Differences between the Mark 4 Leupold M3 and the Vari-X III M3?

[6.5 GUY]

I've seen and used the two models decades ago, but for the life of me I can't remember other than Mark 4's were in black boxes, blacked out gold ring, and the maybe a different P/N?

I have a Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm Long Range M3, Matte P/N 51850 with the 3/4 Mil Dot #030123 mounted in M4 Steel rings. It has the .223 Rem. 55 gr. turret cap, a 308 Win 168 gr., the 180 gr. 30'06 Sprg. and the 190 gr. 300 Win Mag.

I bought it new back in the very early 2000's, or late 1990's and I remember debating which to purchase, and for some reason ended up with this one. Haven't seen a Mark 4 in years, but I've seen these come up FS. What ever happened to the earlier Mark 4's? What are the worth? Are they a better made scope vs the Vari-X III M3 Long Range?

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

Maybe you know this, but the VX series is the lightweight hunting line, and the Mark series is the heavier, more durable tactical line.

 

[6.5 GUY]

Maybe you know this, but the VX series is the lightweight hunting line, and the Mark series is the heavier, more durable tactical line.

Even in the M3 long range version? I remember the boxes that the mark 4's came in being huge, but I don't remember the weight of the two scopes being different........ But that was well over two decades ago.

 

[smoothy8500]

Maybe you know this

Sounds like you are mixing up the hunting ones with the LR or Tactical series. They did have some Vari-X III tactical target models that were more like the hunting models with tall target knobs and matte black finish.

Even in the M3 long range version?

A long time back I had called Leupold Custom shop to get clarification on the difference and potential upgrades. According to the rep (and this was 20 something years ago so my memory may be off) physically the construction of the two models in question were the same-glass, turret/erector, body. The coating of the Mk 4 lens was slightly upgraded from the other, as in more layers.

 

[roostercogburn98]

These boxes?

 

[6.5 GUY]

Sounds like you are mixing up the hunting ones with the LR or Tactical series. They did have some Vari-X III tactical target models that were more like the hunting models with tall target knobs and matte black finish.

A long time back I had called Leupold Custom shop to get clarification on the difference and potential upgrades. According to the rep (and this was 20 something years ago so my memory may be off) physically the construction of the two models in question were the same-glass, turret/erector, body. The coating of the Mk 4 lens was slightly upgraded from the other, as in more layers.

Yes that's true too, but the 3.5-10x40mm M3 3/4 Mil Dot P/N 51850 don't use the tall target knobs, they came with four elevation caps for each cartridge/ammunition used, and only came in matte black. Plus the Multi Coat 4 lens coatings found on all VX III's.

The Mark 4's are listed on the bottoms above the serial #'s as Mark 4's, and some older models say Leupold Tactical.

 

[smoothy8500]

don't use the tall target knobs

I was referring to "alltheway" saying you had hunting scopes.

Yes, we're on the same page and I know which ones you are talking about. I had one of those LR Vari-X on my M14. Unless you have the older ones with turret "rings" instead of caps?

 

[6.5 GUY]

I have one that’s at least twenty years old that I’d like to sell which is why I was wondering about the two of them.

 

[6.5 GUY]

I was referring to "alltheway" saying you had hunting scopes.

Yes, we're on the same page and I know which ones you are talking about. I had one of those LR Vari-X on my M14. Unless you have the older ones with turret "rings" instead of caps?

Why is it that I’ve seen these on here before with the cap marked “308M” like yours, vs 308 Win. 168 gr. ?

 

[roostercogburn98]

Mine are marked like this.

 

[smoothy8500]

the cap marked “308M” like yours, vs 308 Win. 168 gr.

Yeah, dunno, I've seen both styles. Maybe one is for the Vari-X vs Mk4. As for selling price, the LR Tactical Vari-X seems to have a bit of a premium over the similar Mk4 M3. When I sold mine the buyer said something the M110 cloners were looking for.

 

[ODCMP]

Why is it that I’ve seen these on here before with the cap marked “308M” like yours, vs 308 Win. 168 gr. ?

Yeah, dunno, I've seen both styles. Maybe one is for the Vari-X vs Mk4. As for selling price, the LR Tactical Vari-X seems to have a bit of a premium over the similar Mk4 M3. When I sold mine the buyer said something the M110 cloners were looking for.

The 308M turrets are graduated in meters and the 308 WIN 168gr are in yards.

The Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm Long Range was produced up to about 2003 and then the Mark 4 LR/T started about 2004. As far as I can tell they are the same otherwise.

 

[Random Guy]

What ever happened to the earlier Mark 4's? What are the worth? Are they a better made scope vs the Vari-X III M3 Long Range?

My impression is that the Mark 4s were originally only fixed power scopes (circa 1993 to mid-200X?). The Vari-X 3.5-10x40mm was likely “re-branded” as a Mark 4 sometime in the 2004-2005 era? My 2007 Leupold catalog refers to the 51850 as a Mark 4. I have a 2009 dated 51850 on an M14 EBR replica.

I don’t know if Leupold changed the lens coating between the early 200Xs and the mid-200Xs Mark 4s, but seems possible that they applied the lens coating to variable power scopes at some point? Or maybe it was just simple marketing/re-branding that scope, esp since the item number seems to have stayed the same.

The letter suffix on the end of the serial number tells you what year it was made. This K suffix on a Vari-X indicates 2002 production for this 51850 scope:

When Was My Leupold Riflescope Manufactured? | Leupold

If you are curious about when your Leupold riflescope was manufactured we have got some helpful information for you.

www.leupold.com

If I found one of those old Leupold scopes at a nice price, I do have this NOS military turret for one, BDC is marked out to 1000 meters…

 

[sinister]

From foggy memory the M3LR originally came out as the VX-III in 1998 or 1999. Turrets were clockwise for elevation.

Once picked up in the Mark 4 line the turrets changed to counter-clockwise for elevation for a little more speed (for a right-handed shooter adjusting the turret with his left hand).

Clockwise:

Counter-clockwise:

 

[jt526]

I don’t have much to add, but I do have both, other than the markings of mk4 vs Vari-x III on the ring around the front and the MK4 has a purge? Hole on the bottom, they are the same to my eyes. The Vari X I have was converted to first focal plane, I got it used but I recall it was Premier Reticle as I recall them doing the conversions until they went out of business. If cloners are looking for these I’d be excited, those guys pay a lot!

As I recall at the time, the model number didn’t even change it was the 51850 for both. I’m not digging the boxes out of my attic without a good reason though!

I suck at pictures, but tried my best.

I dug up the write up I remember reading like 18 years ago when I got the Vari-X III

https://web.archive.org/web/20040227043140/http://www.snipercountry.com/LeupoldLRM3.htm