leupold Archives

Preface

Over many years I have had a variety of different Leupold optics, for a long time I had several of the old Mark 4 scopes. I have always been a fan of Leupold’s brand you could say, so I am excited to bring you a review of one of their more recent scopes. Today’s subject is the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44 riflescope. The Mark 5 line of scopes promises high-quality imagery, with professional grade optics, and built with quality in the USA. Leupold has kept a finger on the pulse of professional and precision shooters alike, so it comes as no surprise to see them often in both arenas of shooting.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, desert tech, srs Carbon SD, two vets tripod, — shooting the rifle from my **Two Vets** **Carbon Fiber Tripod**

This particular model of the Mark 5 line, is one of two more compact models. The Mark 5 2-10X and 3.6-18X are both smaller objective scopes, with shorter overall lengths. This while retaining all the same Mark 5 long-range features, and with a lighter weight. Making them ideal for smaller precision rifles and tactical carbines.

The Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44

I have wanted one of these for some time, I think they would be fantastic on one of my hunting rifles. The Mark 5 low profile turret system offers three revolutions of the 10.5 MIL turret. Locking the turret is done using the Zero-lock feature, this requires pushing the button to release the turret from zero.

Left: here you can see the lock button (depressed) and rotation indicator . Right: you can see the coil that guides the locking pin and rotation indicator

Being built on a 35mm tube is a small but significant difference. It does reduce mounting options but I suppose it might give some travel advantage. The physical dimensions of this scope are impressively compact, and it is also much lighter than similar scopes. This is one of fewer modern scopes I’ve had that don’t feature an illuminated reticle, which likely also keeps the weight down.

The magnification ring also features a removable throw lever, to aid in quickly transitioning from one setting to another. Taking it off is handy for when it interferes with bolt manipulation.

Specifications

Adjustable Parallax	Side Focus
BDC Dial Included	No
Custom Dial System (CDS)	No
Daylight Bright Illumination	No
Elevation Adjustment Type	M5C3
Electronic Reticle Level	No
Illuminated Reticle	No
Locking Dial	Yes
Magnification Type	Variable
Motion Sensor Technology (MST)	No
Nightvision Compatible Illumination	No
Reticle Focal Plane	First Focal Plane
Revolution Indicator	Yes
Reticle	FFP PR-1MIL
Rezero Type	Set Screw
Reticle Type	First Focal Plane
Adjustable Objective	No
Windage Adjustment Type	Capped
Weight (oz)	26
Elevation Adjustment Value per Click	0.1Mil
Elevation Adjustment Range (MOA)	100
Elevation Adjustment Range (MIL)	29
Elevation Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)	291
Elevation Adjustment Per Revolution	10.5 MIL
Elevation Dial Travel Limit	30MIL
Windage Adjustment Value per Click	0.1Mil
Windage Adjustment Range (MOA)	80
Windage Adjustment Range (MIL)	23
Windage Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)	233
Windage Adjustment Per Revolution	10 MIL
Magnification Max	18
Magnification Min	3.6
Objective Lens Diameter (mm)	44
Linear FOV Low Mag (ft@100yds)	28.3
Linear FOV High Mag (ft@100yds)	5.8
Angular FOV Low Mag (Degrees)	5.4
Angular FOV High Mag (Degrees)	1.1
Eye Relief Low Mag (in)	3.5
Eye Relief High Mag (in)	3.8
Minimum Parallax-Free Distance (yd)	50

Mounting the Mark 5

Due to the 35mm tube of the Leupold Mark 5, it was necessary to use a 35mm mount. Leupold offers a 35mm mount that works great for this. There are other 35mm ring options, but this was an easy button so that’s the way I went.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD,

With the scope mounted and level, I set to zeroing the rifle. The first host for this scope was the brand new Desert Tech SRS Carbon SD rifle, chambered in 308 Winchester. On the rifle range it was a quick job of adjusting the Leupold to match the rifles point of impact. I was a little thrown off by the witness mark of the windage turret, located higher than the typical centerline of the tube.

I fired several rounds to confirm zero and see how the scope and rifle worked together. During this process I found my first flaw with this scope, I am not a big fan of the Tremor reticles . Maybe I am the flaw, but I just don’t like all the dots and such. Chalk it up to personal preference, but I would have picked a different reticle. Looking at my 100 and 200 yard targets I could easily make out great detail through the sharp image of the Mark 5.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, tikka, t3x, krg, bravo, — additional testing was done on my custom Tikka 25 Creedmoor

On the Firing Line

I am not a big fan of public ranges, and if you find me there it’s usually more labor than love. So my next trips out with the Leupold Mark 5 were into the frozen Rocky Mountains and the dry winter ranges of the desert. This would give me more opportunity to scour the distant ridges through the scope. Allowing me to evaluate clarity and other qualities.

