Rifle Scopes Take me to Leupold Stevens Ultra M1 10x scope school

[Punisher29073]

I am about to acquire an Ultra M1 on a rifle that am getting. I am going to be removing it in favor of an IOR 5-24x50mm. I am debating either selling it or keeping it for a future gas gun build. What is their value? I think they have an etched reticle and were once a military scope? Any information is appreciated.

PS. I tried to search and couldnt get it narrowed down.

Ryan

 

[msiebert]

In it's day...we are going back to the early to mid 90's that scope was T.H.E. scope. It was one of the best made back then that could stand up to the recoil of a 50 cal. It was also probably one of the first to have really great repeatable turrets. In those days Leupold didn't supply the scope with Mil-Dots so you had to either buy one from or send yours to Premier Reticles. Dick Thomas, the father, ran it then and was in Winchester, Virginia. Now the early ones I am describing didn't quite have the glass they have now. You could run out of shooting light with one of the older ones before you would with the ones they make today. Leupold still does make that scope. The M1 was the target model, with 1/4 minute lick adjustments and came in 10X or 16X. The M2 had a "butterfly" or V ranging reticle and was discontinued soon after it's release...seems Leupold didn't want to be associated with the killing of humans and even today if you call and ask about it they all act like nobody knows what you are talking about. They didn't make many M2's with most purchased by the Dept. of Energy. The M3 was the standard U.S. Army sniper scope on the M-24 for many years, up to the time of the AN/PVS-10. It was also fixed 10X and had 1 minute of angle turrets. All Mark 4 Ultra series scopes are guaranteed for life to the owner whoever he might be at the time, doesn't have to be the original owner. The only scope as tough as a Mark 4 Ultra in the day was the Unertl 10x USMC sniper. I have two of the early 2000's years Mark 4s and the glass has been improved over the first one I bought back in 1991. I understand Leupold is working on Mil turrets that they will retro fit to your Mark 4.
As to current value, they seem to be hanging in there at around $875.00-$1000.00, many did not have mil-dots. Later, Leupold started putting in the dots but they were not the football USMC style. The M1 with it's 1/4 minute clicks is still one hell of a nice tough scope and I have two rifles fitted with them I shoot all the time...wish they were mil/mil but I guess it wont be long. When that happens I think you will see a lot of guys looking for these scopes. The IOR is probably better glass but it aint no tougher.

 

[Punisher29073]

Thanks. I appreciate the info. I am debating if i should keep this and put it on my 223 to sell the SS 16x or sell this scope.

Ryan

 

[msiebert]

Well, if you don't really need the higher power the Mark 4 is a much better scope. I have mine on my 223's, one is an AR, the other is a 700. I like Mil/Mil scopes better because they are easier to adjust for different ranges but I have those "scopedope" cards in the Butler Creek eyepiece covers of both Mark 4's and it works just fine. Good shooting.

 

[Punisher29073]

I am color blind so I have found that when hunting the higher power helps me find the critters. I take a hit on field of view but without the colors it makes it hard to pick out game without them moving. I may swap the Ultra to my 223 R700. Im sure its better glass than the SS.

Ryan

 

[primer]

I've had a 16X ultra on my 50 cal for years , it's held up well. I didn't know you could switch to mil/mil adjustments on it, I'm gonna have to look into that.

 

[Punisher29073]

I called Leupold this morning to speak to them about them and emailed them as well. The gentleman on the phone said they were not covered under Leupolds warranty since they were a government contract and never intended for public consumption, but were a great scope made in the 90's. The email they responded to said they were covered under warranty and would be happy to do an inspection/tune up if I sent it to them. Guess which one I am going with. I am going to go ahead and send it in to get the tires rotated and oil changed.

Ryan

 

[primer]

Well I contacted the custom shop guys about changing turret adjustments on the ultra, and they said its a no go. I also checked to see if the reticle could be updated to a TMR , also a no... So for this scope it's locked into mil reticle and Moa adjustments..

 

[geoff3]

Hello I wanted to know that Leupold Ultra 10X M1a were made only for the goverment ? And would the Leupold Ultra 10x M1a be the correct scope for the Remington M24 or the newer mark 4 m3 ? thank you geoff3

 

[scatsob]

I believe they are both correct. My rebuild has the old L&S but I believe the new ones get the Mk4 10x.

Hello I wanted to know that Leupold Ultra 10X M1a were made only for the goverment ? And would the Leupold Ultra 10x M1a be the correct scope for the Remington M24 or the newer mark 4 m3 ? thank you geoff3

 

[scottsdaleping]

hi,have a gold ring (blackened) Vari-x III,3.5x-10x Long Range Tactical,mil-dot,SFP with dedicated dial for 168 gr mk’s. M3 dials,elevation dial is 1MOA,windage is 1/2 MOA.sn is 201795K.Leupold told me it was part of an army ranger build in 2000.are my dots army or usmc? is this possibly a “Leupold M3 Ultra”? any info greatly appreciated.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Are the dots round or football shaped? No, it's not a M3 Ultra, M3 Ultra's are fixed 10X's with low profile/capped turrets.

 

[scottsdaleping]

Are the dots round or football shaped? No, it's not a M3 Ultra, M3 Ultra's are fixed 10X's with low profile/capped turrets.

they appear to be round.thank you

 

[Trigger Monkey]

They're "Army" so the dots should be .2 mil wide with .8 mils in between. The football shaped dots are "USMC" with .25 mil long "dots" with 3/4 mils in between, that's why it's sometimes referred to as a 3/4 mil dot.

 

[Caribe]

I know that I'm replying to this a little after the fact but I purchased two of the Ultra 20X-M1a scopes from Kent Lamont back in 1993. One of these went on a Barrett and the other has been sitting in my safe ever since. I still have the original sales sheet he supplied with the scopes. The way Kent described these to me was they were originally sold to the USMC, about 100 and the scopes were eventually turned to DCMA sales and he purchased 65 of them.

That said, these were for military application only, not commercially available and were no longer in production. The features of the scope are as follows;
Ultra Heavy-Duty construction
One-Piece Aircraft Aluminum Tube (.010" thick)
Etched Glass Reticule, (these were sent to Germany to have this done and this was not an option in the newer Mark IV)
Sized for NATO 30mm rings
144 Minute Vertical Adjustment
48 Minute Horizontal Adjustment
Adjusts in 1/4 Minute Clicks
Unparalleled Accuracy
..
This has been a very good scope and I have not been disappointed with its performance. BTW, these originally sold for $1250.00. I've included the original sales sheet.