2x Leupold Mark 5 Field Evaluations

[Formidilosus]

This is a field evaluation of the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18x44mm and the Leupold Mark 5 5-25x56mm. These scopes were brought to me from Ryan Avery for evaluation. The ammunition used for the 3.6-18x was Federal 168gr GMM, and for the 5-25x was Hornady ELD-M Match 168gr that was purchased by Ryan. The 20 round proof group was just over 1.1 MOA.


The reason that two scopes are being done together, is because after the results of the first, we knew that we needed a second. I was indisposed for a bit between evals. The 3.6-18x being done in February and the 5-25x today. Unfortunately my phone got destroyed in the meantime, and all the pics from the first test were lost. However, I keep all the targets, so can show the results.




3.6-18x44mm

Mounting as normal- 18 in-lbs on ring caps, 65 in-lbs of base. Zeroing was fine (ignore the right dot for now). Boresighted, fired two rounds (low left of center dot), adjusted and five more. Adjusted, and seven or eight in the left dot.



Conducted the RTZ portion on bottom dot (200+ mils dialed between each shot x10). Then moved to the drop eval-

Drop Eval-



The 36” drops caused a right .3 mil shift that was confirmed after the drop portion on another target. It did shift, however I will say this was the best a variable Leupold scope has done that I’ve seen. After rezeroing, the adjustment was checked (bottom and top dot). The adjustments were correct, however it tended to make the groups wider than they should be with left to right variation.


After this was completed it was shot for approximately 20 rounds and then put back into the padded back seat of the truck. A few days later as has become standard before removing the eval scope, it’s zero was checked and 3x 36” drops were performed.

This is the result-



The two high right shots are the confirmers- no drops or abuse. The other four are after being dropped 3x again. From this point on the scope would not group, hold zero, or adjust correctly even after multiple remounts.


The Leupold 3.6-18x44mmm failed at 65 rounds.


cont….

 

[Formidilosus]

Next up is the 5-25x56mm Mark 5. This scope was brought to me from Ryan Avery for an evaluation. The ammunition used was Hornady ELD-M Match 168gr that was purchased by Ryan. The 20 round proof group was just over 1.1 MOA.


The scope (picture was taken after the eval)







Turrets:


Elevation turret is exposed, locking, 10.5 mils per rev, and zero stopped. Windage is capped.


Elevation-



Windage-



The note here is that the index mark for the windage is angled relative to the turret- the idea being that it’s easier to see when behind the rifle. In actuality it makes it where it’s very easy to be off .1 or .2 mils just depending on the angle that you look at it.

I corrected the problem as I do with all Mark 5’s-





TMR Reticle-

5x






25x





The TMR is one of the better FFP mil reticles offered for all around hunting use.


Cont….

 

[Formidilosus]

Drop Evaluation RTZ and “Tracking”



For an explanation see- Scope Field Eval Explanation and Standards


The “test” consists of three 18” drops on a mat- one left/right/top with a shot to check zero after each drop. Then the exact same thing repeated from 36”. Then three drops on all three sides for nine drops on the last part- 15 drops total. This is not “abuse”. The 18” drops are a joke really. The 36” start showing something. And when a scope make/model consistently goes through the whole thing without losing zero, failures in actual use are almost unheard of.

This one was conducted on soft dirt/mud with a 1/2” padded mat.


Zero Target-




The first round was low left on the edge of the target. I read the reticle and adjusted up and right. The next ten were on left dot. Adjusted up .1 mil, slipped turrets, and fired a confirmer in the center dot.



Drop eval-





You can read the results in the target, however the first 18” left side drop had no shift. The right side 18” produced a .2’ish shift, and the top 18” drop a .4 mil shift. The first 36” left side drop brought it back to near zero, the second no detectable shift, but the third was over .5 mils high. The 3x36” drops caused a high right shift of over 1 mil.





Results-


While initially the first Mark 5 showed promise, it failed totally very quickly. The 5-25x Mark 5 however exhibited the exact behavior that every Mark 5 I have seen (about two dozen) has done with this eval. Leupold gets so much right with size, eyebox and general design, but as history has shown- they have no desire to make a truly rugged scope.


No one would like Leupold to make a scope that works more than I, but alas they won’t.

 

[Formidilosus]

In the interest of knowledge I mounted the 5-25x Mark 5 on a very stable rifle. It will not be abused- just shot used. We’ll see what it does riding in the truck like this-




10 rounds. Adjusted down .1 and right .1 after this.

 

[Formidilosus]

Zero checks after riding in the backseat-

 

[Formidilosus]

Have been checking zero regularly. Same ammo lot#, all 5 round groups, etc, etc. The rifle and scope have been riding in the backseat of the truck over the last few weeks during hunting. The inside white part of the square is the same size as the 30 round group with the ammo and scope initially.

Sep 20



Oct 4



Oct 18



Oct 25th and had to be rezeroed.




Today, Nov 13th, and had to be rezeroed (3 rounds)-




This is the most “abuse” it has taken-