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June 13th, 2011
 If you often shoot at multiple distances, it’s smart to keep a come-up table (ballistics chart) with your gun. Some guys have a laminated card, while others print out a ballistics chart and tape that to their buttstock. That works, but it’s not a very stylish solution.
Leupold sells a cool, compact Retractable Ballistics Chart that holds your ballistics data on a retractable tape in a plastic housing. Write your come-ups on the tape with a permanent marker pen, such as a fine-point Sharpie. Access the data just like using a measuring tape — pull out to read and then the tape rolls back into the housing. This black plastic, scope-mounted device retails for about $35.00. There are two different versions — part #54804 for 1″-diameter scope tubes and part #54778 for 30mm scopes.
Here are some user reviews:
“Much better solution than taping your drop chart to the stock. Just need to be careful of what type of pen you use to write in your data, some felt-tips smear. Has held up fine so far, no complaints.” — R.C., West Virginia
“It serves it’s purpose but $34 is a little pricey. I used masking tape cut down the middle to fit the size of the chart and wrote my come-up values in MOA on the masking tape. That way it is easily changeable without making permanent marks on the chart. Tape pulls out to about 9 inches.”
– D.H., Indiana
“I like to shoot long range and the retractable ballistic chart is much nicer than printing it on tape on the side of my rifle. I use a tactical scope so now I can pull out my ballistic information and set my range without my eye leaving the target. The only problem is pencil smudges, and felt tip will not come off. They need a replaceable print area on the tape.” — B.H., North Dakota
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March 31st, 2011
 When you purchase expensive optics, you need to be careful about who you deal with, and what you buy. There are an increasing number of forgeries coming in from various parts of Asia. Just recently, three executives of Field Sport Inc. were charged with ‘selling a counterfeit mark’, in connection with Field Sport’s importation of fake EoTech riflescopes. Earlier this month, 900 counterfeit EoTech sights/magnifiers were discovered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspecting a shipment from China. The Field Sports execs were charged with multiple felonies.
BusinessWeek.com reported:
Now a fugitive believed to be in China, Yongming “Steven” Sui, 53, chief executive officer of Field Sport Inc., was charged by state prosecutors with two felony counts — manufacturing and selling a counterfeit mark (a form of trademark infringement) and possession of an assault weapon. Also charged in the state criminal complaint were Sui’s colleagues — co-owner Isaac Cheuk Hang Tse, 65, of Rowland Heights, and Pao Sheng Yang, 34, of Corona, the firm’s business manager. Both are alleged to have engaged in manufacturing and selling a counterfeit mark and possessing an assault weapon.
Many Counterfeit Optics for Sale on Internet
In addition to this EoTech situation, there appear to be many other examples of counterfeit optics entering the United States. The Firearm Blog did a quick web search, and found numerous imitation EoTech and Leupold scopes advertised on Alibaba.com, a wholesale site part-owned by web giant Yahoo.com. We suspect the fakes found by the Firearm Blog on Alibaba.com are just the tip of the iceberg. Below is just one of many fakes AccurateShooter.com found on Alibaba.com today (3/30/2011). A 3.5-10x40mm Leupold MK4 M3 Scope is advertised for sale for $750.00:
There’s no way you’re going to get a genuine illuminated Leupold MK4 for $750.00 and we can tell you that the real things don’t come from Indonesia, where this seller is located. We confirmed today with Leupold that ALL MK4 scopes are still made in the USA. The genuine Leupold 3.5-10x40mm MK4 LR/T M3 sells for about $1350.00 in the USA:
If you have any concerns about the authenticity of a Leupold scope you plan to purchase, ask the seller for the SERIAL NUMBER. Then call Leupold support at 1-800-Leupold. Leupold will trace the serial number and determine positively whether the scope is genuine or conterfeit.
Credit to The Firearm Blog for flagging this story.
