Accidentally bought a new rifle...now I need glass.

[FuhQ]

I see a LOT of "pro" PRS shooters using Leupold scopes.

Sponsored shooters… In the wild, how many people do you see shooting MK5’s they bought and paid for themselves? Not many, I bet. I see LOTS of different rigs from all price points up at the range, and over the years, I may have seen less-than a handful of them sitting on the bench.

 

[hafejd30]

Sponsored shooters… In the wild, how many people do you see shooting MK5’s they bought and paid for themselves? Not many, I bet. I see LOTS of different rigs from all price points up at the range, and over the years, I may have seen less-than a handful of them sitting on the bench.

The thing to remember is even though they may be given an optic it still has to stand up to the same conditions as the others for that person to finish in the top

Decent thread on some PRS optics here

Vortex RazorHD Gen III 6-36x56 vs NF ATACR 7-35x56

Anyone compared these two scopes side by side, thoughts, differences?

www.snipershide.com

 

[FuhQ]

The thing to remember is even though they may be given an optic it still has to stand up to the same conditions as the others for that person to finish in the top

Decent thread on some PRS optics here

Vortex RazorHD Gen III 6-36x56 vs NF ATACR 7-35x56

Anyone compared these two scopes side by side, thoughts, differences?

www.snipershide.com

True, but I feel like many scopes get swapped without other people being aware of the failures by sponsored shooters. I’d be willing to bet this happens with all brands…

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Sponsored shooters… In the wild, how many people do you see shooting MK5’s they bought and paid for themselves? Not many, I bet. I see LOTS of different rigs from all price points up at the range, and over the years, I may have seen less-than a handful of them sitting on the bench.

A metric fuck ton. If you got out and shot matches you would know this. For every sponsored Leupold shooter there are 5 to 10 non sponsored shooters running them. They are probably the most popular single scope in PRS at the moment.

No guy is going to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year and hundreds if not thousands of hours of time devoted to shooting and traveling so they can get a free $2,000 scope. And they sure as fuck wouldn't be using them if they were holding them back in any way.

This is the kind of dumb shit posts you get on the hide and why most of the really good shooters stay clear of this place.

 

[FuhQ]

A metric fuck ton. It you got out and shot matches you would know this. For every sponsored Leupold shooter there are 5 to 10 non sponsored shooters running them. They are probably the most popular single scope in PRS at the moment.

They’re still fragile internally, just like the original MK-IV was. Lightweight means lighter internals, which means less-robust parts. Just a fact of manufacturing.

 

[Maurygold]

yeah the mk5hd must really suck...........

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/06/10/best-long-range-scope-reticle-what-the-pros-use/

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

They’re still fragile internally, just like the original MK-IV was. Lightweight means lighter internals, which means less-robust parts. Just a fact of manufacturing.

Seriously you need to stop. Every non Socom MK22 has a MK5 on it, and I can tell you from first hand experience some JSOC guys are running them. Its a very well proven scope by this point and to say otherwise is pure ignorance and stupidity. Its probably had more rounds put through it than just about anything else you will see on the firing line at this point. High level shooters are probably shooting 10-20K rounds a year. If it didnt track or hold up, it would have such a strong following and those "sponsered" shooters would be dumping them the way they are dumping Vortex for ZCO right now.

 

[supercorndogs]

Better than the Bushnell Elite Tactical ERS 3.5-21x50mm for $1200?

The ERS is three generations old. They genrally cost less than 750 anymore.

 

[supercorndogs]

I am not a big fan of Athlon. Just sour grapes. But the Cronus BTR gen2 for 1200 is going to be pretty tough to beat. I don't think I have ever seen a 4.5-27 razor that cheap used. You're never going to find an mk5 for that.

 

[Maurygold]

I am not a big fan of Athlon. Just sour grapes. But the Cronus BTR gen2 for 1200 is going to be pretty tough to beat. I don't think I have ever seen a 4.5-27 razor that cheap used. You're never going to find an mk5 for that.

I'll gladly pay 300-400 more for the used mk5hd - i wonder why it's 10x more popular from PRS shooters paying to travel and shoot?

 

[diggler1833]

They’re still fragile internally, just like the original MK-IV was. Lightweight means lighter internals, which means less-robust parts. Just a fact of manufacturing.

I don't hear a lot of bitching about the Leupolds being fragile (any more or less than comparable $2K optics). Mostly it is stuff like the windage knob, illumination cost, glass quality when compared to comparably priced optics, and a few other things.

