Leupold MK3HD 1.5-4x20 Illuminated SPR Reticle - Another Lightweight - First Person Review00:00 -

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This Leupold Mk3HD 1.5-4x20 is a more versatile LPVO then I think many will give it credit for. Can you appreciate what this is?
#leupold #firstpersonshooter #lpvo
00:00 - Garage
01:44 - Physical Overview
08:27 - Reticle
09:30 - Tracking
10:39 - Rooftop Day
12:34 - Eyebox
14:40 - Rooftop Dusk
15:45 - Comparison - Steiner P4xi 1-4x24
18:12 - Comparison - Trijicon TR24 1-4x24
20:14 - Comparison - Trijicon TR25 1-6x24
22:25 - Comparison - Primary Arms SLx NOVA 1-6x24
24:30 - Final Thoughts
Just some things I use:
Under Cabinet Lights - rebrand.ly/8g5aku6
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ADM Recon - rebrand.ly/shq7x7p
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[@moisttowelette5353]

Leupold has got to be one of the weirdest optics manufacturers.

[@terrarecon]

They are for sure. I like one scope they no longer make. Nothing they have makes me want to buy.

[@TerranPlanetaryDefenseForce]

Great quality Complete disregard for what people want, despite their history with military contracts

[@taylormartin4346]

TRUE

[@bghiggy]

Every great idea they have they end up discontinuing after the first iteration.

[@terrarecon]

@@bghiggy Don't though?! I can't figure them out as a company.

[@guyinthewrinkledwrangler]

Brother, I still to this day get a good laugh out of the first "pew pew, pew" that I hear in your optic reviews. Great review as always. God bless you and yours.

[@CDOES]

💪

[@otetechie]

Back in 2010 I had the VX-R version of this. Back then there were few LPVO options and this worked well. Now a decade and a half later this design is really showing its age.

[@CDOES]

Yeah man. Maybe I'll be hopeful that Leupold will change. But I seriously don't know.

[@JoshuaADemic]

A 1.5-6 SFP LPVO makes sense to me. A top end of 4 seems a bit underwhelming

[@jamesbridges7750]

About 15 years ago there were a few of those around, but not really in a lightweight format and reticle choice sucked by today's standard. The Burris MTAC 1.5-6x is a good example- on paper it's a good idea light gathering capability of a large objective, nice big reticle for 1.5x, but less complicated than a 2.5-10- it splits the middle enough to suck at everything compared to today's optics.

[@whiterabit09]

A 4x power with quality glass is better than a 6x with standard lpvo glass in my opinion.

[@skoolynugenator1802]

I got one heck of a deal on this beginning of the year. Brand new shipped for under 550 bucks. It’s so compact and lightweight, super bright red dot and I love that reticle for what I’m using it for. Threw it on a Rossi R95 for deer hunting this upcoming season.

[@chipsterb4946]

A .30-30 lever action hunting rifle seems like a perfect application for this scope. However, the illuminated version costs more than the rifle. I put a 2x prism on my R-95 and that will work fine for what it is.

[@skoolynugenator1802]

@@chipsterb4946 I got the triple black with the threaded barrel. It was just under a grand. And I wanted a little magnification for the possible 100-150 yard shot.

[@novembermike512]

Yeah, this is about perfect. The lack of a true 1x makes it unsuitable for tactical applications but about perfect for a 30-30 lever gun.

[@Cz9mmp10]

Best honest reviews. If you want to invest in a expensive scope dont miss the reviews of C_Does, this guy knows his stuff.

[@CDOES]

🙏 thank you kindly

[@A1eafFa11s_Turtles]

Thanks for the work you’re doing on this channel! It’s extremely helpful to have scope reviews from someone who can compare a given scope against others available in similar price brackets. I’m considering getting an Athlon Helos 2-12, in part because of the videos you’ve done on it and similar products. Do you plan to do a video on the Sig Tango-MSR 2-12?

[@Mr_Anderson_II]

Leupold sure knows how to do some things well: -lightweight -large forgiving eye box -nice subtle thin ocular ring when viewing through -and pretty good glass But then other things leave much to be desired: -no 1x on any entry (Freedom) or mid-tier (3) scopes -dim illumination, often suitable only for low-light use -antiquated push button illumination controls I think they purposely try to push you up the product lines, toward more expensive scopes, by arbitrarily limiting the features of the lower end lines. Their competitors manage to squeeze more into their lower tier offerings, but rely on cheap Asian labour to keep the cost down. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[@CDOES]

You can have your cake and eat it too . Sometimes it costs a lot of money, or it's made my a manufacturer that youd rather not buy.