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March 20th, 2011
As with many optics vendors, EuroOptic.com offers a selection of demo scopes. These were used at trade shows, or were manufacturers’ sample items. Currently EuroOptic.com has many premium European optics in its demo inventory, along with Leupolds and Trijicons. These demo riflescopes (and spotting scopes) are available for hundreds less than the normal price. Here are examples:
Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-12×50 with Illum Gen 2 Mildot – Like New Demo.: $2500.00
Swarovski PV 3-12×50 with Heavy Duplex Reticle – Xlnt condition with very light ringmarks.: $950.00
Zeiss Victory 3-12×56 T* with Rapid Z 800 reticle – Xlnt condition with very faint ringmarks: $1500.00
Zeiss Victory Diavari FL 6-24×72, Illlum. #75 RapZ Varmint Reticle. Like New, faint ringmarks: $2850.00
Zeiss Diascope 85mm Angled spotting scope with 20-60 power eyepiece – Xlnt condition: $1800.00
Leupold Mark 4 M3 LRT10x40 with TMR Reticle – Xlnt condition with extremely faint ring marks: $975.00
Leupold Vari X 3 Tactical 3.5-10×40, Mildot reticle – Xlnt condition, faint ringmarks: $500.00
 EuroOptic.com Now Sells Premier Scopes
EuroOptic.com recently added the Premier line of riflescopes to its inventory. All Premier models feature a one-piece, 34mm main tube with more than 100 MOA of internal adjustment. On all the latest Premier scopes, there is a unique dual-purpose turret on the left side — the outer knob adjusts for parallax, while the smaller inner knob pulls out to adjust reticle illumination. This configuration allows for increased spacing between mounting rings, providing more room for accessories.
The standard reticle in Premier’s First Focal Plane scopes, is Premier’s Gen II FFP mildot. This allows ranging at any magnification. In addition Premier offers the Gen II XR reticle. We prefer this design for varmint hunting and tactical comps. It features a finer crosshair and additional hold-over points in the lower half of the sight picture. For Premier scopes with 1/4-MOA clicks there is also an excellent hold-over reticle with MOA-based stadia (hashmarks.) Horus H37 reticles are also offered with some Premier scopes. Last but not least, Premier Heritage scopes come with articulating lens covers, a nice extra we wish came with more scopes.
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February 7th, 2011
Leupold’s Mark 4 riflescopes are highly respected for their quality of glass, user-friendly tactile turrets, and durability backed up by Leupold’s lifetime warranty. These scopes are favored by police and military shooters. Because of their popularity, Mark 4 scopes are in high demand and retailers maintain pretty high prices. We’ve worked with one of our sponsors to create a very attractive special discount on Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm LR/T M1 scopes, just for our readers.
Leupold 6.5-20x50mm Mark 4 with Leupold Tactical Rings for just $1375.99
Our sponsor DogHouse Outdoors has created a special package with a Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 6.5-20x50mm scope, plus Leupold tactical 30mm rings at a super-low price. These rings have an MSRP of $224.00. Through this special offer for AccurateShooter.com readers, you can get the Mark 4 scope, plus genuine Leupold Mark 4 30mm rings (either aluminum or steel), for just $1375.99. And shipping is FREE! Go ahead and comparison shop and you’ll see what a good value this is.
Choose either a mildot reticle or Leupold’s TMR® (Tactical Milling Reticle). Most tactical shooters seem to prefer the TMR, which has fine hash marks. However, in low light, some shooters say the older Mildot Reticle is easier to see.
This is a limited-time offer. DogHouse Outdoors plans to offer this $1375.99 pricing for the next three weeks, through the end of February, 2011. If you have been looking for a high-quality Leupold tactical scope, you should definitely check out this offer.