I still have some old-ass Mark 4s (albeit fixed 10x) that have arguably the shittiest feeling turrets of anything known to mankind - like 'Wal-Mart Tasco in the bubble wrap' quality. However, they are certainly durable optics...and lightweight.

Just my observations over the years. YMMV.

 

[Chickentoast]

Don't know or care about durability, but the MK5 was inferior to the original XTR3 (never mind today's choices) due to small FOV. Optically, I found them basically a wash - maybe better contrast with MK5, but who cares, it's like looking through a straw, and was 500 bucks more. I returned mine. Also, PRS is gay.

 

[FuhQ]

Don't know or care about durability, but the MK5 was inferior to the original XTR3 (never mind today's choices) due to small FOV. Optically, I found them basically a wash - maybe better contrast with MK5, but who cares, it's like looking through a straw, and was 500 bucks more. I returned mine. Also, PRS is gay.

The new production XTR-3 5.5-30x56 is quite impressive optically. Mine will hold its own with other higher-priced scopes that I own. Maybe mine is a freak of nature, but it's pretty damn incredible for the $1,200 they're selling them for now.

From what I've read, the XTR-3 3.3-18 is inferior to the 5.5-30 glass-wise.

 

[Chickentoast]

The new production XTR-3 5.5-30x56 is quite impressive optically. From what I've read, the 3.3-18 is inferior to the 5.5-30 glass-wise.

I still have 2 of the US made ones, and they are great, especially the SCR2 for tiny groups. And 2 G3's, as I found those better values than the Alpha stuff after trying it all. But OP has 1.5K to spend, so T6xi or used S3 still my vote.

 

[supercorndogs]

I'll gladly pay 300-400 more for the used mk5hd - i wonder why it's 10x more popular from PRS shooters paying to travel and shoot?

I would take a 5-25mk5 for 1500 or 1600 as well. That would be a pretty good deal. Same with razor 2 for 1200. Gonna be 1500-1600 used usually for the razor more for the leupold. A couple slip out cheap between Christmas and tax returns though. Not going to find those prices every day.

Dont the charts actually show most prs shooters don't use them. They do show as a single brand leupold has more users than the other single brands. I don't see where it says all those leupolds are mk5s though.

I seriously doubt anything has seen more use than the razor gen2 at this point.

 

[Maurygold]

I would take a 5-25mk5 for 1500 or 1600 as well. That would be a pretty good deal. Same with razor 2 for 1200. Gonna be 1500-1600 used usually for the razor more for the leupold. A couple slip out cheap between Christmas and tax returns though. Not going to find those prices every day.

Dont the charts actually show most prs shooters don't use them. They do show as a single brand leupold has more users than the other single brands. I don't see where it says all those leupolds are mk5s though.

I seriously doubt anything has seen more use than the razor gen2 at this point.

I’ve bought 3 seperate mk5 for under 1800 each. The razor was my alternative option to the mk5 for op.

It’s the mk5 - there’s nothing else people would be shooting from leupold there

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

A few guys do run the Mk4hd including at least one sponsored shooter. But 99% are running the mk5hd

 

[srt-4_uk]

Didnt we discuss in another thread that those surveys dont mean anything because they are all out of date.....


Anyways, here is what's currently on PRS's website. Sure looks like a lot of MK5s.

 

[hafejd30]

What we need to discuss is the NF ATACR 7-35 still holding its own!

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Didnt we discuss in another thread that those surveys dont mean anything because they are all out of date.....


Anyways, here is what's currently on PRS's website. Sure looks like a lot of MK5s.
View attachment 8565232

You don't understand the difference between people entering info on a site potentially years ago and never updating it and a guy who polls the top 200 shooters on their specific equipment they are using right now and publishes it?

Swing and a miss.

 

[CK1.0]

The TAC A1 is a solid blue-collar factory rifle, buy a ~$10 YoDave trigger spring or similar to lighten up the trigger, and slap on as many mlok weights as it’ll let you and you’ll have something that will take you into the mid-pack of PRS or maybe beyond.

For glass, a used Gen2 Razor 4.5-27 MRAD out of the PX is within your budget and is still a solid, great, bombproof scope that can take you far. Plus, even though it may be a step behind the latest and more expensive shit, besides glass, it’s still a real/legit top-tier built scope that will probably be worth what you paid for it when/if you decide to get something a little nicer a couple/few years from now (unlike any of the Athlon and Bushnell trash that has been mentioned).

 

[beetroot]

From what I've read, the XTR-3 3.3-18 is inferior to the 5.5-30 glass-wise.

It's hard to determine if this is the general theme, but the 3.3-18 US made I have has great glass up to 12x, then it drops off noticeably.

