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Leupold MARK 4 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1

Leupold MARK 4 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1

Americas finest scopes, bar none. The Mark 4 “Leup” the most revered scope in field target circles for two decades. Especially in the Premier reticle power boosted form as modified by the late Dick Thomas.

Leupold never a company to stand still innovated the use of side parallax systems and brought the duplex reticle to the world. This 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1 is the latest manifestation of the Mark 4 and is somewhat slighter in build than its predecessors. This scope features only a 3:1 turn down not offering the lower bottom end magnification as the others on test. The optics have been improved (if that were possible) by Leopold’s index lens matching system giving up to a maximum 98% total light transmission.

Matte black (there’s a trend developing here!) with external turrets, which can be disconnected after zeroing to get the “0” to line back up for easier dialling in of further adjustments. The 30mm body tube is milled from a solid billet of 6061 aircraft grade aluminium, not as strong as steel but certainly lighter.

Controls are the now familiar 3 knob saddle, parallax wheel on the left hand side. The wheel is small and moves smoothly focussing is a doddle. Eye relief is a minimum of 3.7 inches on 25 magnification, (when mounting any high magnification variable power scope always ensure that the highest magnification is selected as this will have the shortest eye relief).
The illuminated mil-dot reticle fully illuminates except the actual posts, although the reticle in this scope has very small posts. The reticle being correct at the full 25 power appears spread out when compared to any of the other scopes. The illumination control is at 10 o’clock on the eye bell, rheostat and battery case doubling up. Mark 4’s all come supplied with butler Creek flip up scope covers.

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In more recent times the good news for us in the UK is that Leupold prices have been drifting downward.

Conclusions

Ok so what about Swarovski and Nightforce et al, unfortunately Swarovski don’t yet make a side parallax scope (at time of writing) so they didn’t meet my original criteria. Nightforce I have used an 8-32 x 56 NXS on a friends 6mm PPC and found it highly capable, but could not get hold of one for a direct comparison when I wrote this article.
The old adage rings true with any quality optical goods, “You gets what you pay for.” All this bunch can really cut it, if you want something lightweight the Leupold Mark 4 is the ideal choice, (also worth considering is the lower spec. Leupold VX111 8.5-25 x 50 long range, at £663) Considering the mounts and sunshade are included the IOR makes financial sense without compromising performance. The Schmidt is undoubtedly one fine scope and is built to last forever, but for purely personal selfish reasons I really have to have that second focal plane reticle for precision. The Hensoldt well I don’t know what to say really, except that it is the best scope I have ever looked through in my life. Optically I can’t envisage anything being actually discernibly sharper to my eyes, until someone can build something just as good but lighter, more compact and cheaper! Then I reckon that just might be the peak of scope perfection.

Thanks to Gary at The Sportsman Gun Centre and Gary and Mike at The Riflestore for the loan of the scopes.
All prices quoted in this article were as advertised in Gun Mart at time of writing.

PRICE: £965

  • Leupold MARK 4 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Leupold MARK 4 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Leupold MARK 4 8-25 x 50 LR/T M1 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Made in: USA
  • Magnification: 8.5-25x
  • Objective lens diameter: 50mm
  • Tube diameter: 30mm
  • Elevation adjustment: 70 MOA
  • Windage adjustment: 69 MOA
  • 0.25 MOA: Click value
  • Weight: 638g
  • Length: 366mm
  • Warranty: Lifetime
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