Rifle Scopes Need honest assessment of Leup Mark 4 optic

[garandman]

About ready to drop $1400 on another Mark 4 FFP 6.5-20x50. (That's well below market, I know. I got a guy....)

Anyway, I was wondering about honest assessments of Leupold optics.

Is there another scope at $1400 retail that would be better than this Mark 4 at wholesale? Scope to go on a 338 Norma Mag, for shooting out to a mile. BY my calcs, with a 40 MoA base, it should work fine.

Is there another scope at $1700 retail that would be better?

Any and all honest (i.e. not fan boy) assessment of Leup vs. the world of sub-$2K optics is appreciated.

I'll just read w/o comment (unless anyone axs me a question)

Thanx.

 

[K_4c]

A used NF would be my call.

 

[acts238]

NF 3-15 midway clearance under 1500.00
SWFA -SS 5-20 or 3-15 700.00 -1400.00
all have same warranty
NF has better clarity - but 2nd fp
SS 1st fp - better clarity ?
cant say
haven't had the opportunity to look through one ...yet .........
lot of great reviews

 

[6brshooter]

I have had both NF and SS5-20, i now have 2 SS5-20. The nf was real nice but glass was the same to my eyes. They both cut through mirage better then my other scopes. My nf was hi speed,no 0stops. The click and feel of the SS knobs were more positive the nf was kinda vaque to me. My old mk4 4.5-14 is 8 yrs old, not sure how the new ones compare in build or glass quality. I hope they are better mine cost 925 new then, same model is 1200 now.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

A used NF would be my call.

Yup, or one of the midway clearance models

 

[Dogtown]

The Mk4 was a great scope in the 90s.

 

[Longshot38]

I left the world of Leupold long ago for my own reasons. But they still make an OK scope in the sub $2000 range. However given the current offering in the market you can get much more scope for equal or less money. The Bushnell 3.5-21x50, as do the SWFA SS scopes, and the Vortex Viper PST line all come to mind. As for Leupold they still make an OK product at that price point and you KNOW the company will be there tomorrow with dependable CS. But if it were me I'd look elsewhere.

 

[K_4c]

or... save up for a luppy mark 6 ($1750 from liberty optics)

 

[JWHanks]

I would also recommend looking at a Vortex Razor 5-20 if you are interested in a FFP. They are more that $1700 NIB but you could find a nice, clean one that has seen little use around the price you are looking for. I think they are better than the Mk 4 but I could be a bit bias since I run 2 of them on 2 different rifles. NF is also a good one in the 5.5-22 for SFP. Just my .02.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

The only Leupold I have now is the 3.5-10 with TMR, FFP and M5 turrets. I like it, only thing I wish it kind of had was zero stops and thats it. Not really a big deal for me though as I hold more than dial anyways.

If you are Mil/LEO you can call Leupold and get good deals on them. They ship fast too from what I hear.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

or... save up for a luppy mark 6 ($1750 from liberty optics)

That would work too if he isn't hung up on mag range.

 

[cramey74]

I personally think 1400.00 for a Mark 4 Leupold FFP is a great deal. They kinda bash on them here on the hide, but from my personal experience they are pretty darn good. I would not buy a Vortex PST over the Leupold no way no day. Having said that, I still think that the Nightforce NXS is the optic to beat in that price range. If you know a dealer pretty well, the Vortex HD would also be an excellent choice.

 

[VJJPunisher]

I think that deal on that scope is a good buy, Id do it all day long. Nf are badass but not so much so that I'd pass on that deal. I am still a lupy fan regardless of the hide

 

[E. Bryant]

I've owned a 6.5-20x50 Mk4 ER/T. Here is a list of other optics that I've also owned within the same rough price range and upper magnification limit, and which I'd pick in an instant over another FFP Mk4:

1) Bushnell DMR 3.5-21x50
2) Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56
3) Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50

It's not so much that the Mk4 flat-out sucks, but it doesn't hold a candle to the other options. Limited internal travel? Check. Relatively small (by modern standards) 3:1 zoom range? Check. Tiny knobs with indistinct clicks and no locking or zero-stop feature? Check. Spotty reputation for durability/reliability? Check. On the positive side, I thought the ER/T glass was completely acceptable, the TMR reticle is very workable, and the scope didn't weigh as much as a small car.

Now, the Mk6 looks to be another story altogether. One of those at the right price would be very tempting.

I personally think 1400.00 for a Mark 4 Leupold FFP is a great deal.

I bought the aforementioned 6.5-20x50 Mk4 ER/T back in early '09 for $1100, and sold it for about the same a couple years later. Not sure if retail prices have gone up since then, but I don't think that tacking on another $300 for a scope that's gone another five years without substantial improvement constitutes a "great deal".

 

[Graham]

Need honest assessment of Leup Mark 4 optic

Given the cost of their scopes It sure would be nice if Leupold would upgrade the spring they use for erector elevation travel.

 

[boomer81]

Also the bushnell elite tactical stuff is in that range. Im playing with one with a tremor-2 horus reticle. Pretty nice scope for the money but heavy. And the resale is not gonna be as good. I like the mk-4 great customer service means alot to me. you can get a night force as many suggested,For a little more. I like night force i just wish they were around $1300.00 i think thats what they are worth.

 

[John1911.com]

Given the cost of their scopes It sure would be nice if Leupold would upgrade the spring they use for erector elevation travel.

I've been waiting for a comment on it. In my personal experiences, I have seen some of the Leupold tactical scopes have issues taking or holding adjustments. If it was a hunting scope that is set to a certain POI, why not. For me....a scope that is requiring a lot of adjustments, my personal biases are they might fail.

I work with guys who still run them. Even on call outs, it's a personal choice. I don't poo-poo Leupold optics. Just not MY first choice.

TTR

 

[Graham]

Need honest assessment of Leup Mark 4 optic

I work with guys who still run them. Even on call outs, it's a personal choice. I don't poo-poo Leupold optics. Just not MY first choice.

I have seen too many fail to not poo-poo them.