[@N238E]

I've decided to get the PA SLx 1-6x24 Nova Fiberwire for my Mosin-Nagant and PSL.

[@beowulf9878]

PewPewtactical has a link for a free mount, or you can get them for about 260 from Simmons sporting goods if the coupon code nova85 works.

[@LeftThumbBreak]

I've had the older 1 inch Leo 1.5-4x and the weight is just fantastic. It keeps a lightweight rifle light. Usability of the glass and reticle to me were always excellent. Nothing really to my eyes matches an Eotech up close, but I never found 1.5x too bad, but I felt this way about the Mini acogs as well. I've grown to like the 1.5 and 1.25 optics. I feel they are really good at the +15yd to 50yd ranges.

[@Rightpedal]

Great vid.. are you possibly doing the 3-9x version?

[@CntBckt]

C, I love your videos and the info you present about optics......but I REALLY wanted to see more of that old Cadillac. >_>

[@theirishman6728]

I've got a 1-4 Freedom on a Thompson Contender 30-30. It's a fanatic scope for hunting at 150yrds & under in and around the bush. Even the Freedom being a 1 inch tube, the light transmission is nice enough to get clear shots at dawn/dusk. The pig plex reticle draws your eye straight to the center.

[@ToddEStewart]

You should look at the VX-R Patrol. It has the same reticle, great glass, light weight, and the push button reticle.

[@N238E]

Finally here after all this time lol.

[@troygubbins1895]

If only the vx-freedom had a 30mm tube and push button Illumination... Oh wait, that was the discontinued vx-freedom-AR. Which lives happily on my rifle.

[@timewave02012]

23:15 "Watching while you're taking a dump on your phone" 💩📱🤣 I hope you mean "watching on your phone while you're taking a dump"

[@christofrini]

I agree with your point in the conclusion that people often assume more magnification = more better. However, I think that the appreciation for low zoom factor optics, too, can be taken too far, and the use case for an ultra lightweight 1.5-4x LPVO really doesn’t have a lot of benefits over a comparable 1-4x or 1-6x like you demonstrated. For a hunting rifle or 22 varmint gun, I think this scope makes a lot of sense, and for every other application ever, I think there’s gotta be a better tool for the job. Neat concept, glad Leupold found a niche to fill, it just can’t be overstated how niche that role is lol.

[@jamiefty]

The massive eye box and glass clarity go hand in hand with being a 1.5X. Most LPVO’s are 2-3X base magnification and use a reducer to get to 1X which is why they have smaller exit pupil. If the base is 2X, that means the max exit pupil is 12mm. The Leupold is a true 1.5X that is magnified which is why they have a 15mm exit pupil. It is the best eye box on a LPVO, has good FOV. and is the lightest illuminated LPVO because of this.

[@w.douglas5475]

Can you do Burris RT-15 3-15x50mm scope review ? Also thank you for all that you do.

[@michaele1564]

Sig Saur just released a tango msr 2-12. I am dying to know how it is before diving for the athlon btr! Any chance we could get a review. they are similar jn price.

[@obrienjonathan1988]

Please do a review on the Colt 4x retro carry handle scope from Brownell's

[@xXSpaceMexicanXx]

This has me thinking about how the Swampfox tomahawk 1-4x might perform I haven't seen too many reviews on it on KZbin at least.

[@brucewillis7135]

How does it compare to the vortex pst 1-6 glass wise.

[@BlackCloud0351]

Trijicon TR25? One of these days I’m gonna have to get one to check out! 😂🤪😂

[@prototype3a]

I keep looking at the Element Immersive 5x. I believe it is heavier than these but I think it is also optically VERY nice.

[@hotmetal459]

First! Can’t wait to hear your opinion!

[@hotmetal459]

Still eagerly awaiting your TT525 review!😢

[@rickblaine1411]

IMHO, there’s a pretty big market out there for legit lightweight LPVOs that’s basically being ignored. You can make a decent 1-4x20 with a 1” tube that has a good/true 1x and weighs at most 12 oz. Nikon made them for years and right now Hawke is making one (a shotgun/turkey scope).

[@GldenRetriever]

I have no problems giving up a 1x as long as I am gaining something in return. like double the top end magnification like the march fx 1.5-15 dfp.

