 

[thrusty]

I'd like photos a little closer up on the turrets and paralax if you could. I'm interested in how they marked them compared to the Mk4 line.

There's no set screws for the zerostop? You just pull up on the turret and move it and push down?

 

[Jake and Anna]

Military discount!? I had no idea. Looks like I may be able to add one to my collection! Btw, thanks for the review.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[usmc1488]

I'd like photos a little closer up on the turrets and paralax if you could. I'm interested in how they marked them compared to the Mk4 line.

There's no set screws for the zerostop? You just pull up on the turret and move it and push down?

Ill get a picture up latter today. The turret is made up of two pieces. The ring that has 1-10 on it that rotates with the turret unless you are setting the "0" after zeroing the scope to your rifle. Instead of floating the turret you lift up the ring and realign the zero. If you need more elevation, you float the turret by loosening a set screw, pinch the turret and then turn in 5 mil increments. I set it for 15 mil elevation and - 5 mil.

 

[usmc1488]

Military discount!? I had no idea. Looks like I may be able to add one to my collection! Btw, thanks for the review.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

Some times you will get a smuck on the customer care line at leupold, but all companies are like that. The corporation has set a policy of thanking us mil and leo with a HUGE discount on their scopes. Premiere and S&B discounts are a slap in the face. Leupold has won me over with this new line of MK6, MK8, and MK4 34mm M5 turret.

 

[GUNNER10]

was a giant NF guy, till we started getting the 34mm leupold M5a2's and mk8's in at work, since then im sold. considering what you can get a mil discount mk8 3-25/w H58 for vs a mil discount NF f1. its almost insulting

 

[AJB]

I just placed my order for the same scope with the TMR this afternoon through the Fed/Mil program. USMC1488: how long did it take from placing your order until you received your scope?

 

[tylerw02]

Its not that Leupold is offering you guys a big discount, its just that they are overcharging the rest of us

 

[usmc1488]

I just placed my order for the same scope with the TMR this afternoon through the Fed/Mil program. USMC1488: how long did it take from placing your order until you received your scope?

Congrats!!! Mine took a month, but that was before they took off (ive had it for almost four months now). Now the word is out it might be longer, Id call and ask if they are making anymore anytine soon.

 

[58blackflag]

I shot with a fella over the weekend in Douglas Wy who had one of these scopes. I thought it was a nice compact little scope with some great features. He made good use of it and didn't have any trouble banging steel out to 1k with his .308. He kept laughing at me because every time he sat the gun down I'd wander over, pick it up, and start messing with the scope. I think for a shorty bolt gun or a precision gas gun it's a perfect size and has all the features you would need.

Glad to hear you are as happy with yours and he was!

 

[Hotrod20s]

Hey that was mine in Douglas. I'm more than satisfied with mine. I don't have a ton of experience with other high-end scopes to compare it to, just an NXS and some older Mark 4s, but for my needs it perfect. Spent this past weekend with Thunderbeast and put just shy of 300 rounds downrange with it with zero hiccups. It held zero perfectly and always returned to zero despite spinning the knobs continuously all weekend. The glass seems excellent to my eyes. Never had problems focusing on targets at any distance and was able to spot hits and misses all the way out to 1540yds for 58blackflag. (he hit at 1540 btw, with his TB suppressed .260)

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a scope of this caliber. Loving the TMR reticle too, very fast and easy to shoot and spot with.

 

[generalzip]

Would you recommend this type of scope for a precision 5.56 rig? Sure 18X isnt needed, but could be useful for observation if nothing else. Since its FFP, any mag can be used to range as well. On the low end I'm not concerned with a 2.5-10 compared to a 3.5-18. If an ACOG is 4X, surely 3.5 is low enough for anything within 200 yards. I plan to shoot the Larue 5.56 out to 600 yards. Is this scope overkill? I like how its the size of the smaller 2.5-10 scopes while packing in better glass and higher mag range. My only concern is that if I tend to use the scope mostly around 8X, the reticle will be so small it will be useless. This is another reason I was looking at the Premier light tactical which is only slightly larger but maxes out at 15X and has illumination. Thoughts? The mil discount of the Luepold is extremely attractive however, thus putting it in a different class than the Premier. Only big difference there being illumination. I suppose if I buy the mark 6 and want less mag I can always throw the mark 6 on a gas-op .308

 

[tylerw02]

Would you recommend this type of scope for a precision 5.56 rig? Sure 18X isnt needed, but could be useful for observation if nothing else. Since its FFP, any mag can be used to range as well. On the low end I'm not concerned with a 2.5-10 compared to a 3.5-18. If an ACOG is 4X, surely 3.5 is low enough for anything within 200 yards. I plan to shoot the Larue 5.56 out to 600 yards. Is this scope overkill? I like how its the size of the smaller 2.5-10 scopes while packing in better glass and higher mag range. My only concern is that if I tend to use the scope mostly around 8X, the reticle will be so small it will be useless. This is another reason I was looking at the Premier light tactical which is only slightly larger but maxes out at 15X and has illumination. Thoughts? The mil discount of the Luepold is extremely attractive however, thus putting it in a different class than the Premier. Only big difference there being illumination. I suppose if I buy the mark 6 and want less mag I can always throw the mark 6 on a gas-op .308

Despite that he keeps calling it a 3.5-18x, the Mark 6 is actually a 3-18x, and that is the actual magnification.

The old Leupold standard, the Mark 4 3.5-10x, has an actual magnification of 3.4-9.9x, so you're actually getting more on the low end than that model.

Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm (30mm) M3 - Leupold | Leupold

The Mark 6 has a linear field of view of 12.3 meters vs 10 meters for the Mark 4. Field of view is the reason why a person wants less magnification on low end and the Mark 6 delivers.

Comparing that to the Nightforce 2.5-10x, the Nightforce offers 13.4m FOV on 2.5x.

Weightwise, they are about on par. To me if I ever thought I would want more than 10x, I'd get the Leupold.

 

[58blackflag]

Hey that was mine in Douglas. I'm more than satisfied with mine. I don't have a ton of experience with other high-end scopes to compare it to, just an NXS and some older Mark 4s, but for my needs it perfect. Spent this past weekend with Thunderbeast and put just shy of 300 rounds downrange with it with zero hiccups. It held zero perfectly and always returned to zero despite spinning the knobs continuously all weekend. The glass seems excellent to my eyes. Never had problems focusing on targets at any distance and was able to spot hits and misses all the way out to 1540yds for 58blackflag. (he hit at 1540 btw, with his TB suppressed .260)

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a scope of this caliber. Loving the TMR reticle too, very fast and easy to shoot and spot with.

Hey Joe! I'm working on putting that video together now. I'll email you once it's done. good shooting with you.