CLICK HERE for Leupold 6.5-20x50mm LR/T with Rings Package
First Focal Plane, Mil-Mil Version Also Offered
Because most shooters actually are better served with a second focal plane reticle, and the vast majority of American shooters prefer MOA adjustments, the Mark 4 $1375.99 LR/T package scopes come with 1/4-MOA windage and elevation clicks with a second focal plane reticle. However, for those shooters who need a First Focal Plane (FFP) Reticle (for ranging at all magnifications), and mil-based clicks, DogHouse Outdoors is also offering a Mark 4, ER/T M5 6.5-20x50mm package. This features a FFP reticle, and turrets with 1/10 milrad clicks. The price, including Leupold Mark IV 30mm rings, is $1,775.99. That’s 24% off the normal list price (with the $224 rings). Again, this offer is limited in time. Get your orders in before 2/28/2011.
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January 21st, 2011
Yes, bigger is better. Leupold has upgraded its popular “folded-light-path” compact spotting scope, by adding an HD-glass, 80mm front objective and boosting the magnification up to 60-power. That will give this NEW scope better low-light performance and higher magnification while retaining a usable exit pupil (if you increase magnification without increasing the front lens diameter, the exit pupil shrinks). The unit costs $1800, not bad considering the price of other 80mm spotters, and the Leupold is much easier to carry, given its compact design.
Bigger Objective, Better HD Glass, More Useful Magnification Range
We’ve always liked the Leupold compact spotter because it is light weight and it’s Newtonian (folded light path) design makes it much more compact than most spotters of comparable magnification. The U.S. Military currently uses the Mark 4 “tactical” version of the Leupold 12-40x60mm spotter. However, we felt that the glass in the 12-40 spotter was not on a par with the latest generation HD spotters from Kowa, Zeiss, and Leica, or even Nikon and Pentax for that matter. Leupold has taken a huge step forward by gracing its new spotter with a big, HD (low dispersion) front objective. This should give the scope better perceived sharpness with much less color fringing (chromatic aberration) when viewing targets at long range. Upsizing the objective to 80mm makes the scope brighter, improving low-light performance. That’s important, particularly for tactical guys and hunters. The bigger objective also allows Leupold to increase magnification all the way from 40X to 60X. Do you always want a 60-power view? No, but it is great have 50% more magnification on tap when you need it.
60X is a Good Thing for Target Shooters
Most 40-power spotting scopes struggle to resolve 6mm and 6.5mm bullet holes at 600 yards. With HD glass and 60X magnification, you’ll have a much better chance to see small bullet holes at long range (though you’ll also need good viewing conditions). That’s a huge advantage for the long-range target shooter. Overall, we were very pleased that Leupold engineered this much-enhanced 80mm spotter. We predict it will be a big hit with anyone who needs serious magnification in an easy-to-carry optic.
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December 18th, 2010
Here’s a chance to save hundreds on a popular Leupold hunting, tactical, or target scope. Now through 12/31/2010, MidwayUSA has marked down a limited quantity of Leupold riflescopes which either have a small exterior blemish, or are otherwise on close-out. If you need a medium-power hunting scope there are some great deals to be had. CLICK HERE to Visit Closeout and Factory Blem Sale Page.
Here are some specific products on sale. Remember quantities are limited. You snooze, you lose.
Leupold Factory Blem, Mark 4 LRT M3, 3.5-10x40mm Mil-Dot Reticle Matte, Product #620150
Sale Price: $1049.99 — Save $210.00
Leupold Factory Blemished VX-3, 4.5-14x40mm Duplex Reticle, Matte, Product #816128
Sale Price: $439.99 — Save $90.00
Leupold Euro-30mm Tube, 3-9x50mm German #4 Reticle, Matte, Product #976858
Sale Price: $399.99 — Save $100.00
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September 22nd, 2010
Our readers were very interested in the recent announcement that Remington Arms was selected to build the new M24E1 Sniper Weapon System, the successor to the venerable M24 Sniper Rifle used by the U.S. Army for many years.
 New Leupold Scope for M24E1
A key component of the M24E1 system is the new Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm Extended Range/Tactical (ER/T) M5 riflescope (34mm locking version). This scope features First Focal Plane (FFP) Horus ranging reticles (H27 or H58), side parallax adjustment, and a beefy 34mm maintube.