The bright environment made for excellent target identification. I practiced my typical routine of picking out targets, usually small rocks protruding from the snow. Snow makes a great indicator when the light is just right, sometimes you can even see bullet holes from great distances.

Dialing the elevation turret for various target distances put me in touch with its function pretty quick. I like the locking zero, and the rotation indicator feature lets you know where you’re at in the numbers. The clicks on these turrets are crisp and easy to count. I mentioned my reticle preference, but the Tremor obviously gives plenty of use for holding wind corrections.

Optical Clarity

I have always liked the look through Leupold scopes, and this one was no chump. Great detail and crisp imagery made this scope very useful in this big country. One of the reasons this scope is so appealing is because it is one of few good scopes that are this compact. The 44mm objective keeps this scope low, and its short length and light-weight make it optimal for a sharp-shooting mountain gun. Together with the SRS SD this scope would make an excellent night-vision or thermal combination. Despite the smaller objective and proportions this scope’s HD lenses still gives a great impression of downrange detail. That said I do feel like some of the 50 and 56mm scopes do look better. Its a trade-off.

Controls

I really like mid-range variable scopes, the 3.6-18 power is a very useful range in my opinion. The power ring of the Mark 5 is smooth and fairly easy to turn, I wouldn’t say too easy but it is close. The removable throw-lever is handy if you need it, and removable if you don’t.

I found the optical focus features of this scope to be very helpful as eyes begin to show their age. Both the ocular adjustment, and the parallax turret gave very fine adjustment, making those images pop.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, desert tech, srs Carbon SD, — my Desert Tech SRS SD rifle also uses an **Area 419 ARCA rail** and **Atlas Bipod**

The curious design of the elevation turret is both effective and functional. The coiled path underneath keeps the rotation indicator accurate, and the scope was always on zero when left there. With a total of 29 MRAD in elevation adjustment, there’s not many shots where you’ll need to hold over with the Tremor reticle. But its nice to have the option if you’re that kind of shooter.

leupold optics, leupold, mark 5, mkV, 3.6-18x44, mark 5HD, turrets — here you can see the unorthodox windage witness mark

The capped windage turret I thought was going to bug me, but it ended up not being an issue at all. I found it really wasn’t worth the risk of having it exposed, and I didn’t need to use it much.

Value

There are a few other competitors scopes that closely mimic the features of this one. Most of them are 30mm tube though, and they are also about half the cost. As a rampant 3-18 power enthusiast I have a variety of them in my collection, and this one is definitely at the top of the price points. That means it has big shoes to fill, and I expect Leupold is up to it.

Having been chosen for the main optical sight for the US Army’s M110 sniper rifle is certainly a feather in their cap. Leupold claims the scope was designed with input from elite shooters, a claim I take at face value since I wasn’t asked…

At the end of the day I feel this scope while expensive can certainly justify its heritage. Military use isn’t necessarily the golden ticket that so many manufacturers portray it to be. But it definitely does mean something, and brings value to both the brand and the scope.

Pros and Cons

As I mentioned already, this scope is very light considering its features. It is also quite compact and optimal for use with other optical tools like clip-on thermals and night-vision. Its sharp imagery and easy to operate controls make it a slam dunk if you want such a scope. I suppose the only downside to this scope is its cost, with a street price around $2300.00 it might be a stretch for some shooters. And if you want illumination which might be necessary if you plan on using it with night-vision it’ll cost you another 350 clams.

Last Words

Few other optics in this category enjoy such heritage. So it should come as no surprise that if you want the top dog in the short and small game, you’re gonna pay for it. Luckily with Leupold you get more than just a good scope, you get the name behind it and the warranty and customer service that comes with it. Scopes like this make me wish I hadn’t sold off all my old Mark IV’s, even if just for the nostalgia.

-CBM

Introduction

Laser rangefinders have been migrating into binoculars for some time now. Many shooters and hunters particularly have found the added value of putting their rangefinder and binoculars into the same unit. Most big names in the optics world have brought a rangefinding binocular to market, and today we are taking a look at one of those. Today I bring you a review of the Leupold Range HD BX-4 10×42 Rangefinding Binoculars.

Having a rangefinder built into your primary spotting tool saves a great deal of time and weight in your loadout. Not having to switch back and forth between binos and rangefinder can men the difference between a successful hunt and tag soup. And if you are lucky enough to have never misplaced your rangefinder, you don’t know the frustration of digging through pockets and packs when you should be shooting.

Leupold BX-4 Binoculars

The BX-4 family of binoculars from Leupold offers a great deal of options. The Range HD model we are testing today are built specifically for those who want a high quality set of bino’s with rangefinding capabilities.

Leupold BX-4 Range HD binoculars — adjusting the eye-cups

Leupold’s Range HD binos are built on a 10×42 set of tubes. It boasts nice features like robust individual oversized eye-cup adjustment, HD lenses, and smooth focusing. But of course the main feature that elevates this product above its family members is the ability to measure distance using an internal laser.

