Rifle Scopes Flash from the past; how good/bad is a Leupold MK4 3.5-10

[TheGerman]

Yes I know much much better exists but this is a study in cost versus performance versus I'm not too worried if it explodes but would be happy if it worked for my intended purpose. I actually used to have one a few years back and can't remember not liking it.

I wanted a fairly light optic, 30mm tube, good glass, that could be had pretty inexpensively (as far as optics are concerned), with a top end at around 10-12, around 40mm objective, first focal plane, that was fairly short and 'low profile'. I was going to try this on the SR25 to keep the weight down, keep the rifle pretty low profile and be used in conjunction with a clip on at night.

The more I looked the more things got weeded out. Either I was looking at something over $2500, second focal, small objective, no parallax adjustment, heavy as shit, as long as a t ball bat, etc. And then I stumbled back onto the 'old school' Leupold. It's listed at 20.5 oz, and has pretty much everything I want for this project except the MIL turrets but that can be fixed by Leupold for $130. I can find these for $700 sometimes if I shop around and if the SR25 destroys it, I'm not going to be sad about it.

As I mentioned, yes there is MUCH better. I own a good collection of Steiner, Nightforce, Zeiss and have had my hands on pretty much everything.

I was curious if someone could come up with something better with these parameters in mind.

 

[VJJPunisher]

aint nothing wrong atoll with those scopes, at all. Que all the faggots..............3....2.....1.....

 

[TheGerman]

How did you manage to NOT mention a fleshlight?

 

[bkw1911]

The one with the m3 turrets is pretty sweet and should be right at home on sr25/mk12 type rifles. I wouldn't hesitate

 

[supratt96]

I have one thy I've been using for hunting and target shooting since the early 90s and it's still going strong. Nice glass and never a lick of trouble.

 

[diggler1833]

I was looking for something similar about a year ago. Went with a Bushnell 3-12x44 FFP with illuminated mildot for around the same price new as you are wanting to spend on a used Leupy. Size wise it is very close to the Mark 4 3.5-10 models.

I have been very happy with mine so far for the price.

Not hating on the Mark 4 line, have owned two 4.5-14x50s that worked very well when I had them.

 

[tnichols]

I have the earlier VXIII version of that scope. It's probably 15+ years old now. It has been on a .223 gasser, a loaner/substitute, etc... It presently sits atop my .22LR. The glass/lens coatings still work great for my 50 year old eyes. It's been solid kit and have no intentions of selling it anytime soon. And yes, it's the mil dot ret with moa turrets.

 

[sinister]

The M3LR is an under-appreciated piece of really, really good equipment.

 

[Keith E.]

I used three of them for years, now down to one on a 16" .308 gasser. No worries at all.

Keith

 

[6.5 GUY]

I've been using the 3.5-10x40 w/the M3 turrets for the past 15 years without any issues. Its been mounted to my Kimber Montana Shilen barreled 6.5/300 WSM since 2011, still works great and wouldn't change a thing. If I do miss it's not the scope's fault!

 

[jdr724]

They make 3.5-10 now with M5 turrets and FFP #110074. Of course it costs more but I've seen them new for $1228.

These units have clearly withstood the test of time and a nice matchup for 762 semi. I doubt 762 fire has destroyed many if any of these.

 

[BCP]

I have a 3.5-10 M3 on my M1A. Works well enough. I would prefer a nightforce 2.5-10 though.

 

[drum13]

You've been listening to the rich kids here too much. The Mk4 3.5-10x40 are great fucking scopes and the M3 and M2 knobs/turrets are what make them special (and low profile)..... ((Wait, what?!?....not matching turrets w/reticle!! Horror!))

For the money difference I'd go with illumination instead of FFP. FFP is kinda useless in a 10X.

Perfect scope on an SR25.

 

[g3ninfinite]

really thinking about that 110074 over that new x42 Night Force.

 

[g3ninfinite]

Has anyone ever seen a 3.5-10x40 with the m5 .1mil turrets?