Other key features of the new ER/T include M5 windage and elevation adjustment dials with audible, tactile 1/10 (0.1) milrad clicks to match the mil-based Horus reticles. An elevation zero-stop helps prevent under-rotation in high-stress situations. The eyepiece offers long eye relief and it employs a “lockable” fast-focus design to ensure that the reticle remains in sharp focus. The scope has an auto-locking elevation adjustment.
 With either a Horus H27 or H58 reticle in the front focal plane, the scope can accurately range at all magnification settings (the reticle magnifies with the image). The 34mm maintube allows for ample windage and elevation adjustment — a full 100 MOA of elevation and 100 MOA of windage adjustment.
The Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm ER/T M5 Locking Adjustment riflescope is waterproof, fog proof and shock proof. With its M5 Locking Adjustment, the scope’s platform is unique in the Mark 4 ER/T line. It is controlled under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and limited to domestic and international government sales only.
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September 4th, 2010
 Leupold’s Mark 4 Tactical Spotting Scope is now the standard Scout Sniper Observation Telescope (SSOT) of the U.S. Marine Corps, the first new spotting scope the Corps has used in decades. Leupold’s compact MK4 variable-power spotter replaces the fixed 20X M49 spotting scope fielded by the Marines since World War II. The Mark 4 Tactical spotter was also selected by the U.S. Army for use with its XM110 Semi-Auto Sniper System (SASS). This same Mark 4 spotting scope, with either Mil-dot or Horus reticles, is available for civilian purchase.
Only 12.4 inches long, the MK4 spotting scope is extremely compact for its magnification level. Though it weighs just 37 ounces, it boasts a rugged, armored magnesium body that is nitrogen charged and 100% waterproof. Other good features of the MK4 include generous eye relief, multi-coated lenses, and rubber fold-down eyecups. A front focal plane (FFP) reticle magnifies the reticle along with the image, so users can estimate range at any power setting using the Mil Dot or Tactical Milling Reticle. CLICK HERE for full MK4 Spotting Scope Specs.
Folded Light Path Design Yields High Power in Small Package
By “folding” the entering light in a ‘Z’-path, the Newtonian-reflector design achieves high magnification in a very compact optic that is easy to pack and carry. Leupold’s efficient Folded Light Path (FLP) lens and mirror optical system allow the Mark 4 to deliver the effective optical path of a scope twice its length. We have also found that, compared to conventional spotting scopes, the Leupold spotter is more stable in windy conditions because it has much less overhang and a smaller cross-section than conventional designs. The folded-path Newtonian design makes perfect sense for spotting scopes that need to be carried in the field. A similar folded-light-path design is used in the superb, $5000.00 Zeiss Optronics 20-60x72mm Tactical Spotting Scope.
Leupold Now Offers Horus Reticle Options in MK4 Spotting Scopes
While the Marines use the MK4 Spotting scope with a conventional Mil Dot reticle, Leupold now offers Horus H32 and H36 ranging reticles as options. The H32 has a mil line for target measurement and speed estimation, while the H36 features an inverted “L” in Inch Of Angle (IOA) for easy ranging. The Mil Dot reticle matches those found in military riflescopes, allowing a spotter to quickly range a target, while viewing the same sight picture as the shooter. The Horus H32 and H36 provide a more complex grid that allows range estimation, target speed calculation, and 2nd-shot-correction.
 
To learn about more about the sophisticated Horus reticles, visit HorusVision.com.
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August 7th, 2010
OutdoorDealHound.com is a new website offering special discounts and “bundled” outdoor gear bargains from popular manufacturers including Browning, Boyt Harness Co., Leupold, Mossberg, Remington, Weatherby, Sarge Knives, Thermacell and many more. If you’re looking for a good deal on scopes, firearms, gun cases, hunting gear, boots, tents, and more, check out OutdoorDealHound.com when it launches August 10, 2010.
