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Rifle Scopes Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

lds4mysanity

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 12, 2009
51
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Corpus Christi, TEXAS
I am the proud new owner of a Savage 110 BA 338 LAPUA. Struggling with which Scope to put on it. The Leupold is about $230 less than the Nightforce. I know they are both great scopes. I would consider myself a novice long distance shooter but am eager to learn all about it and want to one day try this rifle out to 1 mile. Which brand would you choose? Leupold or Nightforce? I have $1800 to spend.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

Dont buy a new Leupold,youll save up to 50% if you buy used from here.Leupold is a good scope but its not on the same level as a NF.you can get a fully loaded NF minus ffp for $1800.I dont recommend you get anything biger than the 5.5-22x50 or 56mm. The bigger magnification the less elevation adjustment youll have.If you have the cash then go Nightforce,just match your turrets to your reticle,moa turrets and moa reticle or mrad turrets and mil redicle.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

Id go with the Mk4 and a good laser range finder. Mk4 can be had for around a grand new leaving 800 for a pretty nice range finder.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

I am going to stay out of which one is best. I do not own a NF, but I have several Leupold's, and they do great for what I want. But I do not abuse my optics like some of these guys do. So I trust what they say about the NF.

All I can say is that the Mark IV scope is over priced. The new Mark IV is basically the same exact scope as the new VX3. There are only three differences between the VX3 and Mark IV scope. #1: The name. #2: The actual turrets. And you can send a VX3 back and have the turrets installed for a bargain price. and #3: The price. The Mark IV is exactly the same price-same internal adjustments, same glass, same everything.

Now I am not making this up. I have researched this. I have talked to reps. at Leupold. And talked to a few different owners of optics retailers that sell these scopes. And they all verified what I have said.

The other minor difference is availabilty of the illuminated reticle. Some VX3's are available with the IR, and some are not.

Now Leupold is suppose to come out with some new reticles in the Mark IV, so that may be a difference someday.

So when comparing a NF to a Leupold, you might as well compare the NF to the new VX3 line. Basically that is what you are buying. And in that case the Leupold looks a bit better. Because the Leupold VX3's are a good bit less in price. Tom.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

I have to go with 81SFO on this one. Both scopes will work but why buy new when you can find perfectly good scopes for 1/3 the price in the For Sale Section. But, I would also look at the new Vortex PST too. They are cheaper but have more features than the scopes we have listed on this thread and are FFP. Just sayin...
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All I can say is that the Mark IV scope is over priced. The new Mark IV is basically the same exact scope as the new VX3. There are only three differences between the VX3 and Mark IV scope. #1: The name. #2: The actual turrets. And you can send a VX3 back and have the turrets installed for a bargain price. and #3: The price. The Mark IV is exactly the same price-same internal adjustments, same glass, same everything.

Now I am not making this up. I have researched this. I have talked to reps. at Leupold. And talked to a few different owners of optics retailers that sell these scopes. And they all verified what I have said.

The other minor difference is availabilty of the illuminated reticle. Some VX3's are available with the IR, and some are not.</div></div>

Perhaps what you say is true regarding the glass but isn't the VX-3 a scope with a 1 inch tube rather than the Mark 4's 30 mm tube? I know the two VX-3 handgun scopes I bought had the 1 inch tube. When you say the turrets can be replaced with Mark 4 type turrets for a "bargain price;" well I've had turrets replaced on a couple of VX-II scopes. The turrets available weren't like Mark 4 turrets (maybe it's different with the VX-3s) and the "bargain price," as I recall, was about $120.

Now the Nightforce vs Mark 4 question. I have 3 Mark 4s and 3 Nightforces. If my use was to be situations where the scope was likely to be banged around and weight didn't matter much, I would go with the Nightforce. If I wanted a scope that was a little smaller and lighter, I would go with the Mark 4. I would agree with the above poster who said to get the Leupolds used if possible; I see no downside to that since Leupold honors their warranty whether or not you buy their scope used while in times past, though it could have changed, Nightforce's warranty was only good for the original purchaser.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grumulkin</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"></div></div>

Perhaps what you say is true regarding the glass but isn't the VX-3 a scope with a 1 inch tube rather than the Mark 4's 30 mm tube? I know the two VX-3 handgun scopes I bought had the 1 inch tube. When you say the turrets can be replaced with Mark 4 type turrets for a "bargain price;" well I've had turrets replaced on a couple of VX-II scopes. The turrets available weren't like Mark 4 turrets (maybe it's different with the VX-3s) and the "bargain price," as I recall, was about $120.

</div></div>


Obviously when you compare the VX3 to the Mark IV you have to compare only the 30mm tubed scopes. That is common sense.

And yes you can get Leupold to put any turret on the VX3 if you send the scope back to them. You said you had turrets installed on a VXII. A VXII has a different erector system, so how could they use the same turret??

Yes it is different with the NEW VX3. One of the differences in the NEW VX3(not VXIII) is they changed the erector system. And they are using the same erector system that they use in the Mark IV. Tom.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

I hate to comment here because there are guys really loyal to both...but I have both....A Mark 4 on my 308 and two 8.5 by 22 night force scopes. I love my night force scopes. I believe they are build better, more rugged and better optics.

zman
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

When I built up my varmint rig I though I would save a couple hundred and go with a MK4 over getting another NF. Had a problem with the MK4 (Leupold CS is great and fixed it quickly) but that was it for me, sold it and replaced it with what I should have got in the first place, another Nightforce.
 
Re: Leupold Mark 4 vs Nightforce

Between the two of those Nightforce is a no-brainer. I would watch the FS section for a used one (also consider a USO or maybe an IOR 3-18 FFP but I think Nightforce has a better track record than both of them).

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KnabstrupperUSA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">no such thing as an 8.5-22 NFO </div></div>

No, but I think there is a 5-22, and if you look at your keypad you'll notice that the 8 key is directly above the 5 key.