Leupold Mark 3HD 6-18x50

[oc shooter]

thinking of buying a Leupold Mark 3HD 6-18x50 scope for my 308 to replace my Vortex Viper the Viper has been back 3 times and I'm loosing confidence in it I have to say that Vortex customer service is really great but I'm thinking it's time to move on I've always been a big Leupold fan but in the past few years I've tried a couple of Vortex and Burris scopes and I'm behind the curve on Leupold any thoughts on this model?

 

[holdover]

I recently bought Leupold VX-Freedom Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-18x 40mm Side Focus Custom (midwayusa.com) That has custom turrent caps for the bullet your shooting . But I havent shot it yet, LOL. But I have no complaints from my other Leopold scopes. They just won the contract for the new scope for the army . Its a 1x6 . I doubt you will be disappointed for the money spent.

 

[Saltwater60]

I have a Leupold VX freedom on my sons .22LR ruger 10/22 and we all love it. It’s a tack driver and crystal clear. I never have to adjust it. I like this scope so much I found a used one pretty cheap and bought it.
I have a vortex crossfire on my 6.8spc AR and I missed a deer with it this fall. Not sure if I bumped it or what. I’ve since bought a primary arms red dot prism for my 6.8spc and will try that.

 

[meketrefe]

thinking of buying a Leupold Mark 3HD 6-18x50 scope for my 308 to replace my Vortex Viper the Viper has been back 3 times and I'm loosing confidence in it I have to say that Vortex customer service is really great but I'm thinking it's time to move on I've always been a big Leupold fan but in the past few years I've tried a couple of Vortex and Burris scopes and I'm behind the curve on Leupold any thoughts on this model?

Vortex Viper are so so scopes.
Leupold MArk3 are very well made but I would not go with such radical ratio even with parallax compensation.
...I mean unless all you do is target shooting at known predetermined distances.
But even for that there are better optical choices.

It really depends on your objective and personal preferences but I would choose a more versatile ratio.

 

[holdover]

Vortex Viper are so so scopes.
Leupold MArk3 are very well made but I would not go with such radical ratio even with parallax compensation.
...I mean unless all you do is target shooting at known predetermined distances.
But even for that there are better optical choices.

It really depends on your objective and personal preferences but I would choose a more versatile ratio.

which ones do you like?

 

[oc shooter]

I'm a hole puncher haven't hunted in years.

 

[meketrefe]

which ones do you like?

I like US or Japanese high end camera lenses in my scopes and have several models and brands but what is more important here is to decide what kind of glass you need first.
- do you like your scope to be able to shoot at predefined known distances and just zoom in and zero and be able to see groups at 100 yards w/o the need for an additiinal optical system?
- what about seeing groups clearly at 200 yards.
Target scopes allow you higher magnification rate but will sacrifice Field of view and other features.
That is why a starting magnification of 6 is bad with only 18 on the top end. It is such anticuated close ratio.
For example a 1-8 or 2 to 10 ratio in a good scope might allow to read 30 caliber groups at 100 yards and then enjoy a huge fov for more versatility of other uses.
Or a tactical 3-15 might give a perfect compromise that can take on any role as hunting with a decent sill fov, good picture to zoom in intarget shooting and everything in between a tactical 1stffp might have to offer.
Also keep in mind magnification on paper is one thing but a high end quality glass might provide a more clear picture and resolution at a lower magnification than a lower grade lens at a higher magnifocation that atarts to show artifacts and optical aberration as we strech its functions.
Leupold glass is very good on average but still a 6 to 18 might not be ones first choice when compared to a 3-15 versatility.
Many tactical scopes are in the 4-20 and 5-25 range but when you look at it closely a 3-15 will do the same and give you a very practical low end range.
Even a 2-10 will cover 99% of 99% needs including close quarters all the way to as far as the round can go.
In long range the mechanical system and a fine stadiabdesign are more inportant than how much magnifocation.
If at the other hand target and only target is your thing then why not go for a duplex with a 5-30 tube that will allow you to read the newspaper at 100 yards?.
I just dont like scopes that are so constricted specially because rifles and calibers come and go but a food scope investment should stay.

 

[oc shooter]

well meketrefe that was well said but if you read my last post I'm a strict hole puncher with a max shooting distance of 500 yards so hunting and a big fov is not a big concern to me. I'd be interested to hear what scopes you recommend. I've also been looking at Stiener but they're a bit pricey right now

 

[FP1201]

Probably going to catch hell for this...I have had Vortex Products and they will stand behind them, however they are made in China and do suffer enough of a failure rate that we do not stock or recommend them. Want one, sure we'll order it for you, mount & zero too.
Leupold: certainly not a cheap or in-expensive scope, although they do/did produce entry level models at prices competitive to mid-priced Asian made optics. When they bought up the Redfield name, they had the "Revolution" line which I'm pretty sure were rebranded VX-I's and the "Revenge" which were made in the Philippines They were both pretty good optics.
Nikon always made good optics; couple years ago they decided to exit the Rifle Scope market; they'll still honor the warrenty, but AFAIK are not making new scopes.
Burris: We ordered in one of their "Black Diamond" scopes for a Customer: was fcked right out of the box and had to go back. (WE opened the still sealed, undamaged factory packaging) so it's a hard sell to blame the shipper. The Burris Fullfield is on par with the old VX-II designation.
Trijicon's are expensive, but damn clear and I love that Tritium/Fiber optic micro-dot in the center.
Scopes are such a personal preference that it's very difficult for the average person to really get what he needs, wants, and a fair price, and to me the reviews seem bot driven.
For the guns I go to and really like they have either Leupold or Trijicon optics ('cept a couple uber expensive eurotrash scopes) but I digress.

