Rifle Scopes Try a Leupold Mark 6 3-18, or buy another Schmidt and Bender?

[bm11]

I am in need of a scope for my 7.62 gasser. It has been "borrowing" a Schmidt and Bender 5-25 off my TRG-42, but now that my Ashbury chassis is in, the scope has to go back home.

I have three scopes that I am currently considering for this rifle. Two of them are S&B 3-20's, one a H2CMR and the other a H59. I have a S&B 3-20 PM2 on my AIAX and it is a great scope, I love it. The reasons I am considering a Leupold Mark 6 3-18x44 (H58) are as follows:

1: It is shorter. The Schmidt 3-20 is 15.16 inches, the Mark 6 is 11.9 inches. Not that it matters a TON, but I like the look of the compact size of the Leupold.

2: It is lighter. The Schmidt is 32.45 oz, the Mark 6 is 23.6 oz. This does matter to me. I want to be able to shoot this rifle positional, and lighter is better.

3: It is cheaper. Not a HUGE consideration, but it is nice.

That said, I have a hard time compromizing, and I would be FAR better off to spend the extra cash on the Schmidt if I am going to be wishing this Leupold was a Schmidt every time I got behind it. Really, if that were the case I would sell it in a hurry and buy a Schmidt.

Here are my concerns, and I am hoping someone has spent a fair amount of time behind one as well as S&B's:

1: the turrets. I own a Leupold Mark 6 1-6, and I really like the scope, but the turrets SUCK. It doesn't matter on the gun that it is on, but this particular gun the 3-18 would be going on they will be used a LOT. That said, they are totally different turrets. So how are these turrets? Specifically the clicks, but also the locking mechanism.

2: How is the glass? I am spoiled by S&B. I hear these new Leupold's have nice glass too. My Mark 6 only goes up to 6x, so it is hard to tell, but at 6x, it looks nice.

3: How is the reliability? I know Leupold had developed a reputation around here for failing. I remember reading they have come a long way. Is that the case?

Any other points would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[123Nick]

Can I throw in March 2.5-25X42? ~22oz and ~12.3 inches.
March Rifle Scopes Tactical 2.5-25 x 42

 

[Turk]

With your taste go ahead and buy the Leupold and lose sleep at night; sell it and buy a S&B! That will be the outcome regardless how nice the Leupold is! ;-)

 

[bm11]

Can I throw in March 2.5-25X42? ~22oz and ~12.3 inches.
March Rifle Scopes Tactical 2.5-25 x 42

Good call. I forgot all about the march!

With your taste go ahead and buy the Leupold and lose sleep at night; sell it and buy a S&B! That will be the outcome regardless how nice the Leupold is! ;-)

Ah, it seems Turk knows me well!

 

[GUNNER10]

just seeing that you have some pretty high end gear, it appears that you all ready know what you want. with that being said, to address you concerns:

1' while i have not felt the mk6's turrets, but i have had some time with my Mk4 ER/T M5A2,and some of the Mk8 5-25's we have at work, their turrets and locking system are fine, they work, while i do not have a problem spending alot of money on a piece of gear that offers me some new capability, i am not going to blow a 1000 dollars for some that "feels" a little better

2. glass quality, i havent compared the ER/T or Mk8 to a S&B, but in comparison to my last NF NSX, they both made it look like a barska. now is it S&B glass, i dont know, but considering i have never been held back by NF glass, i have no interest in dropping an extra grand to eek out that that last fraction of a percent of light transmission

3. reliability, considering the ER/T M5a2 on the 2010's, the Navy picking up the Mk6 3-18 for the SEAL's, and the testing that we have done on the Mk8's i think they have pretty well addressed the reliability issues

its kinda like the whole BMW m3 vs ford mustang comparison, for an extra 30,000 dollars, you can do 0-60 in .1 seconds faster, have more comfortable seats doing so, and enjoy the status that comes with ownership. with that being said, put both cars on the course and one would quickly see that its not always the gear but the driver, that .1 second isn't going to matter at the end of the race.

 

[bzo]

It used to be no question S&B for me, but while leupold has been constantly upping their game for the last two years, S&B imho has started to decline. The MK6 1-6 is absolutely phenomenal, haven't tried the 3-18x.

