I settled on a new Mk4 4.5-14x50 w/ TMR reticle. So far so good, until I lapped the new TPS rings a bit too much.
I have a new set coming from Brownells tomorrow.
*****Hopefully**** heading to the Wrangells on 18 August for Dall and a Grizz if he will surrender peacably
Alan,
It's been interesting watching this thread as I build a lot of longrange lightweight carry rifles, total all up weight around 7lbs capable of 0 - 1000 yd big game hunting. My scope of choice is exactly what you've bought, a Leupold Mk4 4.5-14x50 TMR. I've tried most scopes, love Nightforces and use them on my heavy guns where weight isn't an issue. But where you've got to carry all your gear on your back in extremely mountainous terrain then you're rifle's gotta be light! Recoil is an issue because of this which affects reliability and eye relief, and this is where Leupold stands out in the lightweight field. There are some lighter scopes, some as reliable, and some with as much eye relief, but nothing puts in all together in this category as well as the one you've chosen. Their adjustments are repeatable, their warranty and repair service unmatched, and optics more than is required for the job. There are definitely scopes with better optics out there, (some of which are made by Leupold), but I'm not after a spotting scope or binoculars that I'm going to spend hours looking thru. I carry those items for that job. The scopes job on a lightweight LR rifle is to have suficient resolution to define the target, sufficient eye relief, have repeatable consistent adjustments, hold its zero while changing power or parallax, under recoil etc and overall be 100% reliable!
I agree with Kirby's choice except 10x ain't enough for me at 1000yds and I've never found 4.5x to be too much at the bottom end up close. I don't need the 50mm objective but the 4.5-14x40 PR isn't quite built the same internally as the MK4 reliability wise in theory anyway, so until Leupold's new VX7's superseed it (if they do), the one you've chosen is my choice. Of course if you're only going to use it beyond say 300 yards and don't need the low end for that trophy of a life time that breaks past you at 20 yards on the run , GG's 6.5-20 or 8.5-25 choice gives you alot more top end magnification that can be very useful on the long ones without any increase in weight. I use both on my long range medium weight guns (8 - 10 lbs), but the choice of brand and model gets wider when the all up weight limit goes up.
Greg
ps man, I got a bit involved there, but this is a topic close to my heart, truly lightweight longrange hunting rifles as I have been known to walk a wee way!
