Leupold MK4 vs VX-6: Driven Boar Scope Comparison

A friend and I were invited to Germany for a local driven boar and deer hunt near Frankfurt, and as it was a chance to use my own rifle for a change, I asked Viking Arms for a couple of Leupold scopes to use. I was using a Savage Impulse Mountain Hunter in 7mm PRC, and James used his Sauer 100 in .308. When the scopes arrived, we chose a lucky dip, and I ended up with the Leupold VX-6 1-6x24, while James got the MK4 HD with a 1-4.5x24 specification.

Why Choose a Variable Optic for Boar Hunting?

The key to boar shooting is having an optic with low magnification and a broad field of view, but I firmly believe in the value of being able to zoom in. On many occasions, I’ve had to frustratingly decline shot opportunities at more distant, static quarry when using simple red dot sights. These have their place, and in very close-quarters, fast-fire scenarios they can offer a slight advantage, but I prefer the flexibility of a variable optic. Both scopes were press samples without boxes, although the VX-6 came with its flip-up aluminium lens caps. Both featured 30mm tubes, so we mounted and zeroed them independently at 50m in preparation for the trip.

What are the Shared Features and Field of View?

Leupold offers many variations of their optics, including different reticles and turret click values, but these two both featured 1cm@100m clicks. They featured matte black anodising, recessed objective lenses, and ample tube space for mounting. The scopes also have very similar maximum fields of view:

 
• MK4 HD: 118.8ft at 100 yards on the lowest magnification.
 
• VX-6: 120.9ft at the same distance on 1x magnification.

What Are the Key Features of the Leupold VX-6 1-6x24?

The VX-6 has a broader 6x zoom ratio. The magnification control collar is ribbed for acceptable grip, with a small wing at about 2.75x magnification for easy control with cold hands or gloves. The ocular lens has a fast-focus eyepiece for immediate reticle clarity, and the illumination control is on the left-hand side of the central saddle. This is the FireDot model, so a press of the dial’s centre initiates illumination, with subsequent presses to alter the intensity. At peak brightness, the dot flashes, so further presses step things back down. A long hold turns the reticle off, and the red dot itself is a precise, tiny spot within the Duplex reticle’s arms. The reticle is in the second focal plane (SFP), with eight illumination intensity settings which offer a crisp aim point without any light bleeding out. If you need to take on a longer shot, the VX-6 is equipped with a CDS dial featuring a zero stop and extensive elevation adjustment, allowing the rifle to be quickly switched into a secondary (deerstalking) mode at 4x or 6x magnification. This enables precise daylight shots at extended distances within realistic hunting limits. The CDS turret is fast to operate, with a quiet yet clearly defined silver locking button that permits elevation correction. From a 50m zero, there were still 140 clicks (14 Mils) of additional travel available.

How Does the Leupold MK4 HD 1-4.5x24 Compare?

The MK4’s elevation turret is slightly larger at 38mm in diameter rather than 32mm, and it features a similar locking button, although the engraved markings are slightly bolder, which I prefer. These align with the internal TMR reticle, which also has an 8-stage illuminated dot that appears just a fraction bolder and more prominently overlaid on the mildot reticle markings. These markings need to be dialled to 4.5x magnification to provide correct subtension on target, as this is a second focal plane layout. This makes good sense if you are planning to take longer-range precision shots, as maximum magnification is where you need to be on the 4.5x zoom range. The windage dial is capped, rather than the external unit of the VX-6, but I don’t see this as a downside. It’s a hunting scope for large quarry at realistic ranges, and not really a long-distance dialler needing wind correction. The scopes were mounted on two entirely different rifles with Picatinny rails, and although they offer similar elevation travel specifications on paper, this one showed 19 Mils of travel beyond the 50m zero when set up on the Sauer. This was a unique result caused by the inclined rail.

Which Scope Was Better: The Final Verdict?

Well, as it happens, neither of us had the chance to shoot a boar, but the trip certainly gave us plenty of time to contemplate the optics, particularly with the visible but restricted roe deer in the area. We swapped rifles for contrast on day three and, if I’m being brutally honest, we both preferred the MK4 for several reasons:

 
• The magnification difference didn’t matter much for the likely engagement distances and typical quarry size.
 
• Although the field of view was technically different, the visual difference was negligible in real-world use.
 
• We both favoured the larger elevation dial and the Mk4’s throw lever, which proved quicker and easier to operate with numb hands in the -2°C conditions.
 
• Perhaps most importantly, we both liked the slightly heavier reticle and the intensity of the Mk4’s red dot.

Both scopes delivered superb image quality in the daylight conditions we experienced. Low light wasn’t a factor on this type of hunt. Spending nine hours with little to do but look through an optic, even when the quarry isn’t quite what you’re after, gives you time to reflect and really focus on every sound and movement. In fairness, neither of us had any doubts about our scopes. They had been easy to mount and zero confidently. It is simply a reminder that you do not always get a shot. But at least, with a bit of magnification, if a deer steps out below the skyline, you might just get a shot while waiting for that more elusive and challenging boar!

Contact: Viking Arms - www.vikingarms.com