 

[meketrefe]

Probably going to catch hell for this...I have had Vortex Products and they will stand behind them, however they are made in China and do suffer enough of a failure rate that we do not stock or recommend them. Want one, sure we'll order it for you, mount & zero too.
Leupold: certainly not a cheap or in-expensive scope, although they do/did produce entry level models at prices competitive to mid-priced Asian made optics. When they bought up the Redfield name, they had the "Revolution" line which I'm pretty sure were rebranded VX-I's and the "Revenge" which were made in the Philippines They were both pretty good optics.
Nikon always made good optics; couple years ago they decided to exit the Rifle Scope market; they'll still honor the warrenty, but AFAIK are not making new scopes.
Burris: We ordered in one of their "Black Diamond" scopes for a Customer: was fcked right out of the box and had to go back. (WE opened the still sealed, undamaged factory packaging) so it's a hard sell to blame the shipper. The Burris Fullfield is on par with the old VX-II designation.
Trijicon's are expensive, but damn clear and I love that Tritium/Fiber optic micro-dot in the center.
Scopes are such a personal preference that it's very difficult for the average person to really get what he needs, wants, and a fair price, and to me the reviews seem bot driven.
For the guns I go to and really like they have either Leupold or Trijicon optics ('cept a couple uber expensive eurotrash scopes) but I digress.

the low end of the line are chinese the high end are superb japanese construction.
the razor and PSTII are built in the same place other high end japanese are built. The old Weaver tactical were also built there.
Once you approach the $1K budget you start to see some of the most decent ones and can also find a few decent in
specials in the $700-800 range.
Everthing else below is a hit and miss type of situation. It doesn't mean chinese is all bad but you know...

 

[meketrefe]

well meketrefe that was well said but if you read my last post I'm a strict hole puncher with a max shooting distance of 500 yards so hunting and a big fov is not a big concern to me. I'd be interested to hear what scopes you recommend. I've also been looking at Stiener but they're a bit pricey right now

I am not an expert in target scopes but I have a Sightron that goes up to 32 magnification. very well made scopes.
I like the ZEISS target scopes with the very fine duplex but not sure who has them in stock. I saw lots of changes with covid.
I guess a leupold VX5 will give you a more attractive set of features unless you want to get into the top tier
leupold and nightforce benchrest models.
Steiner doesn't make a target scope.
Kahles will provide one via custom order and a little fortune.
Germans and swiss glass does not bring anything too special to the table for target.

 

[FP1201]

the low end of the line are chinese the high end are superb japanese construction.
the razor and PSTII are built in the same place other high end japanese are built. The old Weaver tactical were also built there.
Once you approach the $1K budget you start to see some of the most decent ones and can also find a few decent in
specials in the $700-800 range.
Everthing else below is a hit and miss type of situation. It doesn't mean chinese is all bad but you know...

Generally we figure a more expensive models from manufacturers are better in all aspects, but in the one case of the Burris, it truly was a WTF moment when a top of the line $1K+ optic comes in fubar'd it just shows no one is immune.
Bushnell used to, probably still does have some decent optics once you start over the $500. mark....It's likely just like guns, everybody has entry/economy level, something in the middle, and Ho-Lee Schitt expensive.
I'm no more an optics expert that anyone else, but the one difference you can almost always count on comes with that last half hour of light: cheap won't tell you if its got horns....those lenses are expensive for a reason.

 

[meketrefe]

Generally we figure a more expensive models from manufacturers are better in all aspects, but in the one case of the Burris, it truly was a WTF moment when a top of the line $1K+ optic comes in fubar'd it just shows no one is immune.
Bushnell used to, probably still does have some decent optics once you start over the $500. mark....It's likely just like guns, everybody has entry/economy level, something in the middle, and Ho-Lee Schitt expensive.
I'm no more an optics expert that anyone else, but the one difference you can almost always count on comes with that last half hour of light: cheap won't tell you if its got horns....those lenses are expensive for a reason.

Buy from Midway. They take anything back. that is about the only advantage I see from them and occasional deals but customer comes first.
the OEM is huge in scopes so it changes a lot from year to year and model to model. you have US optics now offering the ~1K models that
obviously they are not going to make here.
Pretty much brands are force to play in the entry and mid markets and the brands might mean just so much in function of the dollar that is why knowing what brand models are made where and having to test them as much as one can is huge.
It is like electronics, Samsung continues to make great electronics in china but they have implemented their own quality control process unlike it happens wiht other electronics that used to be made in japan and now they might be done in a basement somewhere in china.