 

[g3ninfinite]

nevermind it seems like its the old style m1 turrets with .1mil clicks not the big m5 knobs

 

[MJY65]

They are just as good as when they were considered "the scope to have". The fact that other scopes have come along with different features does not diminish what the MKIV was, or is. While some of the newer features add functionality, a good many of them are simply options that are in fashion now and may or may not be as popular when the next great thing comes along.<script type="text/javascript" src="safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/8717796/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js"></script>

 

[d762nato]

Works for me, I have one on a early Armalite Ar-10-T-16 incher since the late 90's and no problems yet.

 

[Okie Gordon]

And then I stumbled back onto the 'old school' Leupold. It's listed at 20.5 oz, and has pretty much everything I want for this project except the MIL turrets but that can be fixed by Leupold for $130. I can find these for $700 sometimes if I shop around and if the SR25 destroys it, I'm not going to be sad about it.

You might be a bit careful.
I have an older MK4 M3 that is mil reticle with MOA clicks.
A previous thread on here, which I believe you were posting on, mentions having Leupold switch out the MOA knobs for MIL knobs.
I dropped them a note and asked about doing that for my M3.
The initial reply I got indicates that it depends on the age of the optic.
There must be some sort of internal difference to the older scopes.
They still haven't gotten back with me after I gave them my serial number.

My point is that if you are figuring on buying a used M3 to have switched over, you need to know if it is suitable.

 

[TheGerman]

You might be a bit careful.
I have an older MK4 M3 that is mil reticle with MOA clicks.
A previous thread on here, which I believe you were posting on, mentions having Leupold switch out the MOA knobs for MIL knobs.
I dropped them a note and asked about doing that for my M3.
The initial reply I got indicates that it depends on the age of the optic.
There must be some sort of internal difference to the older scopes.
They still haven't gotten back with me after I gave them my serial number.

My point is that if you are figuring on buying a used M3 to have switched over, you need to know if it is suitable.

Looks like if I go this route, I'll have to call with the serial number first to see.

I'm considering doing this with the turret switch over (I'm disappointed they are not the bigger turrets but the skinny higher ones. WHY???) and getting a used Mk4 for the hell of it or going off the deep end and just getting a MK8 CQBSS which doesn't actually meet everything I was wanting.

 

[fdkay]

How about this?
moa/moa, lighted reticle, same ballpark as far as weight.
If illume isn't a concern, they also have mil/mil.
Sightron Riflescopes SIII Series SIIISS3.510X44LRIRMOA

Available for 760 from a site sponsor:
Sightron 3.5-10x44 SIII 30mm Riflescope

 

[g3ninfinite]

Looks like if I go this route, I'll have to call with the serial number first to see.

I'm considering doing this with the turret switch over (I'm disappointed they are not the bigger turrets but the skinny higher ones. WHY???) and getting a used Mk4 for the hell of it or going off the deep end and just getting a MK8 CQBSS which doesn't actually meet everything I was wanting.

Yeah if you look at the manufacturer photo on all the sites it shows M3 turrets on the M5 .1 mil 3.5-10x40. But in actuality what you get is the M1 turret in .1mil. No Idea WHY they did that. Wish it was an M3 style turret or better yet a REAL m5 turret but its probably not possible on the 30mm tube. Still might get one at the fed/mil price for a 5.56 SPR. We'll see.

 

[jdr724]

You should know that the TMR/MILDOT line thickness in nominally bigger that that of the MIL-R/MOAR of the NF. Also that the TMR has the open center.

I would agree with the FFP at 10x not a requirment on a battle rifle. 50-300m zero means little to no adjustment in that range so lower mag is a non issue and everything beyond that is 10x unless super low light or mirage require a reduction in magnification.....

really thinking about that 110074 over that new x42 Night Force.

 

[Okie Gordon]

Looks like if I go this route, I'll have to call with the serial number first to see.

I'm considering doing this with the turret switch over (I'm disappointed they are not the bigger turrets but the skinny higher ones. WHY???) and getting a used Mk4 for the hell of it or going off the deep end and just getting a MK8 CQBSS which doesn't actually meet everything I was wanting.

As an update, I got a reply back from Leupold and my M3 that was purchased used in 2001 is new enough that they can do the switch over. Not sure what year it was actually manufactured and they didn't say.