Leupold MK 3HD 8-24X50 Reviews

[Bob R]

I have recently acquired a Leupold MK 3HD 8-24X50 Scope with TMR Reticle and with a P5 Zero Stop Elevation Knob. It was pre-owned, but looked new. It came in the box, without Instructions. I put this scope on a Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision Rifle in 6.5CM. The Model 12 came in a factory H&S Precision Stock, and has a Saddle Cheek Piece on it. It also has the Precision Target Accu-Trigger. This is my newest Project Rifle, and should be interesting to work with. I ended up taking the scope by Hunts Long Range Gun Shop to let him figure out the Zero Stop for me. My GoogleFoo did not produce any use able results figuring it out. Not all that complicated after figuring out how it worked. I am planning on running by the Range today and getting a good Zero, and then checking out my (Kinda Close) Drop Chart. I also need to get the Chronograph out and get some velocity readings on my ammunition through the 26" Tube to refine my Drop Chart past just close. The Savage Model 12 has a 20 MOA Base installed. I ended up with a 2.04 Inch Average Scope Height.

I did not find out much about the Leupold Mk 3HD 8-24X Scope when doing a search. I also looked back through lots of pages on here and did not find it mentioned. I have a few older Leupold Tactical Scopes, and this one is no doubt a little cheaper made. The Glass Quality seems to be very good however.
What are your experiences with this scope?

Bob R

 

[Bob R]

I have been getting my Snipers Log Book put together. My Log Book Cover is made by Tactical Taylor. It uses a cut down 3 ring Log Book to hold the Charts. Drop Chart, Mil Ranging Chart, Wind Calculation Chart, Table of Known Size Object Chart, and Round Count Chart. I am both OLD and OLD SCHOOL. I prefer a printed Log Book with nothing to run down or malfunction. I have been using Log Books like the above mentioned one for the last 30 years. Using Mil Dot's to range targets using a Table of Known Objects you will never set off a Laser Detector.
I clocked my 120 grain ELD-M load in 6.5 CM at just a hair under 3,000 FPS from the 26" barrel.
My Average Scope Height with a 20 MOA Scope Base was 2.04 Inches Center Bore to Center Scope.
Rifle: Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision in 6.5CM. Rock Stock Factory Rifle, with only an adjustment to the Savage Target Accu-Trigger. This rifle came with the H&S Precision Stock. I am impressed with the rifle. I have bought two Remington 700 PSS Sniper Rifles in 308 over the years. This Savage is a lot better right out of the box than either Remington 700 PSS was. Both Remington's needed a new Adjustable Trigger to be use-able for precision work.
Scope: Leupold MK3-HD 8-24X50 TMR-P5.
Scope Zeroed at: 100 yards.

With my Drop Chart worked out to 875 Yards in 25 Yard Increments with a 100 yard Zero, I was ready to see just how accurate my Drop Chart was. I was using the Shooters Calculator.com Ballistic Calculator to get my Drop Chart Numbers. The reason for 875 yards being my last Come-Up Number, is that my Drop Chart Sheet goes from 100 Yards to 475 yards Left Column and 500 yards thru 875 yards in the Right Column. This system lets me have a Horizontal Line across 100 yard thru 500 Yards, 200 yards thru 600 Yards, etc. I also have each 100 yard increment Line in Bold Print so they are easy to locate.

I engaged Steel Targets today at 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards shooting in the late afternoon. The MK3-HD Scope was very impressive. This was my first Tactical Scope with .1 Mil Adjustments. While I am still not all that impressed with the plastic Wind-age Knob. It will probably not be a big issue, as I will probably just hold off for wind most of the time now that the scope is zeroed.
The Glass is Chrystal Clean and Impressive.
The Elevation Turret has easy to feel .1 Mill Adjustment Clicks.
The scope tracked perfectly with my Drop Chart Numbers.
I was shooting at Steel Plates painted White with a Red Paint Spot for the aiming point. The Wind Flags were just barely moving on the Range late this afternoon, so I did not hold off for wind. From 200 thru 600 yards all rounds fired were under MOA. Our old Sniper Match Silhouette Targets had a Head Scoring Zone for extra points. All 5 shots would have Scored Bonus Points on the Head Shot. Pretty Impressive!
This Rifle is very impressive for a Bone Stock Factory Rifle. Great Trigger, the Bolt Runs Smooth, and it Drives Tacks.
My Hornady 120 ELD-M Reloads also performed very well all the way to 600 yards.
The Scope also performed very well. The Glass is Chrystal Clear, and the Elevation Turret Tracked Perfectly.
I believe I have two keepers, both the Leupold MK3-HD 8-24X50 TMR-P5 Scope, and the Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision Rifle.

Bob R

 

[Just Say Moe]

I have one on a 6BR that so far I have shot out to 300 with no issues. Using the reticle and twisting the knob easily got on the target. No complaints so far.