Rifle Scopes Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

[Nukes]

Since I have been considering some Leupold Mark 8 scopes, I called to ask some technical questions. It took 30 minutes on hold before it was my turn, so I thought I'd post the information here to save you all such a wait.

Leupold does NOT do any custom work on Mark 8 scopes.
Leupold is NOT planning on upgrading their $4,500 Mark 8 scopes with Horus H58 reticles to the newer Horus H59 reticle.
Leupold does NOT Cerakote scopes.
Leupold's custom BDC rings are based on G1 BCs.

Kind of reminds me of Henry Ford's "You can have any color you want as long as it is black" quip.

 

[glock24]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Just call again next month if you're looking for different answers

 

[Nukes]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

I got the same impression. I almost closed my original post, "Your answers may vary."

 

[slothlacrosse]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

what custom work do you need to do on a scope that already has 0.1 MRAD knobs, FFP, and an illuminated reticle? call S&B, Premier, or Zeiss and see what custom work they offer (I'd be curious to know). not many manufacturers will cerakote a scope so that isn't out of the norm.

the horus reticle and BDC thing is weird, though.

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

I agree. What else can you apply that is offered in a different package than what this adds? Other than the ability to upgrade h58 to 59. It's my next purchase. If you want a different finish get an airbrush and some duracoat.

 

[Shotplacement]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

I was thinking about purchasing this scope until I heard about the Bushnell HDMR.

 

[Nukes]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: slothlacrosse</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what custom work do you need to do on a scope that already has 0.1 MRAD knobs, FFP, and an illuminated reticle? call S&B, Premier, or Zeiss and see what custom work they offer (I'd be curious to know). not many manufacturers will cerakote a scope so that isn't out of the norm.

the horus reticle and BDC thing is weird, though. </div></div>

I prefer the H59 (open around the central dot and more windage in the 'Christmas tree'), would like the Cerakoting (the Leupold custom shop does do colors, just not on the Mark 8s), and wanted a custom BDC to go with the 0.1mil turret (the Leupold custom shop does do custom BDCs, just not based on the G7 BCs).

Leupold has a "custom shop," so I would reasonably expect that they would do custom work.

S&B does <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> have a "custom shop," so I would <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> expect that they would do custom work.

My S&B has the H59, is in the color I want, and is used with multiple calibers on a DTA SRS so doesn't really warrant a custom BDC. I have no reason to ask them for custom work.

The "horus reticle and BDC thing" is no more "weird" than having a 0.1mil turret and Scotch-taping a range card on my/your stock. Think of the "BDC thing" as a range card on my/your turret.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aolson81</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree. What else can you apply that is offered in a different package than what this adds? Other than the ability to upgrade h58 to 59. It's my next purchase. If you want a different finish get an airbrush and some duracoat. </div></div>

What else? See above.

I would be very happy to practice my first Cerakoting on <span style="text-decoration: underline">your</span> $4k scope and $4k rifle. [laughing with paint spattered all over the place]

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Send yours to me and I'll do it then. No big deal.

 

[Nukes]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful offer.

 

[jasonk]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Some days I think that people look for a reason to bash. All of your questions are valid, but honestly I'm not surprised by the answers.

Mark 8 scopes are designed and built for the military community, I'm sure the contract says H58 so that's what they build. H59 is a different reticle, maybe in some minds it's not an upgrade, just cause it's one number higher doesn't mean it's better. I'm personally am not a floating dot fan. I don't think many understand the engineering behind a FFP reticle, it's not a cheap and easy change, guarantee them that they'll sell 1,000 H59 scopes and they might talk about changing. For a handful of requests it doesn't makes financial sense.

BDC knobs are inaccurate by nature, your dope varies day to day and maybe even hour by hour depending on altitude, barometric pressure, etc. To think that a G1 BC isn't accurate enough for your needs but a G7 is is simply silly to put it nicely. Compare the two out to say 1000 yards and see the differences, it's slight if any, there are much larger factors involved that a G7 BC knob won't fix.

There's no less than 10 qualified Cerakoter's on this site alone, that's a non issue.

And I can not find one $4500 Mark 8 scope anywhere, what are you looking for?

 

[Nukes]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...BDC knobs are inaccurate by nature, your dope varies day to day and maybe even hour by hour depending on altitude, barometric pressure, etc. To think that a G1 BC isn't accurate enough for your needs but a G7 is is simply silly to put it nicely... </div></div>

Consider my "range card" analogy. My range card doesn't account for DA, temp, humidity like my software, but I still have it taped on the side of my rifle. The scope I was primarily interested in buying, the Leupold Mark 8 1.1-8x24mm CQBSS with the Horus H27D, happens to have a BDC—so why not use it like a range card? Since the G1 and G7 BCs have made a difference in making/not making some hits (or perhaps it was just my imagination that different come-ups made a difference), scuuuuze me for asking Leupold about the BDC options from their not-very-custom "custom" shop. The MSRP is $5749.99. http://www.leupold.com/tactical/scopes/mark-8-riflescopes/mark-8-1-1-8x24mm-cqbss-m5b1-front-focal/ The discounted prices still push $4k for the Horus reticle model.

"To put it nicely," plenty of pictures posted here of Cerakote work leave much to be desired.

In any event, I think there may be a better alternative to the Mark 8.

Suum cuique.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Maybe with the abundance of other 1-8x scopes out there you'll find something better. Oh yeah, they're still trying to hit the market...

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

I am actually leaning to the Mark 4 ER/T 8.5-25X50mm (30mm) M5 FFP H-58

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

I'll show you mine when its done.

 

[GUNNER10]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

are the Mk8's going to have the same glass as the Mk4's and mk6's. we have the 34mm mk4 ER/T on the 2010's at work, and they are ok.

 

[maggitas]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Nukes,

I had a similar experience with Leupold. I called about the Mark 6 3-18x44. I asked if the Custom shop could install a TMR reticle and was told pretty much the same as you that the new mark 6 & mark 8 scopes were only available in the current configurations. The customer service rep I spoke to hinted that it would change next year and that additional options would be available.

Johnny

 

[Nukes]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

In the meantime, there is the NEW IOR 1-10x26mm DUAL focal plane scope with their X1 reticle and dual illumination (so backordered that they pulled mention of it off the IOR website).

 

[bobtodrick]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Yup, one of the things I really dislike about the 'net.
Contact a company...don't get the answer YOU want...then go onto the net and bash/complain.
They didn't do anything wrong...haven't screwed you in any way...but ya just want to complain.

 

[GotM118LR]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GUNNER10</div><div class="ubbcode-body">are the Mk8's going to have the same glass as the Mk4's and mk6's. we have the 34mm mk4 ER/T on the 2010's at work, and they are ok. </div></div>

I called last week and asked a few questions and here is what I learned:

Same glass as all the others
Same design internally as the others except for the illumination and magnification range
With the Mark 6 3-18, no plans thru 2013 to add illumination as an option

 

[Eric B.]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Just more reasons I'd rather have the Schmidt & Bender P&M II.

 

[jerseymike]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Just krylon that bitch. As for the whole bdc thing. Shoot it at whatever distances you shoot at and make a dope card. You could also use shooter, bulletflight etc if you have an iphone or droid.

 

[Merc8541]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Just paying the extra $$$ for the military overrun. Novelty at best if you can afford it. But they have come a long way and seem to be getting better.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: Leupold's answers to Mark 8 questions

Seriously? No factory cerakote? What a society we come when the company does make the uber military scope in fashionable colors that match your shoes.