LPVO’s

[Downtown “Funky Stuff” Malone🍆]

I LOVE me some Leupold Optics.
Love 'em !!

For most anything that you could shoot with a 4 power scope - the "Firedot" reticle is all you'll ever need.
BUT

What kind of "build in progress" do you have ???
If you are putting it on a standard AR platform rifle - for general shooting use - that scope is a pretty solid choice. Most of it's competitors are going to have 6x or 8x magnification and FFP reticles but how far away do you think you are going to shoot intermediate range cartridges?

The MK4HD has a "True" 1x setting - so the Illuminated Firedot can "almost" be used like a dot site at close range and at 4x it will be effective about as far out as your rounds will be effective. It's also lighter - and cheaper - than most of its competitors.

It's not a Razor HD - but its also hundreds of dollars cheaper. The Burris is a pretty solid competitor as far as price - but it weighs twice as much - and it isn't a Leupold.

Unless you are planning on shooting at things beyond 300 on the regular, the MK4HD is a pretty solid choice.

I am building a Mk18 clone. I was going to put an ACOG on it but I've been loving the functionality of the LPVO... I like the look of it on an SBR as well.

 

[The Quartermaster]

Anyone here have an opinion on it and Vortex as a company?
Thanks in advance,

Extremely great CS. You could sell something made by Vortex ten times around and they'd still warranty it. When I was new to scopes I over torqued a PST 1-4 and didn't even know it. It still worked, nothing was broken. I later on sold it and the guy I sold it to had pointed this out and said not to worry about it, and that Vortex was replacing it no questions asked after an RMA was done.

I knew a person from arf who had his UH1 AMG lost to a fire he had forgotten to check on rechargeable batteries and was at fault yet Vortex reached out, said do an RMA, and he got to pick his color of choice for a replacement.

Currently I do not have anything from Vortex however I just recently purchased and ordered their very pricey 1-10 AMG, the same one that the Brits chose for their KS1 rifle for their Rangers and other SF units from KAC here in the USA.

 

[The Quartermaster]

I'm not a big fan of LPVO's, mostly because of their weight gains to an already heavy rifle. I tried it with a recce rifle and after one day on the line all day for even just one day, I was smoked. I mean I already lift. A Lot actually. But after an all day event on a line with very minimal breaks even for lunch, and at the low ready constantly, it made me hate life. And this was without a LAM, a silencer, a flashlight, backup irons, or a red dot piggybacked for passive NV aiming.

For myself if I need precision on a serious use rifle, I'll stick with a TA31 ACOG. I just need to PID, not choose which nostril to try to put a hole in.

However with this being said, I hate to say it but if we don't want to give money to China then paying the big bucks is the freedom tax. There are more friendlier nation built LPVO's though that aren't Nightforce money and are in my opinion subjectively superior than the gucci brands. Take Primary Arms PLxC 1-8's as one such example. PA recently had a fire-sale of their Nova crosshair variants if you are into Vortex reticles on their PST line. However I prefer the ACSS ones with the donut of death reticles and in first focal plane. It makes ranging math a thing of ancient history, just learn your holds like everything else and easy peasy.

 

[The Quartermaster]

Anyone have experience with Reptilia mounts?

The springs in their AUS mounts that clamps to the rail, if loosened too much for removal they like to self disappear. I liked everything else but definitely not that and no longer will use one. I prefer the Badger C1 mounts instead.

 

[The Quartermaster]

You know what is a deceptively good optic, probably the best bang for the buck? Don't laugh: the SWFA Super Sniper. Originally branded under Tasco (yes, THAT Tasco, of low-grade/almost garbage stuff), Navy NSW trailed a 10X scope that was a great optic. Now under SWFA. I have used their 10X mil-dot scope for years on a mid Rem 700 and honestly, it was just as good (I said what I said) as a Leupold Mark 4 10X. I have no experience with their LPVOs, though.

I had one that was Tasco branded and another that was SWFA branded. They were both made at the same factory in the same line at LOW in Japan. I gave them both away to a retired CPO submariner friend. He still doesn't shut up about them when he hunts with and swears by them now, decades after the fact.

 

[The Quartermaster]

when deciding between FFP and SFP for a 5.56 AR, what factors do you use to choose?
Same question regarding MRAD and MOA.

Put your 1FP and your 2FP on the same target at 500 yards. Even 200 will do. Now tell me what you see with both and how much can you see with either if you are also looking for trace in case you missed a wind hold. This is why I will always choose a 1FP. MRAD and MOA is subjective really in regards to how much more precise you want to be and with how much math you are willing to use with on the fly.

 

[The Quartermaster]

Was just looking around on the net....this has sparked my interest....Leupold red dot

View attachment 49576

Freedom RDS BDC w/ Mount

Apparently, this has been around for awhile....but, just never looked for a RD with Leupold....

Parallax issues which is why it never became mainstream. Like Trijicon and their MRO's. They have tried so hard to fix them and still to no avail.

 

[The Quartermaster]

I am building a Mk18 clone. I was going to put an ACOG on it but I've been loving the functionality of the LPVO... I like the look of it on an SBR as well.

It's becoming popular with putting an LPVO on an SBR. However it makes much more sense on a 12.5 rather than a 10.3 IMO. But then again, the mini and micro recces are popular now so go nuts my man.

 

[Devildoc]

I am building a Mk18 clone. I was going to put an ACOG on it but I've been loving the functionality of the LPVO... I like the look of it on an SBR as well.

If you can get a LPVO with a true 1x illuminated dot it's the perfect optic: combo RDS and scope. Personally I do not like the ACOG, never liked the ACOG. No reason other than I just don't like it.

I had one that was Tasco branded and another that was SWFA branded. They were both made at the same factory in the same line at LOW in Japan. I gave them both away to a retired CPO submariner friend. He still doesn't shut up about them when he hunts with and swears by them now, decades after the fact.

I think they are one of the best kept secrets of the optics world.

 

[The Quartermaster]

I think they are one of the best kept secrets of the optics world.

It's a really good scope (Super Sniper is the name of them) for precision and on a bolt gun. However I am not a fan of fixed power past 4x. I'm not even a fan of anything 4x either but the field of view makes up for it despite the short eye relief.

Eotech has the potential for something awesome with their recent short variable VUDU line. But we wanted a 1x at the start and not a 3x or the newer 4-9 x32. I want control of all the zooms basically.

 

[Devildoc]

It's a really good scope (Super Sniper is the name of them) for precision and on a bolt gun. However I am not a fan of fixed power past 4x. I'm not even a fan of anything 4x either but the field of view makes up for it despite the short eye relief.

Eotech has the potential for something awesome with their recent short variable VUDU line. But we wanted a 1x at the start and not a 3x or the newer 4-9 x32. I want control of all the zooms basically.

I had a 16x I did not like, a 3-15 that was pretty good, but the fixed 10x was simply awesome. Just heavy.

 

[The Quartermaster]

Just heavy

I don't think my friend actually stalks with it on His Ruger American in .308, he prefers to be lazy and sit in a blind for a few hours at a time. Probably rests on a wally world Harris clone.