Going from G3 1-10 to HD5 2-10?

[FatBoy]

I have competed 2gun the last couple seasons with a G3 1-10 MOA and I hate the reticle. To me, the 200y zero and the thinness of the reticle make the scope less intuitive inside 150 and when I need the more precise hits out far the reticle is so thin that I have a hard time picking it up and actually seeing what yard line of the BDC I’m on. We general have a field or trees as a background, not a berm.

The FC-MOA reticle would be my choice IF it went down to 20-25 MOA in the stadia, as my 14.5s takes 20 MOA to get to 600, so it really doesn’t make sense for me to buy another scope with a reticle that’s not going to fit my kit and shooting style.

That brings me to the HD5 2-10 PR1 MOA. I’m curious and requesting feedback from anyone who may have been using this scope for outlaw 2 gun (5-500 yards)/speed shooting and how the parallax adjustment impact speed shooting. I’m not concerned if you shoot other reticles, really looking to see if I can set parallax and forget it and still have clarity and minimal shift on target. Parallax adjustment is what pushed me off the old 3-5-10 M3 to the NXS compacts and I haven’t looked back, but I have grown to like the FFP versatility.

All my field rifles have a red dot on top so 1x is not an issue for me. I generally use my LPVOs from 4-8/10 .

What scopes and I missing? Looking for compact, capped or locked turrets and a simple FFP scope with MOA stadia reticle that has hashmark to at least 20 MOA. Prefer at east 8x, would not be opposed to 12/14/16 if the scope was small and light enough. Vudu is already on the list.

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[FatBoy]

Not all lotta love for the 2-10, or not a lot of action shooters???

@C_Does video was pretty good, it helped but I’d love to hear from a field shooter who actually uses this scope or something else like it. Particularly interested in sight picture from 10-400 yards with one parallax setting. Is it doable?

 

[jpp3g]

No personal experience on that optic, but I'm considering the same kind of move. I spent the last few years with the G3 and then the PLX-C. I also use an offset red dot for 1x, so I'm frustrated by the compromise you get in a 1-whatever LPVO.

On the Mk5 I'd been looking at that new CMR reticle, otherwise I've been slowly working myself up to just buy the ZCo 2-10 with the HTR reticle.

 

[FatBoy]

Though getting behind the nx8 1-8 is a little tighter than my g3, I’d be ticked shitless if they just put the MOAR reticle in it. Maybe add some thickness outside 25 MOA-ish. It would have been perfect for me. Run it between 4-8x and drive on.

FC DMX is fine but I don’t need the holds , and don’t really like the dots above the center dot. I’ve gotten lost in them twice under stress. Next go around I’ll illuminate the reticle to see if it helps, but I’d still prefer MOA.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

ZCO 2-10. Ditch MOA and join the 20th century.

 

[Fresh2death]

No personal experience on that optic, but I'm considering the same kind of move. I spent the last few years with the G3 and then the PLX-C. I also use an offset red dot for 1x, so I'm frustrated by the compromise you get in a 1-whatever LPVO.

On the Mk5 I'd been looking at that new CMR reticle, otherwise I've been slowly working myself up to just buy the ZCo 2-10 with the HTR reticle.

I don’t action shoot, but I did get a mk5 2-10 cmr some months back. I must say that after 20yrs of many assorted lpvo’s, acogs and nxs 2.5-10’s.. the mk5 is the best I’ve used. I’ve not been a leupold fan, but Leupold nailed it with this one.

 

[C_Does]

I don’t action shoot, but I did get a mk5 2-10 cmr some months back. I must say that after 20yrs of many assorted lpvo’s, acogs and nxs 2.5-10’s.. the mk5 is the best I’ve used. I’ve not been a leupold fan, but Leupold nailed it with this one.

You have in your possession one of the finest optics made. That cmr reticle really finished that optic off perfectly.

OP, thanks for the mention. Once you get behind a good 2-1(x) it's hard to go back.unless weight is your ultimate goal.

 

[TonyAngel]

How high up on the list of priorities is size? The Mk5 is small, but not light for its size. Its compactness is also the source of the downsides. You can't change physics and the small exit pupil demands the tax be paid, BUT it beats the pants off of any LPVO I've shot with and all it costs you is the 1x.

I'm far from being a Leupold fan boy, but I bought a Mark 4HD 2.5-10x while drunk shopping one night. Eurooptic was running a deal on the tax and it made sense at the time. Man, that Mk4 is a dang nice scope and it sparked my interest in the Mk5.

I've had the opportunity to get behind a few and get out to 600 with them. I just kind of set the parallax to 300 and used that to shoot from 200 to 600 back and forth on steel using the reticle. If I was dialing, I may have taken the extra second to spin the parallax dial as well.

I hang out with a bunch of guys who are varying degrees of insane when it comes to spending money on gun stuff, so I get to check out a bunch of different optics. The Mark 5 as a package is impressive and I don't think it could be a wrong choice.