OutdoorDealHound.com will offer more than 1,200 outdoor products. The site will also provide instant rebates, individually-tailored discounts, and bundled pricing based on the number and type of items a customer purchases and his/her demographic profile. Shoppers can identify discount opportunities by watching for icons, like dog bones, paws and padlocks. For example, the more dog bones displayed on an item’s page, the bigger the discount.
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July 1st, 2010
 Replacing retiring Leupold executive Tom Fruechtel, Calvin Johnston has been appointed as Leupold & Stevens’ President and CEO effective July 19, 2010. Johnston has very limited, if any, experience in the optics industry or in hunting/shooting-related businesses. Johnston’s primary expertise is in the apparel sector. Since 2007, Johnston has served as President of Aramark’s Galls Division. Galls specializes in direct sales of police and public safety uniforms and gear. Presumably, Leupold’s Board of Directors hopes that if Johnston can sell uniforms and gear to law enforcement buyers, he can expand Leupold’s LEO optics business.
Prior to running Galls, Johnston served from 2005-2007 as group president/CEO of Russell Athletic, which manufacturers sports clothing. Before that, Johnston, who earned a Marketing MBA from Northwestern Univ., held a series of sales and marketing positions, including a two-year stint as Director of International Marketing for Rollerblade.
What Does the Future Hold for Leupold & Stevens?
Johnston succeeds Tom Fruechtel, who will retire from Leupold at the end of 2010. Fruechtel served as CEO of Leupold & Stevens for 12 years. During that period Leupold sales and profits grew considerably. However, Leupold’s reputation in the market for high-end premium optics has suffered in the past decade. Companies such as Nightforce Optics, Schmidt & Bender, and Zeiss are well-established in the top end of the market, while, in the medium-priced scope segment, smaller optics companies such as Sightron and Vortex have taken market share from Leupold by offering more bang for the buck. In the laser-rangefinder market, Leupold needs to make major improvements in order to compete with the latest products from Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss.
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June 24th, 2010
AccurateShooter.com has a new sponsor, Webyshops.com, which sells a full range of sporting optics for hunters, varminters, and competition shooters. To kick off WebyShops’ participation with our website, Mike Orlov, who runs Webyshops, has agreed to provide some EXCLUSIVE specials for AccurateShooter.com readers. These specials, just for our readers, are a full $50 below the normal low price. The Super-Sale items are limited quantity, first come, first serve, and subject to availability. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Go ahead and comparison-shop first. We think you’ll find these exclusive specials are hard to beat. For example, the Eotech 516 sells for $456.56 at Amazon.com, and $479.99 at Cabelas.com.
IMPORTANT: To qualify for these special prices, use Coupon Code ACCSHOOTER when you check out with your online order. For phone orders, call (800) 851-9329, ask for MIKE, and say you are an AccurateShooter.com reader.
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June 15th, 2010
Bushnell Inc. and Leupold & Stevens have settled their respective lawsuits relating to the Leupold True Ballistic Range® (TBR) technology, and the Bushnell Angle Range Compensation (ARC) technology. So ends the legal battle of competing angle-compensation indication systems. In February, Leupold & Stevens sued Burris, Bushnell, and Zeiss for patent infringement in federal court for the District of Oregon. Then, in a separate action in the District of Kansas, Bushnell sued Leupold & Stevens for patent infringement. This week, after months of negotiations, the two companies dismissed their claims against each other, the two sides having reached an amicable settlement. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but neither company will be required to discontinue selling any of its products.
“We are pleased with the settlement, because it allows our customers to go on using and enjoying Bushnell laser rangefinders with our patented ARC technology, and we can focus our resources and energy on further developing and marketing new and innovative products,” said Phil Gyori, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Bushnell.
Previously, in March, Leupold removed Carl Zeiss Optical from Leupold’s patent suit. Though originally named as a defendant, Zeiss was dismissed from the suit because its products do NOT incorporate an inclinometer to compensate for angled shots. The inclinometer is a key element of Leupold’s patent.
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