[@bghiggy]

Honestly I'd find a 1.5 easier for my brain to use than a 1x since my eyes aren't perfect. When I try to use a 1x with one eye having a corrected clear image and the other having a slightly blurrier image my brain has a hard time merging them and I end up losing the Reticle. As soon as I have a tiny bit of magnification my brain can focus on the slightly magnified image much easier. This is why I use a 2-12 with a piggybacked red dot. At least with no magnification red dots both of my eyes are seeing the same image and I have a super bright dot that I can't lose in the same way I can with thin black lines

[@novembermike512]

It's 12.2 oz with no illumination. I could see it as a hunting scope for a lightweight levergun maybe? It'd be nice in a handy little gun.

[@user-mj1vb8jr6j]

The harlot in me who gets wet for anything early 2000’s GWOT gear would love to know how this stacks up against the old Mark4 1.5-4 that Chapman had on his mk12. That scope was hella sexy looking

[@Tarchaya]

It's not just the detents but the know wobble. It feels like it would be easy to break off.

[@oldirtyshinobi420]

Let’s go!

[@anthonyjose5644]

My P4Xi illumination detents suck too

[@ChielScape]

1-6 seems to be a sweet spot for LPVOs that wanna do it all. That's a 6x magnification ratio. Good ones can make 8x work pretty well. With a 1.5x base magnification, I expect a 9x or even 12x high-end, and a 30+mm objective lens. You don't need a 1x if you have a good bright dot, you can just close the front scope cap, so I'm not bothered by that part. The 4x high end though, what even is the purpose of this?

[@sc6802]

what mount is that?

[@peteregger7928]

I have the TMR reticle version. The subtentions are so small they are unusable for ranging or hold overs. Although the windage protective screw on cover is metal the actual windage knob on mine is plastic. Glass is good and the illumination is excellent but overall my scope is nothing more than a variable 4X red dot. The 1.5X low end is bizarre for an LPVO! Do not buy the TMR version and do not buy if you don't like plastic windage turrets! The elevation is all metal.

[@2swole4u74]

Do the new Slx 1-6 with bdc please . 🙏🏼

[@tfwwhennofitlitgf3300]

You mean the MOA/BDC version of the SLX Nova? It's literally the same as the MRAD version, only MOA.

[@jaredmatthews9403]

Humble request for VuduX 2-12x review. I'll buy one as soon as I'm able so I'll contact you if you arent able.

[@CutlassOutdoors]

Seems like a very niche optic for a very specific use case. If I was going to limit myself to a SFP 1-4 for whatever reason, the Nightforce NXS 1-4 is the cat’s meow. That being said, it’s a lot more expensive too. And out of production (you know, because it’s 2024).

[@Stryker309]

My cat actually started meowing right before I read “the cat’s meow” lol. Genuinely not kidding

[@FMDad-dm5qo]

Some people really like 1.5x. I’ve met practical shooting competitors who run the 1.5 baby ACOG. I don’t like it - have to close my other eye tight. If I’m not at 1x, the next lowest magnification that works is 2x.

[@whiterabit09]

Id pass this up if it was for an AR15 for indoor room clearing, you need a 1x. But i have it on an outdoor rifle to save weight where the 1.5x is not a problem from 15+ yards.

[@shark_actual]

why would you make me consider this optic again, C lol

[@joearledge1]

1 or 1.5 to 4X would be perfect on my shotgun

[@linkchen8245]

This is def better than the vx freedom 1.5-4 but is the price worth, there's 1-6nova now LOL I think the mk3 3-9 firedot is where the money is at bc it can be built into a combo with rds in less than 20oz.

[@ber1285]

What the best lpvo $500 and under with mount?

[@ber1285]

Or your favorite?

[@JFon-ck6mg]

Seems to me if using 1.5 for base that the high end s/b 6x not 4x...

[@lecherojr]

Steiner changing the price of the P4xi was a huge mistake IMO. At $400 it was in a class of its own. At $7-900 it gets dwarfed by better options

[@CDOES]

To my knowledge it was mostly due to a increase in the tax rate.

[@lecherojr]

@@CDOES really? I guess that would make me unmovingly sympathetic? Even with the weight penalty I think the Viper 1-6 is a better scope for that money. I do wish I had bought 4 or 5 P4xi when they were $400 though.

[@CDOES]

@@lecherojr it's definitely a harder pill to swallow. Especially with so many other good scopes coming out that aren't much heavier (if any) and offer just as good performance in other areas.