 

[bm11]

just seeing that you have some pretty high end gear, it appears that you all ready know what you want. with that being said, to address you concerns:

1' while i have not felt the mk6's turrets, but i have had some time with my Mk4 ER/T M5A2,and some of the Mk8 5-25's we have at work, their turrets and locking system are fine, they work, while i do not have a problem spending alot of money on a piece of gear that offers me some new capability, i am not going to blow a 1000 dollars for some that "feels" a little better

2. glass quality, i havent compared the ER/T or Mk8 to a S&B, but in comparison to my last NF NSX, they both made it look like a barska. now is it S&B glass, i dont know, but considering i have never been held back by NF glass, i have no interest in dropping an extra grand to eek out that that last fraction of a percent of light transmission

3. reliability, considering the ER/T M5a2 on the 2010's, the Navy picking up the Mk6 3-18 for the SEAL's, and the testing that we have done on the Mk8's i think they have pretty well addressed the reliability issues

its kinda like the whole BMW m3 vs ford mustang comparison, for an extra 30,000 dollars, you can do 0-60 in .1 seconds faster, have more comfortable seats doing so, and enjoy the status that comes with ownership. with that being said, put both cars on the course and one would quickly see that its not always the gear but the driver, that .1 second isn't going to matter at the end of the race.

Ah, I follow you. However, to throw a monkey wrench in, I literally own a m3. A 2012 Competition Package, to be exact.

 

[Goin'Hot]

I will offer a second consideration for the March. In comparing to my PH's, it's nice. TOTALLY different but nice. I like the glass and the turrets. Simple zero stop and the size / performance is amazing. Mine is a 3-24 FML-1.

 

[GUNNER10]

Ah, I follow you. However, to throw a monkey wrench in, I literally own a m3. A 2012 Competition Package, to be exact.

great car, i had a 650i, incredible car, loved driving it, but decided it wasnt worth it for me, might get into a used 550i in the next coupe years.

 

[TallShot]

With the ability to own either/or in your case.... I have an idea!


Get the 3-18 TMR, decide that you still want the S&B anyhow, PM your ole buddy TallShot down in Louisiana, and sell it to him for a steal..... Then get your S&B!

 

[bm11]

Well,

I decided to give the Mark 6 a try. As I mentioned, I own a S&B 3-20, so I should be able to offer a comparison when it comes in.

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[hk dave]

Well,

I decided to give the Mark 6 a try. As I mentioned, I own a S&B 3-20, so I should be able to offer a comparison when it comes in.

Thanks!

-Bob

Def looking forward to this.

 

[pepito]

So what was the end result? I am running into the same situation.

 

[Capt Academy]

I too would like to know if there is a difference.

 

[Shoottothrill]

Yep lets here the comparison. I'm all ears.

 

[maggitas]

I had a Leupold Mark 6 for awhile. It has nice tactile clicks, the glass is a big step up over anything else they have produced. I feel it is a little better than Nightforce F1 glass but not in the ballpark of S&B glass. The scope tracked very well. I did not care for the turrets. I asked Leupold about the possibility of replacing the factory turrets with the new DAGR turrets. They did not seem to be interested in that at the time. The tall turrets and the fact that the windage knob is capped off was a turnoff. Also the scope is not illuminated. The scope is very light and has some nice features. The fact is that if you are going to compare it to an S&B you will eventually buy a S&B scope!

 

[Shooter0311]

The mk6 is offered illuminated. While I have not put any s/b beside the mk6 or mk8 I have; I agree the new glass is far superior than it was not so long ago. A pal of mine does have a Swarovski pvi 2 with the tds 4i reticle and I don't see a note able difference in the 2 (mk6 and swarovski). Just for reference.

 

[generalzip]

The mk 6 does offer an illuminated model but for the price of a s&b....not even close to worth it. 1500 bucks more for illumination and tremor 2? No thanks ill take a second scope.

 

[NET65]

I have both and love both, but not equally. The turrets are not going to be crisp like the S&B, but they are good solid clicks. The glass is very good quality for a Leupold, and it's compact, light weight, and soild. The only real drawbacks vs. the S&B is the parallax and lack of illumination. Every S&B I've ever owned had the parallax so well tuned it could almost double as a rangefinder. Not necessarily the case with the 3-18. That said the parallax is not bad, the S&B is just head and shoulders above the rest of the market. The Leupold wins hands down in changing zero, at first I thought the slip ring for the elevation turret would collect dirt and be a problem, but its solid and make rezeroing for elevation very easy.

 

[Pusher591]

I think the Leupold will pleasantly surprise you. If you have Mil/LE access then its definitely a no brain'r.

 

[huang]

I was recently faced with the same decision. I went with a March 2.5-25X42 and Bobro Ultralow mounts (review coming). I agonized over the choice and went with the March due to versatility, weight and size. Actually, I just got everything mounted last night and hope to zero this weekend. The combination is perfect on the bench, it looks right and the rifle handles well (as far as I can tell so far). I did not get a chance to look through the Leupold, but a buddy has S&B on his bolt guns and the March is in the same league. Check out Illya's reviews (Reviews: Riflescopes » OpticsThoughts).