If the 5.5-30 has the same glass (or better) without the drop off then it'd be a excellent scopes.

 

[beetroot]

I'd jump on that Athlon Cronus deal.
I've not used the Cronus but have the Delta Stryker, which are reported very close optically, but the Cronus has a better reticle. At $1200 I think it'd be very hard to beat.

From what I've seen the LOW 4.5-30 base design offers the best performance in this price range.

 

[CK1.0]

This thread is surprising in that I thought the Hide had higher, more obnoxious, standards.

The OP with a budget of ~$1500 can choose from more than a couple of examples that were top-tier only a couple/few years ago… and yet there’s all these guys trying to put him in Hyundai’s and Kia’s when there’s still low mileage Lexus’ and Benz’s with better warranties on the lot.

 

[white_rushin]

Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56mm MSR2 Riflescope 5124

FREE SHIPPING on Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56mm MSR2 Riflescope 5124

www.eurooptic.com

Anybody know why more PRS shooters aren’t running this? Seems like it checks a lot of desired boxes

 

[supercorndogs]

Didnt we discuss in another thread that those surveys dont mean anything because they are all out of date.....


Anyways, here is what's currently on PRS's website. Sure looks like a lot of MK5s.
View attachment 8565232

Yep, lot of mark5s, and two to three times as many that are not mk5s.

 

[supercorndogs]

Anybody know why more PRS shooters aren’t running this? Seems like it checks a lot of desired boxes

First reason is probably they haven't been out that long. Second reason would probably be the Steiner TX5 broke a lot hearts.

 

[Maurygold]

[/QUOTE]

Anybody know why more PRS shooters aren’t running this? Seems like it checks a lot of desired boxes

Reticle. That tactical ranging reticle is too busy and clustered with ranging data you don’t need for prs and most people want something with a more runway style for holds at distance

Shame on everyone suggesting bullshit Burris and athlon instead of a real scope like vortex, Nightforce, leupold

 

[Ragin_cajun]

If you wanna be smart log on leupold and setup your military discount then get a mk4hd 6-24 for $800 (love mine!)

 

[supercorndogs]

The XTR3 has great bang for the buck also. Just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend. I wouldn't put much stock in the PRS gear queering angle. MK5 is nice. To me it wasn't worth the extra over the xtr3 either, so I sold mine. 3.8-18. Sold it for more than some claiming you can buy mk5 5-25s for. I didnt see what mk5 offered over most of the other scopes mentioned besides being relatively small and lite. Which is not nessisarliy always a good thing.

 

[diggler1833]

What we need to discuss is the NF ATACR 7-35 still holding its own!

Id personally say "yes" in several ways, but with NF sitting on its thumbs while other companies up their game it is getting more difficult to justify their cost. That glass on the LRP S3 line is getting damn close...and I'd call the G3 Razor an equal.

I did get a 7-35 ATACR this year for $2,700 through a very specific chain, and at that price I felt the purchase was justified. At ~$3,500, I'd have gone another direction.

 

[white_rushin]

Reticle. That tactical ranging reticle is too busy and clustered with ranging data you don’t need for prs and most people want something with a more runway style for holds at distance

Shame on everyone suggesting bullshit Burris and athlon instead of a real scope like vortex, Nightforce, leupold

They have the SCR2 Mil reticle with a more prototypical Christmas tree. That’s what I run and I’m surprised it wasn’t the model that was initially recommended here. I think Steiner falls in the latter camp of NF territory

 

[widefat77]

Mention Leupold in any online forum and you get the same thing - just like the evening news/AP mashup, all the idiots reading a teleprompter.

 

[HardRockARC]

It's hard to determine if this is the general theme, but the 3.3-18 US made I have has great glass up to 12x, then it drops off noticeably.

If the 5.5-30 has the same glass (or better) without the drop off then it'd be a excellent scopes.

I got rid of my 3-18 XTR3 and got the XTR Pro. Glass is noticebly better. My XTR3 really dropped offaround 12 power. I find it hard to believe the 5-30 XTR is that much better with the same glass.

But having shot a MK5HD, XTR Pro and XTR3 Id rank them in that order. Price, turrets and illumination are why I chose the XTR Pro. Still got the 1/4 mil reticle too

 

[HardRockARC]

Anybody know why more PRS shooters aren’t running this? Seems like it checks a lot of desired boxes

Its not a PRS scope. Plain and simple. Its a duty scope. But its the same glass as the XTR Pro, same reticle choices as well. I personally HATE the locking turrets and -.4mill Zero stop.