[@robertfox1401]

Let me start by saying that I'm new to the optics wold and have very limited experience. That said I don't see the application for 1.5x. Any magnification makes it very hard to see what's around me. If my lowest setting is 1.5 it won't match up with my other eye and will narrow my field of view. If I'm not getting a good 1x than why not go with a prism and save on weight and size? I don't use red dots too much because I have astigmatism and they star real bad for me so they only go on pistols for me. I would like to have a lpvo but they are big and heavy unless I've got 1000+ to spend on one and I do not. The whole poont of the lpvo is the 1x, otherwise your getting a prism that is big and heavy that can turn down a little. But like I said, my experience is very limited so maybe I need to try more things out before I understand.

[@mattfleming86]

Because it is, at it's core, more of a hunting optic. 15 yards and out, in the woods, it would be a fantastic scope for deer hunting. But I would not want to pie off a doorway and beat someone on "up" time with glass that is a little.. disorienting. Chasing deer in a woodlot it would work fantastic. Could you make it work? Absolutely. It just depends on what your goals are.

[@robertfox1401]

@mattfleming86 that does make sense. If I'm setting up in a blind or tree stand than I'm only worried about seeing what I'm aiming at from a stable shooting position. Less variation on how I will need to shoot so optical clarity would be the most important thing.

[@mcritackuse]

I still can't get rid of my VXR Patrol. I still can't get rid of my VXR Patrol because it is much lighter than these Leupold products. I will be replacing it with a Primary Arms PLX NOVA this year and Leupold should rework the Patrol 6HD reticle into this SPR and rethink their position.

[@flopus7]

This is for people who can't stand how the ACOG tracks

[@Tarkay-hs6jl]

Haha, it would be only *after* I buy something from this product line (3-9x40 illum for my mk12 mod-1ish) that you review it. I look forward to seeing how badly I flushed that money down the drain.

[@KimballPrecisionRifles]

I bough the mk3hd 4-12 tmr non-illum for my also mk12-ish build lol. I’m happy with it so far, but fov seems tight. Eye relief is usable. Glass is really nice, better than I expected honestly. Turrets aren’t too bad.

[@Tarkay-hs6jl]

@@KimballPrecisionRifles I was comparing it to a Bushnell Engage 2.5-10 my NSLGS had and the Bushnell honestly felt like the better scope, but heavier and longer and I got a little dazzled by the daylight bright illumination. I'd just chalk the tight fov to part of the 'clone' experience lol. I love how the elevation turret feels, windage is...eh, at least its capped. But I almost immediately put the 3-9illum on Tacswap so I can order a 4-12w/ side focus, but if it takes awhile to sell I won't be too disappointed.

[@skullofserpent5727]

+

[@okienightstalker3145]

Just get a P4Xi and call it a day if you want light weight 1-4

[@northman77]

Leupold do weird stuff... At this point I am not sure if the good Leupold scopes were made by mistakes.

[@Averkie_Skila]

1.5 vs 1: no 4 power top end: What is this, 1998?

[@ryanestes7331]

It's hard to argue with physics, this arrangement makes a very lightweight LPVO possible with good glass transmissibility. For the same reason that 1-10 LPVOs kinda suck at their extremes this optic should have an extremely consistent glass clarity

[@skoolynugenator1802]

Lightweight hunting optic. Some people hunt deer in thick woods and this is perfect for it.

[@skoolynugenator1802]

@@ryanestes7331clarity is amazing on it

[@theunofficialresults231]

Leupold is like that high priced escort, the promise of so much better, but yep, still just a hooker with the escort price.

[@joshkrebs1999]

I like Leupold, but I can get similar quality for less money these days. Leupold really needs to put better turrets in their lower lines of scopes. That is the single thing that keeping me away from them right now.

[@brandonrupp5880]

1.5x minimum is way more distracting than a lot of people, me included, are willing to put up with. Lightweight is basically the only reason to buy. The rest is done better by other brands in the price range. PST 1-6 eats this things lunch.

[@skoolynugenator1802]

Damn near twice the weight. And the 1.5 is really not that distracting. Glass is really nice.

[@chipsterb4946]

I bought a Vortex Viper Gen 2 PST 1-6x because *everyone* talked about it. It ate breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a hobbit’s second breakfast. Nice glass, good reticle, and it weighs so much I took it off the rifle I bought it for.

[@narutobroken]

This thing is cringe

[@skoolynugenator1802]

I love mine. Great hunting optic.