Not only does the laser measure the distance, but the Range HD binos also have additional functions. Besides a LOS (line of sight) mode that gives you direct actual line of sight distance. You can also use it in an actual ballistic distance corrected mode, this uses the actual distance to target corrected by the angle to the target. It also features a BOW mode, for archery hunters.

You can also use one of the many profiles Leupold has made available for ballistic data. Once selected, this profile will populate things such as drop at given distances, wind holds, and other valuable information.

Other features like Leupolds lifetime warranty, waterproofing, and extreme weather exposure capabilities also add value to the BX-4 Range HD binoculars.

Leupold BX-4 Range HD binos in the Field

As I do quite a bit of hunting and shooting in these Rocky Mountains, I wanted to see how well these binoculars would do as my companion. I have used several other competitors binoculars and I feel quite familiar with their performance. My goal is to see how these Leupold binoculars stack up to what I already know.

As I hiked into the high country, I strapped the factory Leupold binocular case across my chest. I feel bad for manufacturers because they all want to offer a nice binocular chest carrying rig. But they also have a budget, which typically means the bino harnesses they ship with the product are too nice to toss, but not nice enough to avoid being replaced by the aftermarket. I use several types, but the Eberlestock Recon bino pack is a perfect fit for these binos. And I highly recommend it over the factory case.

Configuration

Uncovering the lenses of the Range HD binos is easy, with rubber lens covers that are tethered to it. These are very handy for keeping the lenses clean and safe from debris. After that I wanted to ensure the binos were setup properly for my eyes. Both barrels of the binoculars have an adjustable ocular ring, one is to focus the rangefinder display inside. The other is for balancing the focus between your eyes.

textured rubber grip areas in all the right places

Setting the proper mode can be done using the left button, while the right button is used for powering up the unit, as well as toggling through the settings. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself left-hand dominant, you’ll be happy to know that the buttons can be reversed.

With the LOS mode selected, I adjusted the diopters to get a crisp image. Like most Leupold products I am familiar with, this one has outstanding image quality. Looking across canyons I pressed the button repeatedly getting distance readings.

Rangefinding Capabilities

As one of the primary functions, I was eager to see how well the laser rangefinder feature functioned. Reflective targets typically provide better results when ranging with a laser. Leupold claims the maximum effective range of the unit is 2600 yards, which is much further than most recreational shooters will need.

Leupold Rangefinder — quickly getting ranges from regular hunting distances out to over 2000 yards was easy

During my testing I found the BX-4 to be very quick at hitting distances as far away as 2,000 yards. Hitting big things like cars or billboards it would go farther still. But in real world shooting and hunting country, I found useful things like pine trees and rocks were still easily hit with the laser out to the 2,000 yard line.

Ammunition Profiles

I selected a profile that was the closest to my current load, and crossed it against known data. I’ll say just a little bit about this feature; I’m not a huge fan of pre-selected ballistic data, mainly because it can change with atmospheric conditions and weather. And even with all the profiles given, you might not find one identical to yours. But with all that said, for most people at average hunting distances it will be more than close enough to be useful. As long as you practice with your equipment and are familiar with the performance you will likely be fine.

some of the available ballistic profiles

Once you’ve selected a profile, the display will give you the appropriate elevation correction for the distance. This is determined using a fixed zero range in the profile. Once the button has been pushed, the range is displayed and the display will alternate between the elevation correction and the wind hold for that distance. A full value 10 MPH wind hold is what will be provided, you’ll have to determine how much of that is necessary.

While these tools can be very handy for estimates, they should certainly be tested and ensure they line up for you long before your trophy hunt. I may be a bit jaded when it comes to systems like this, which is why sometimes I just prefer to get the actual distance and I’ll make my own estimations. But I have no doubt that when tested and practiced thoroughly, this system could be very useful.

Pros & Cons

Pros

High quality HD image
Made in USA
No BS 2000 yard rangefinder
Comfortable armored rubber exterior
Adjustable Eye-cups
Tripod-ready with 1/4-20 mounting
Reversible control buttons
Different Modes for shooting types
Waterproof and ready for any weather

Cons

Wasn’t hugely impressed with bino-case
Not a big fan of the ballistic profile program

Final Thoughts

Overall I was quite happy with the Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars, the few things I would be picky about aren’t anywhere near as important as the things I like about the product. With an MSRP of $1599.99, these are certainly not cheap. But when compared to other similar products in the market, I think they hold their own. There are always better and worse options, but this one seems like a great product.

I also own binos from two of Leupolds biggest competitors, the Fury LRF binos from Vortex and the Kilo 10K LRF binos from Sig Sauer. All three have good and bad, and it would be a hard choice between the three of them. But I am quite confident that if I had to hunt the rest of my days with only this pair of binoculars, I’d do just fine.

-CBM