VXIII v.s. Mark 4

[270fan]

I am trying to select a scope for a 260 I am getting built. I am currently looking at a VXIII 6.5 x 20 x 50 and a Mark 4 6.5 x 20 x 50. What is your experence, knowledge and/or opinions on the following:

1) What are the pro and cons of each.
2) which knobs would be better: regular, M1 or M2 tall?
3) which reticle would you want and why: duplex, Mil dot or TMR or other?
4) What are the pro and cons of the front focal plane reticle?

My hunting is in the SE and is mostly targets, whitetail deer, turtles off the stumps and logs in the ponds and crows along with a little coyote hunting.

Thanks. Al Crouch

 

[JD338]

Both are excellent scopes, the Mark 4 has the M1 dials unless you go with the Precision Rifle "PR" which has target turrents.
M1 dials is the way to go.
If you buy the XIII, send it to Leupold's Custom Shop and have the M1 dials installed, cost is around $175.
The duplex is my preferred reticle and with M1 dials, you can dial in.
All that is needed is a verified drop chart with temp and altitude values plugged in and my Swaro LRF.:lol:


JD338

 

[Desert Fox]

Mark-4 is more expensive
Heavier
Better lenses coating
Rugged and robust

As for reticle, I like the Mil-dot or the TMR.

As to the 1st or 2nd focal plane reticule, my preference would be the 2nd focal plane. If you use the Mil-dot or TMR for ranging, the advantage goes to the FFP.

If you asked me which on scope I favored, it will be the MK-4

I own MK-4, Vari-XIII, Vari-XII and LPS and none of the newer VX series so I can't comment on them.

Have you look at the IOR? They're way better than Leupold. Here's my 6X18X42 Illuminated MP-8 Reticule with 35MM tube:

Here's the lighted MP-8 Reticule

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Knobs M1
Reticle: Mildot or TMR. I've had too many instances were I was unable to get a reading off the rangefinder, and I had to go to the Mildots as a backup. In addition, the Mildot is handy for sight-in. Since you know it's 3.6" between dots per 100 yards, it's easy to calculate your adjustments.
As for vxIII vs M4, I'm sure that either way you will be very happy.

 

[FOTIS]

Desert Fox



nice!!!!!!

 

[Desert Fox]

I thought so too Pop. These one will adorned my 338 Lapua. I like it better than the older model on my 308 below.

 

[gunny1]

I have both and i really like both the VXIII and the M4. But if i had to chose one over the other I would have to say the M4.

I would also have to say m1 with the TMR reticle. As ANTELOPE SNIPER said there are instances when the mil dot reticle or ranging reticle can tell you many things. You can accurately range distance to a known sized traget, you can also use them for windage corrections.

M4 has better coatings and seems brighter so i would spend the extra 2 to 3 hundred for the M4. But that's just my opinion.

Leupold aslo has excellent customer service. I have never had to use them but I know of 2 people who did and they said they returned their scope and had new ones sent back in less than a week. That's pretty impressive in my opinion.

But taste in scopes is like taste in cars or music. Everyone has their own