Looking at the Leupold Mk5

K

kjeff91

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
Jan 3, 2018
176
45
Colorado Springs, Colorado
#1
I'm looking at the Mk5 either 5-25 or 7-35 since you can find either of them for sub $2k online which Scheels will price match. It seems like their quality isn't quite as unanimous as the Razor G3, but that mostly seems related to price to performance (I think that's the best way to put it?). But if you're paying several hundred less for the Mk5 new compared to the Razor Gen 3 used, is it still "worth it"?

I know Leupold has a ton of users and fans like Vortex in PRS/NRL, but I see the being bought and sold much more frequently than the Razor. I guess I'm just struggling to figure out at what point is it work it versus just stepping up to a Razor.
 
#2
kjeff91 said:
I'm looking at the Mk5 either 5-25 or 7-35 since you can find either of them for sub $2k online which Scheels will price match. It seems like their quality isn't quite as unanimous as the Razor G3, but that mostly seems related to price to performance (I think that's the best way to put it?). But if you're paying several hundred less for the Mk5 new compared to the Razor Gen 3 used, is it still "worth it"?

I know Leupold has a ton of users and fans like Vortex in PRS/NRL, but I see the being bought and sold much more frequently than the Razor. I guess I'm just struggling to figure out at what point is it work it versus just stepping up to a Razor.
Click to expand...
Where are you seeing new MK5HD 5-25's for sub $2k? I've been thinking about that one as well but never seen them less than MSRP ($2,199).
 
#4
Leupold always leaves me cold when I see they charge $500. just to illuminate the reticle. But that's my personal bugaboo, among many I have with Beavertown brood.

If PRS was a popularity contest, then Leupold wins by a neck, over TT, Zero and the Vortex Gen 3. Leupold's 5-25 are also more popular than the 7-35 by a good amount, and that should tell you something.

Unless your made of money, and/or already a top PRS competitor, I would give a hard look at the Athlon Cronos BTR Gen II 4.5-29x56mm. You can get one in the $1300, range and it's made in Japan, in the same factory as Nightforce no less. It's a sleeper scope, that your bank account will love, but your competitors will look down their noses at you.

You have to decide whether price or the current fashion, as well as where you stand in LR shooting, is most important to you.

I think either the Leupy 5-25, Vortex 6-36, or Athlon Cronos 4.5-29 will all do you in good stead.

As always IMHO and YMMV
 
Last edited:
#7
Leupold glass is among the simplest to support. I would only buy an MK5 or other leupold sight to mount on a plinking rifle for usage around the home because of their poor business history. My reasoning is straightforward: the PRS shooters are always brought up. If that's okay with you, I'll miss Steel any day of the week. If I miss or hurt an animal, that's it. I don't think it's worth it because the stakes are too high. Turret slinging is the only misuse that a PRS scope witnesses. And you have a unique unit if you haven't had a failure! To be honest, the industry would change if they could make the MK5 dependable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BobinNC
#10
1744311076703.png



I have a 5-25 Mk 5 and find it to be a pretty dang good scope. Not sure where "their poor business history" comes from. I have found their CS to be outstanding and they support mil/leo/vets with a significant discount program.

And I have no idea why anyone would object to using one in a hunting situation as alluded to above...aside from the fact they are FFP scopes.

Only thing I don't like is that I find the parallax to be very sensitive and picky. I also have a ZCO 5-27 which I like far more but its twice the $$ (or thereabouts).

Cheers
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Red Exceptional Yeti, supercorndogs, FuhQ and 1 other person
#14
Some have had QC issues with the mk4HDs, but this thread is about the mk5s. I liked mine when I had it. Shot to 700 easily no issues.

To the PRS argument, might be more becuase leupold aggressively sponsors than a shooter scope performece choice.

Leupold also offers mil/le discounts which make them attractive.

They are a fair bit lighter than their competitors so that is something to consider. They're not alpha glass, but as can be seen by prs, they're probably not the limiting factor either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FuhQ
#16
Baron23 said:
View attachment 8661378


I have a 5-25 Mk 5 and find it to be a pretty dang good scope. Not sure where "their poor business history" comes from. I have found their CS to be outstanding and they support mil/leo/vets with a significant discount program.

And I have no idea why anyone would object to using one in a hunting situation as alluded to above...aside from the fact they are FFP scopes.

Only thing I don't like is that I find the parallax to be very sensitive and picky. I also have a ZCO 5-27 which I like far more but its twice the $$ (or thereabouts).