I only question going MOA. If speed is the name of the game, mils is the way to go and it seems that Leupold finally put a decent reticle in the 2-10x with the CMR.

Honestly, when you get to that price range, I think its gonna come down to preferences. I know my next optic purchase is going to be a 2-10 Mk5. I just need to be able to justify it to myself. I just haven't been behind my Mk4 and wished it was a Mk5 yet. Eh, maybe the next time I'm drunk shopping and someone is running a deal.

 

[FatBoy]

I’ve been shooting MOA from 5 to 1000 yards for 24 years. I can shoot MIL but I have two decades of DOPE saved and instantly accessible in my head. If the match is only out to 300 so yards this is a non issue , but if we start to push out I am slower with MILs as I have to think or God forbid, look at my dope card . When I shoot MIL I get to second guessing my hold over and it costs me time. Yes, I could train through it but why? I’m not shooting with a partner or calling shots for anyone.

A lot of love for this little Leupold scope. Still curious about what kind of sight picture and the amount of parallax error to expect with this scope. It’s quite a bit of money to be wrong.

Weight and size are not end all be all, but the rifle this is going on (next season) will be doing the 10k Legion Run and Gun in three weeks. 7.5-9 miles through woods, fields, ponds, barbed wire fences, slack lines, walls, probably Rescue Randy drags, creeks, etc. light and smaller are preferred for my 14.5s and this type of event.

Hadn’t looked at the ZCO yet. I had assumed MIL only, which makes sense these days….

 

[Fresh2death]

I’ve been shooting MOA from 5 to 1000 yards for 24 years. I can shoot MIL but I have two decades of DOPE saved and instantly accessible in my head. If the match is only out to 300 so yards this is a non issue , but if we start to push out I am slower with MILs as I have to think or God forbid, look at my dope card . When I shoot MIL I get to second guessing my hold over and it costs me time. Yes, I could train through it but why? I’m not shooting with a partner or calling shots for anyone.

A lot of love for this little Leupold scope. Still curious about what kind of sight picture and the amount of parallax error to expect with this scope. It’s quite a bit of money to be wrong.

Weight and size are not end all be all, but the rifle this is going on (next season) will be doing the 10k Legion Run and Gun in three weeks. 7.5-9 miles through woods, fields, ponds, barbed wire fences, slack lines, walls, probably Rescue Randy drags, creeks, etc. light and smaller are preferred for my 14.5s and this type of event.

Hadn’t looked at the ZCO yet. I had assumed MIL only, which makes sense these days….

If you really want light an Acog is where it’s at. Outside of that, the mk5 is 3+- Oz heavier than a vortex 1-10 or Atacr 1-8 for example. We aren’t talking about alot of weight difference. I’d say most of the weight difference is due to the tube diameter. Either way, it’s way more scope than the 3oz penalty you pay imho.

 

[FatBoy]

If you really want light an Acog is where it’s at. Outside of that, the mk5 is 3+- Oz heavier than a vortex 1-10 or Atacr 1-8 for example. We aren’t talking about alot of weight difference. I’d say most of the weight difference is due to the tube diameter. Either way, it’s way more scope than the 3oz penalty you pay imho.

Haha, good call. My backup rifle has a ACOG TA01/RMR on it. I may not have gone back to a variable if the reticle tracked better with my 77gr handloads.

 

[dms416]

Parallax adjustment is what pushed me off the old 3-5-10 M3 to the NXS compacts and I haven’t looked back, but I have grown to like the FFP versatility.

All my field rifles have a red dot on top so 1x is not an issue for me. I generally use my LPVOs from 4-8/10 .

What scopes and I missing? Looking for compact, capped or locked turrets and a simple FFP scope with MOA stadia reticle that has hashmark to at least 20 MOA. Prefer at east 8x, would not be opposed to 12/14/16 if the scope was small and light enough. Vudu is already on the list.

Appreciate the feedback.

For the past few months, I've been running the ZCO 2-10 and Steiner 2-12 on 2 different 6ARC gas guns and have been absolutely loving them in shooting a 200-700y.

Like you, I have stuck mainly to LPVO's for mid-range stuff for the speed aspect. While I still think the basis was sound out to a certain point, I value the parallax adjustment for smaller targets and longer shots. With the ZCO, I don't have to be super on the ball with the parallax +/- 150 yards or so and I can make do on infinity. The Steiner at nearly 1/3 the price...it's a little more demanding. I'm willing to bet the Leupold is more in line with the Steiner.

One thing I like on the Steiner 2-12x42 and koshkin notes in his review is that while the STR tree is marked 0.2 mil on the crosshair, on 6x range it's a decent DMR where the 1 mil holds are usable and at 2-3x it appears as a basic crosshair. It's a pretty cool optic for the money and weighs in the same as a heavy LPVO...23oz or so.