Remington 40X Leupold M1 10x Ultra scope question

[baker72]

Hi gents, looking for opinions on the scope and rifle thanks in advance for any helpful information
been hanging out a bit reading not really posting much , just been getting into bolt guns last frew year ive own a few M14s that were scoped, a knights Mark 11 Mk4 10x scope rescoped 91/30 fake 1903 fake k98 stuff like that . Im just getting into the U.S Sniper rifle over the last few years.
i picked a m24 and kit last year and this 40 X , i gotqthe 40 x as a shooter , also ive M40 and M40A1 build and mark 13 build ive been trying the learn about the scopes that came on these rifles.
i picked this 40X rifle up last year i think , l dont really like the Parker hale bipod set up, it came with a letter from the owner saying it was built at the Remington custom shop
the scope is a leuopld Ultra the knobs are what M5 i think ? I dont know alot about these scope and its has no mil dot regular cross hairs , the m24 has the same scope but those knobs are complete different and has mil dot cross hairs. so I'm curious did some of these ultra scopes come like this or has it been modified and if so whom-do you reckon would of done this work .
thanks for any info just trying learn a bit.

Will

 

[baker72]

Some more pics

 

[Random Guy]

So I'm curious did some of these ultra scopes come like this or has it been modified and if so whom-do you reckon would of done this work

Your scope is a mid-1980s era M1A Ultra. It has the tall M1 turrets (w/ 1/4" adjustments per click @ 100 yards). It is in its original configuration. Some had cross-hairs and some had Mil-Dots. Those mid-1980s Ultras were mostly free "trial scopes" that Leupold provided to the U.S. military in the hope of winning their first military contract. They were evaluated in the mid-1980s (M1/M2/M3 - each with different turrets and various reticles. Power was 10x, 16x and some 20X scopes too).

The US Army liked the M3 the best, but it had 1" windage adjustments and the Army requested 1/2" adjustments per click, so Leupold made that design change in the M3A Ultra, which was selected by the US Army circa 1988. Thousands were made b/y 1987-1992/93. Replacement M24 scopes made after 1993 were the Mk 4 version, and are basically identical.

The M1A Ultras are far less common, but they turn up from time to time. The Army selected a similar 16X version of the M1A Ultra with M1 turrets and Mil-Dot reticles, and those were used those on 50 BMG rifles for a long time. I have one dated 2003..

Your M24 scope is likely an M3A Ultra. It has the shorter M3 turrets which are 1/2" windage, and 1" elevation changes per click (@ 100 yards). The turrets have caps. What is unique about the M3A is that to increase elevation, the turret is turned clockwise with marks from 100 to 1000 meters (see below turrets on left). Great for tactical use, but not great for target shooting. The taller M1 turrets with 1/4" clicks for both windage and elevation is better for target shooting (see below turrets on right). Elevation turret goes (standard) counter-clockwise direction to increase elevation.

BTW, the M1A Ultra scope was replaced around 1993 with the Mk 4 scope, which looks identical except the writing in the bottom.
See below pic of a 1997 era Mk4 (top) vs a 1990 era M3A Ultra (bottom) - they are identical except markings. Hope that info helps.

 

[baker72]

Excellent info thanks a bunch mate , i was comparing it to the m24 scope and thought someone had messed it up, great to hear it's in original configuration . Here is the ultra that came on the M24 , thanks again for all that info .

Will