I just tried to buy a leupold 2.5x20 and a leupold 1-4x for hunting. I was very disappointed to discover that they have been discontinued.
No more leupold custom shop, no more leupold heavy duplex reticles.
Am I the only person that think the new leupolds look ugly with the squared adjustment caps?
For hunting I just wanted a simple reliable lightweight leupold with the duplex reticle.
From your lips to God’s ears. And an illuminated fixed 4x while you’re at it.Originally Posted by Poconnor
Okie John
“The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
"Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's
Okie; that is a great idea but I fear an illuminated reticle would triple the price and double the weight. How about a 4x Trijicon ACOG fiber optic\ battery powered duplex reticle built for hunting? Increased eye relief and mounting options. I do not think that is going to happen.
Hi, all. Reviving this somewhat older thread since it discusses the Leupold Mark 4HD 1-4.5x24 optic...
The BDC reticle version of this optic is shown in the below image. This BDC appears to be very similar to the one that appeared in the old VX6 1-6x Multigun optic. My question is... given the specified MIL measurements in the BDC, I am wondering what caliber and distances is Leupold suggesting here? I realize a BDC is typically setup for a specific caliber and load. but BDCs usually always specify a distance for each horizontal hash mark. That's the point of a BDC. Does anyone have experience with this BDC and could suggest some guidance?
Additionally... I was wondering if you would consider the FireDot on this reticle to be equally as bright as a Vortex Razor or PST red dot reticle. I know what the PST looks like and I'd like to replicate that but in a light weight optic. I'd consider the Razor, but it's just too heavy for my rifle. Also, if anyone has thoughts on this Leupold, like 1x performance, I'd welcome that as well. Thanks.
https://marvel-b1-cdn.bc0a.com/f0000..._BDC_Web_1.png
Last edited by Chris17404; 04-24-2025 at 12:20 PM.
I'm not a huge fan of the BDC myself. Why don't you chronograph your load and see what it is moving at. You can use JBM ballistics https://jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi website. Just find the bullet you are using in the drop down library and enter the particulars for your rifle. Set it to output in mils and you can compare the subtensions in the BDC to your proposed load.
I’d look at something like https://www.trijicon.com/products/de...r424-c-2900011 instead. It has the same power range and a similar feature set but with reliable internals and a usable reticle, plus it’s about an ounce lighter.
Claims that a reticle matches a specific load with the precision required to use it as described come from the marketing department, not the engineering department. It can work in the military where everyone uses the same rifle and load but there’s too much variation in the real world for it to hold up. First off, that load may not shoot well in your rifle. Second, it may not be the right load for the task at hand. Third, the marketers will almost certainly use unrealistic velocities and BCs for the load they choose. I went through all of this several years ago with a Leupold 3-9 with a ballistic Firedot reticle. It worked up to a point but ultimately, I got rid of it and went with Nightforce.
I chronographed my load in my rifle, calculated drops on https://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics-calculator, verified them in the field, then jotted them down where I could see them. Then I could either hold over or dial as the situation dictated.
This is what that looks like in real life.
A few hours after this was taken, I used this rifle to kill a smallish black bear at 353 yards with one shot.
It's crude but effective.
Okie John
“The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
"Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's
I have a bunch of VX-2 and VX-3 rifle scopes but nothing in their new lineup. I just buy Leupold when I need a scope. Steiner when I need binoculars. It works for me.
They have an offshore produced product but I've never purchased one. All of the gold ring scopes are made in OR. That's what I read.
Probably not much help.
In the P-F basket of deplorables.
I'm considering commissioning a NRL lightweight hunting rifle, and I see the 6-24x and 5-25x Leupolds on some successful shooter's rifles. The comments I've heard make it seem like there is little difference in optical quality between those two exact models. I'd like to look through both to compare.
Speaking of lightweight rifles from earlier upthread, I got to shoot a friend's 8lb 30-06 yesterday. I got two impacts with two shots at 200 and 400 yards, and then I was happy to hand him back the rifle. Punchy.
I do a similar thing. The holdovers are in even increments of 0.5mil so I don't have to dial. I jot down the optimal point blank zero offset and max range.
I chronographed my load in my rifle, calculated drops on https://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics-calculator, verified them in the field, then jotted them down where I could see them. Then I could either hold over or dial as the situation dictated.
This is what that looks like in real life.
A few hours after this was taken, I used this rifle to kill a smallish black bear at 353 yards with one shot.
It's crude but effective.
Okie John
Last edited by Clusterfrack; 04-28-2025 at 10:28 AM.
Instructor/540 Training
Yep.
Most game is taken within 175 yards, so if you zero a modern cartridge at 200, then you can reach to ~250 pretty easily. That's a LOT of reach. You'll rarely need to hold over or dial unless you go out specifically looking to make long shots.
Before I shot that bear, my 25-year average on game was about 30 yards, with only two or three animals beyond 100.
Okie John
Last edited by Clusterfrack; 04-28-2025 at 10:28 AM.
“The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
"Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote