so im going to get the leuopold mark 4 scope... how do you guys feel about the illuminated reticle??? a friend f mine owns a gun shop and says he can give it to me for 1100 do the ones with the illumanted reticle have the zero stops??? and what kind of adjustments are recommended for this??? it will be going on a remington 700 police and a mcmillan a-4 stock... thanks...
scopes
- Thread starter chriso
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MCgunner
Member
Good for night hunting hogs if you can't afford night optics. Allows you to see the reticule and shoot without a spot light on a moonlit night. I have a cheap scope on my SKS with lighted reticule for that reason, and a spot light mounted to the scope. Low light, the lighted reticule is handy, but hell, for 1100 bucks, I could GET a NICE night optic. I'm just too cheap (and broke) to do it.
I ain't got a rifle, AND scope combo that set me back 1100 bucks! Ouch. Well, to each his own. We have different budgets, I can tell, LOL.
I ain't got a rifle, AND scope combo that set me back 1100 bucks! Ouch. Well, to each his own. We have different budgets, I can tell, LOL.
Smokey Joe
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Illuminated, mmmmhmmm....
If it requires batteries, Murphy's Law states that the batteries will fail at the most inopportune time, and you will either not have a spare at all, or will drop the spare in the mud while attempting to correctly place it in the device in question. You will also be at least an hour away from a store where you could re-supply.
If there is a choice in the matter, I'd just as soon not give Mr. Murphy the chance.
What for do you need an illuminated reticle? For night hunting of hogs, a 'scope mounted spotlight is handy, and much cheaper, and removable when not needed. For $1100 you could probably get 4 top-of-the-line 'scope mounted spotlights.
But that's me. We're talking about YOUR rifle and 'scope. Do what feels right to you, and I for one will not criticize your choice.
If it requires batteries, Murphy's Law states that the batteries will fail at the most inopportune time, and you will either not have a spare at all, or will drop the spare in the mud while attempting to correctly place it in the device in question. You will also be at least an hour away from a store where you could re-supply.
If there is a choice in the matter, I'd just as soon not give Mr. Murphy the chance.
What for do you need an illuminated reticle? For night hunting of hogs, a 'scope mounted spotlight is handy, and much cheaper, and removable when not needed. For $1100 you could probably get 4 top-of-the-line 'scope mounted spotlights.
But that's me. We're talking about YOUR rifle and 'scope. Do what feels right to you, and I for one will not criticize your choice.
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skinewmexico
Member
Nightforce.
GearHead_1
Member
Amen brother, I love mine. Of course U.S. Optics is also an expensive but excellent piece of U.S. hardware.
MCgunner
Member
I can't remember brands, but was googling around one day and found some gen2 and 3 stuff for 1000-1500 dollar range. That was enough, knew I couldn't afford it. Yeah, some of that stuff runs 5 grand or better. Put that on a 75 dollar SKS? ROFL!
Yeah, I fail to see the problem if the battery dies. Then, your cross hairs don't light up. So? If you don't have the option, they'll NEVER light up.
Unless I have good moonlight, I need a spotlight. The lighted reticule works really well on a moonlit night, though, no need for a spotlight. If I'm deer hunting, I don't need a lighted reticule, sorta useless. I mean, if I can't see the crosshairs in my Weaver or Weatherby scopes, it's too early or late to shoot. That Weatherby supreme, especially, a 3x9x44, very bright. I'd expect an 1100 dollar Leupold to be at least as bright or brighter.
skinewmexico
Member
I've found lighted reticules very handy for varmint hunting at night.
im just hoping theres no down the road damage or somthing that can go wrong to my crosshairs or reticle or what not from having an illumintaed one... and it functions just fine without batteries just like a regular scope??? where do you guys live??? all i know is down here its illegal to hunt at night... haha maybe varmints different???
skinewmexico
Member
Legal to hunt varmints and non-native game at night in Texas.
I've got Mark 4's on 3 rifles. I don't have any of them illuminated.
Before springing for the illuminated scope, ask yourself if you will REALLY need it.
Don't get me wrong, they are nice, I've got a Kahles that is illuminated that I hunt with. Quality optics gather the light, the illum reticle aids the shot placement. If you will be using it shooting into shadows get it. If you will have lighter shaded background most of the time, you may not need it.
Better yet, try to borrow one before you spend the bucks.
Before springing for the illuminated scope, ask yourself if you will REALLY need it.
Don't get me wrong, they are nice, I've got a Kahles that is illuminated that I hunt with. Quality optics gather the light, the illum reticle aids the shot placement. If you will be using it shooting into shadows get it. If you will have lighter shaded background most of the time, you may not need it.
Better yet, try to borrow one before you spend the bucks.
George Hill
Member
Oh come on. The US Military runs on batteries. I think this old tired worry needs to be buried and put to rest. The solution is really dirt simple. Bring a few spares with you. They are light and small and you can pack them in compartments on the gun or in a pouch on your belt, or a pocket. Only a moron would roll out on a hunt or a military operation without a spare. You take more than one cartridge with you on your hunt, right?
yeah... well i live in california :-/ but where i hunt yes theres alot of shadows and what not could be sunny as heck outside but the trees will block that from hitting the mountainside... does 1100 sound like a good deal for a new mark 4 illuminated reticle??? i mean i dont necessarily need it but if i had it i would most definitely use it... haha i just wouldnt want it to damage the regular reticle some way and how do you change the battery does it mess with the zero or parallax adjustment and stuff like that??? how do you like your mark 4's dryhumor???
I'm the other way around, I have illuminated Mark 4's on three rifles and a non-illuminated Mark 4 on an AR but it's a FFP model which isn't available with an illuminated reticle. All of the Mark 4s I own have the TMR reticle and I'd say absolutely get the illuminated version since it's not that much more in terms of cost. It's like having four wheel drive, you may never use it but it's sure nice to have just in case. You may be interested to hear that a few months ago I was showing a friend one of my rifles and turned on the illuminated reticle (max power) and left it on over night (about 12 hours). The next morning I remembered that I didn't turn off the ill. reticle and to my surprise, the reticle was still illuminated and still at max brightness!! So how many years of battery life does that equate to assuming "normal" use?
illuminated reticles are useless unless you are shooting at dusk or at night and I never use mine even while hunting. I would step up to a Nightforce NXS, better scope than the Leupold mark4 hands down, plus you don't have to worry about having canted reticles which Lupy is famous for.
You can find used NXS's in like new condition between $1100-$1400 usually a few times a week.
You can find used NXS's in like new condition between $1100-$1400 usually a few times a week.
I like them
I have 2 with mildot and 1 with tmr. They are robust, hold zero, and, I can walk the elevation and windage in a square clickwise and they return to zero.
I was patient and bought 2 of them used, after someone else paid retail. Worth thinking about, a dollar saved on the scope is more money for ammo.
Leupold website has a page that shows the differences between fakes and genuine, I would recommend you look at it if you go used.
If you plan on late shots, try a hood or cover that will enclose the rear of the scope all the way to your eye. This keeps out the light from everywhere else except the light coming through the scope. It will get you 10-15 minutes more shooting time on a moonless night.
If you go with the illuminated scope, I have found that keeping the level lowest to see the reticle doesn't overpower the ambient light coming through the scope. The batteries last longer too, hearing aid batteries last the longest. In reality the light is off until you anticipate a shot.
Leupold is made in America, another plus.
I have 2 with mildot and 1 with tmr. They are robust, hold zero, and, I can walk the elevation and windage in a square clickwise and they return to zero.
I was patient and bought 2 of them used, after someone else paid retail. Worth thinking about, a dollar saved on the scope is more money for ammo.
Leupold website has a page that shows the differences between fakes and genuine, I would recommend you look at it if you go used.
If you plan on late shots, try a hood or cover that will enclose the rear of the scope all the way to your eye. This keeps out the light from everywhere else except the light coming through the scope. It will get you 10-15 minutes more shooting time on a moonless night.
If you go with the illuminated scope, I have found that keeping the level lowest to see the reticle doesn't overpower the ambient light coming through the scope. The batteries last longer too, hearing aid batteries last the longest. In reality the light is off until you anticipate a shot.
Leupold is made in America, another plus.
Chriso PM sent..
MK4's 10x,16x are the only Made in USA scopes put together by Leopold anymore. I called and spoke to Leupold asking why my new scopes didnt have "Made in the USA" on the box or scope anymore and I was told that they now imported too many parts even though the scopes are put together in Oregon. My new scopes were VX3's. Lower end Lupys are made in China.
MK4's 10x,16x are the only Made in USA scopes put together by Leopold anymore. I called and spoke to Leupold asking why my new scopes didnt have "Made in the USA" on the box or scope anymore and I was told that they now imported too many parts even though the scopes are put together in Oregon. My new scopes were VX3's. Lower end Lupys are made in China.
Well there are not many products made in one place anymore anyways so it really does not matter. What matters is getting a quality product regardless where it is made or assembled.
Nightforce is made in Japan other than the new FFP Scope from NF will be marked "Made in USA".
SB and Zeiss Victory are 100% German, Conquest is made in Hungary.
Leupold is china for lower end, high end assembled here with Asian glass.
IOR is 100% Romanian.
US Optics is made in USA
Premier Reticles new scopes will be "Made in USA"
Nightforce is made in Japan other than the new FFP Scope from NF will be marked "Made in USA".
SB and Zeiss Victory are 100% German, Conquest is made in Hungary.
Leupold is china for lower end, high end assembled here with Asian glass.
IOR is 100% Romanian.
US Optics is made in USA
Premier Reticles new scopes will be "Made in USA"
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