Cheers
Click to expand...
That chart is a little dated, here's the updated information from the most recent season:
1744313766782.png

Full article here:
 
  • Love
Reactions: CSTactical
#17
  • Like
Reactions: CSTactical and jpp3g
#21
zinny said:
Some have had QC issues with the mk4HDs, but this thread is about the mk5s. I liked mine when I had it. Shot to 700 easily no issues.

To the PRS argument, might be more becuase leupold aggressively sponsors than a shooter scope performece choice.

Leupold also offers mil/le discounts which make them attractive.

They are a fair bit lighter than their competitors so that is something to consider. They're not alpha glass, but as can be seen by prs, they're probably not the limiting factor either.
Click to expand...
These are the facts as to why the Leupy numbers are so damn high, comparably.
 
#22
Well those numbers are also because it’s probably the best scope for the money. The cost of a mark5 is top tier glass for a lot of competitors who can’t afford true top tier glass. If you walk down the line at a big prs match I guarantee there’s more mark5 in the hand of average joes then sponsored shooters.
 
#25
jpp3g said:
That chart is a little dated, here's the updated information from the most recent season:
View attachment 8661401
Full article here:
Click to expand...
I'm always amazed Burris never seems well represented.

Every review you read about the XTR Pro says it just barely lags behind the RZR 6-36, ATACR 7-35 etc, is same price as Mark 5hd 5-25, better specs and features (IMO), yet no one uses them.

Based on price and specs alone the XTR Pro should eclipse the Mark 5, throw in reviews and it's not even close to what should be the more popular scope.

Either the Leupold marketing machine is doing working its magic, people are getting good discounts/free on scopes, or people are just buying what the "Pros" are buying.
 
#26
Simonsza1 said:
Well those numbers are also because it’s probably the best scope for the money. The cost of a mark5 is top tier glass for a lot of competitors who can’t afford true top tier glass. If you walk down the line at a big prs match I guarantee there’s more mark5 in the hand of average joes then sponsored shooters.
Click to expand...

The last scope I bought new was a MK5 7-35, and it was pretty much the same price as the new Theos I bought previously… and the Theos is a hell of a lot more scope.

It’s not a bad scope, but it’s definitely not spectacular.
 
#27
beetroot said:
I've only briefly used a 5-25 and really wasn't impressed, I'm sure I'd get used to it but the glass did seem sub par.
Click to expand...
I had a 3.6-18 MK5 for about a month. I thought I would upgrade one of my MK12s to something more current and some more magnification would help. Made the mistake of comparing it to my 3-12x50 S&B PMII. The glass quality isn't even comparable. The old PMII was days clearer then the MK5. I have looked through at least half a dozen other MK5s and they all look the same. Just looked through a new FDE 3.6-18 with the PR2 reticle, it's a little better, but still a no go for me. Good looking scopes on a lot of builds. But the glass quality, small sight picture and not so great reticles make it a no for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: beetroot
#29
CSTactical said:
Anyone looking for a solide deal on a Leupold MK5 HD or a ZCO hit me up as we might have the model you want in stock or have some of the more common ZCO's now in stock or on the way soon :) - Richard
Click to expand...
I need you to do some genetic engineering Richard and get that MK5 to mate with a ZCO so I get a ZCO with the .1 MRAD thick illuminated TMR reticle that I love.

I mean he’ll, they brought a wolf back from extinction this week right?

-Stan
 
  • Haha
Reactions: CSTactical
#30
stanley_white said:
I need you to do some genetic engineering Richard and get that MK5 to mate with a ZCO so I get a ZCO with the .1 MRAD thick illuminated TMR reticle that I love.

I mean he’ll, they brought a wolf back from extinction this week right?

-Stan
Click to expand...

I've seen that movie before...

Its-ALIVE-Gene-Wilder-GIF_thumb.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: stanley_white
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

U
NX8 or Mk5? or?
Replies
39
Views
2K
widefat77
widefat77
317millhand
Rifle Scopes Best optic aroumd 2k with mil discount
Replies
50
Views
2K
oldnewguy
O
C
Rifle Scopes Nx8- mk5- atacr- 20s scar
Replies
31
Views
753
Deardorff
D
Jdowney37
Optics WTT Leupold MK5 7-35
Replies
2
Views
495
Loge
Loge
Rock42
Leupold MK5 HD 2-10 vs MK4 HD 2.5-10
Replies
9
Views
3K
wigwamitus
wigwamitus
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts