@Magsz18 did you ever get a chance to try the t6 next to your mark 5?
My apologies. I've been really busy at work.
I've shot both, side by side so I can give a decent opinion. I'll try and break this down accordingly.
GLASS:
Steiner:
Very bright and clear glass. I don't really notice any CA but my eye's aren't that refined. All the way up to 30, the glass looks clear and doesn't really darken or take on any weird fishbowl effect. I've only shot this optic against a green, grass background. I can't really say if the optic will fare differently in different environments.
Leupold:
The glass is clear, albeit not quite as bright to my eyes as the Steiner. As with the Steiner, I can't really find any CA in the lens but again, i've only shot this against a green, grass background. Throughout the zoom range there is really no loss of fidelity so to speak.
Ultimately, I think I prefer the Steiner glass by a smidge.
TURRETS:
Steiner:
I really like the locks on the Steiner turret but they're probably overkill for PRS matches. A simple return to zero stop would suffice. Having said that, I personally like my gear over built. I had an initial issue with the elevation lock being too difficult to turn resulting in the elevation turret dialing when I didn't want it to. Steiner warrantied this without question. The turrets on the Steiner aren't mushy per say but they are definitively muted versus the Leupold. The Steiner has defined clicks but they are not a glass rod break. More of a wet carrot to use a Geissele trigger analogy. I really like the way that the Steiner turret dials up. The numbers are large and easy to see and it's not going to be easy to get lost in the revolutions. IF you dial elevation frequently, leave the lock off and simply set your zero stop.
Leupold:
I adore the locking elevation turret of the Leupold. It's very easy to use and it works without issue. Setting the zero stop is easy peasy and the raised nub on the top gives you a method to track revolutions so you don't get lost in the sauce when dialing. As mentioned above, the Leupold has more defined clicks than the Steiner. They're more "sharp" or crisp but both optics allow one to dial .1 mil at a time without issue. The capped windage on the Leupold is nice. I don't really want to dial wind but it's not a huge deal to do it if you want to take the time to remove the cap. The PR2 reticle should cover wind holds just fine with no real need to dial.
RETICLE:
Steiner:
I prefer the Steiner reticle on the surface. I find that the center of the Steiner crosshair is much harder to lose than the PR2. Perhaps this is because to my eye, the SCR2 is a more bold etching and may have thicker stadia lines. I really find that the reticle on the SCR2 pops and that it is very easy to find, hold and follow through with. I don't know if this is a combination of the brighter glass and thicker stadia to my eye or if i'm simply subjectively liking it more because my brain said I did. Illumination is present whereas the Leupold does not have it. I don't need or want the illumination for precision shooting but there may come a day where I will hunt with this optic and perhaps i'd want it. There's really no cost increase that WE are aware of given that there is no non illuminated model so if I can have it, id rather have it and not need it.
Leupold:
The PR2 reticle is fantastic. I like the way it's set up but it's not quite as bold as i'd like. It doesn't appear as dark as the SCR reticle. One problem that i'm having is that when there is no contrasting colors, I lose my center section of the crosshairs. I notice this whenever i'm shooting against a dark background. Against light backgrounds it's never an issue but the reverse is not true. I don't lose the SCR reticle the same way I lose the PR2. Yes, both diopters are set up properly. There is no illumination which I don't really care about given the purpose of my MK5HD's.
OVERALL BUILD QUALITY:
Steiner:
This thing is built like an absolute tank. I really do believe I could use it as a club with no issues. The turrets, when locked are super solid and there's zero slop. I like the locking diopter as well as the included scope covers. The zoom throw lever is smooth but not as smooth as my Zeiss LRP S3. I was happy with the way that Steiner handled the warranty issue. I like the matte anodizing. It's a very handsome optic. The only real downside to it is the weight. There is no denying that this thing is a tank. Tanks are heavy and this optic is no exception.
Leupold:
Overall, the Leupold feels like a premium product but there are some minor complaints. My parallax knobs have some weird play in them. I don't quite know why but when you apply pressure to the knob, it has some wiggle to it. It's smooth in its operation and it seems to work just fine so I can't really say I have any real complaint there other than a simple tactile sensation, or academic issue. The turret feel is premium and I have zero issues there. The zoom ring for the magnficiation is smooth but gritty. By this I mean that there are no hitches as you move the ring. However, you can feel resistance that feel's more like grit than a nice viscous, smooth as oil on glass kind of feel. You can kind of hear it "swishing" rather than gliding like the Zeiss LRP s3. It is marginally less smooth than the Steiner.
BRB, duty calls. I'll edit this and add some more thoughts.
EDIT:
So. All in all, I think that I prefer the Steiner if it comes down to bench rest shooting. The reason why I have a MK5 HD 3.6-18 and a 5-25 is because I like the weight of the optic and i'm an FDE slut. If you don't mind the weight of a very heavy optic then the Steiner is an excellent choice and you will really enjoy what it has to offer. If you're trying to shave some ounces off of your platform then the MK5 is the way to go as it is one of the lightest offerings in its class.
I really do believe that the performance between the two is so similar that it really comes down to reticle preference, weight and price. I think either optic will serve you well provided you are able to qualify what's important to you and choose accordingly. I had more thoughts but I lost that train because of work. Sorry about that. Fire away with any questions you might have. Perhaps I can answer them for you.
