Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm Riflescope Review

Written By Annalena Wood

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Some tough situations necessitated rugged and durable gear, that is capable of withstanding any conditions and is best suited to rifles with reliable optics. The Mark 5 HD 3.6-18X44 Riflescope will be satisfied with all these conditions in any manner.

The Mark 5 series from Leopold is the most successful product in the military, police and law enforcement field since its development. At the request of special mission units to be compact, the scope is designed to be fully capable and provide plenty of power with modern reticle options.

This model is the ideal choice for any 5.56mm or .308 / 7.62mm AR as it handles a lot of problems even in critical conditions. The Mark 6 series may not be suitable for everyone, as it takes a lot of time to fix the reticle focus and the tower, and is difficult to read.

Each riflescope with military scales comes large and heavy. But in contrast, the Mark 5 comes with lighter scopes that cover the entire military specification. To find the balance amid durability, accuracy, and weight, I recommend the Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44 riflescope.

Who is Leupold

The Volpel survey gear manufacturer began their journey in 1907, but in 1942 the company was named Leupold and Stevens. It was only through the introduction of the Plainsman Riflescope in 1947 that it became an optical company.

Well prepared rifle scope tubes are placed in Leupold’s manufacturing department.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., known as Leupold, was started by two German immigrants looking for a new start in the United States. Marcus Leupold began to build rifle scopes at the end of World War II while on a hunt. Since his scope didn’t come up with the expected credits in the early stages, he decided to make better scopes.

This is why they have been producing and selling their products successfully for over 100 years. Leupold has gradually grown into the field of optics and transformed into one of the best-known names today.

About Mark 5 Series

Renowned scope manufacturer Leupold produced the Mark 6 and Mark 8 series riflescopes a few years ago, built with optical and mechanical quality. But due to some minor problems and shortcomings in its turret and initial surveillance, the two series were not well-received by the public and the sales volume was low.

Lightest & FFP long-range Mark 5 Riflescope
Lightest & FFP long-range Mark 5 Riflescope

Thus, Leopold’s engineers wanted to create a new series with flawless features between the Mark 6 and Mark 8. Eventually, they developed the Mark 5 HD Riflescope, which is recognized as one of the shortest and lightest FFP scopes in terms of the magnification range.

Creating ultra-short scopes is not easy, but they do it to restore their reputation in their field and to deliver flawless products to customers who trust their work. There are plenty of Mark 5 Series riflescopes out there with a similar magnification, but none come with this kind of lighter weight range and quality.

The remarkable thing about this series is that if you don’t need an illumination, you can choose scopes in the alpha class, which comes in a good price range.

LEUPOLD MARK 5HD 3.6-18x44mm RIFLESCOPE

Mark 5HD Riflesocpe – Specifications

Features of Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm Riflescope

Design

The Mark 5 HD Riflescope is tied to the locking height, the quick throw knob, the closed vintage, and so on, all of which make this whole set with a lightest physical scope. The most prominent ergonomic feature is considered to be built with the Mark 5 12.06″ length, and this is the reason why this purpose is classified as ultra short design.

Another aspect of this ultra-short design developed by Schmidt & Bender is that it’s very difficult to create and develop the right one, which is why it is one of the most dominant designs in the market today.

This 35mm scope shows the vintage zero at the 11 o’clock position instead of the 9 o’clock position, which makes it a little more difficult to use this. Since the knob is almost covered by the cap, it may take some time to correct the spin elevation.

FFP PR-1MOA Reticle

Most people go for the MOA / MAO version of the FFP RP-1MOA Reticle Fitted Scopes. The reticle is a regular hash reticle, designed with a floating-point center to provide better views. These reticles are divided into two separate categories: vertical reticle and horizontal reticle.

The vertical reticle is labeled every 20 MOA above the zero lines and every 10 MOA beneath the zero lines. Horizontal Reticle has labeled every 20 MOA for its two sides. These reticles are thicker compared to 40 MOA. Vertical Reticle (above zero) and Horizontal Reticle (both sides) have moderate thicknesses of 20 MOA to 40 MOA.

As a result, it can be difficult to see the thin central part of the reticle when you move this FFP reticle from 5 power to 3.6, especially on a dark background, which can look good in all directions.

Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm - 3.6X @ 100 YardsLeupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm – 3.6X @ 100 YardsLeupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm - 18X @ 100 YardsLeupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm – 18X @ 100 Yards
Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm - 10X @ 100 Yards
Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm – 10X @ 100 Yards

Illumination

Most products use sophisticated reticles to provide quality illumination. In doing so, the TMR serves as the only reticle that provides illumination in this 3.6-18 × 44 scope. If you choose the Tremor3, you will unfortunately not have any lighting options, as it can cost upwards of $ 600 to get a higher illumination option from Leupold products.

But, surprisingly, this 3.6-18x44mm Mark 5 HD is available with a luminous TMR in the specific price range. The reason I add this is because the 5-25x56mm model can be illuminated by either the flashing T3 or the TMR Reticle. All types of illuminated reticle versions work best because they have a light control sitting in the parallax bubble.

Turrets

Setting up a zero stop on the scope is one of the easiest, first, unscrew the set screws and remove the turret cap. Then remove the zero with the inner turret post and load the turret then set the screws with 0 marks. Doing this would easily set up a zero stop, but all of this would not be possible without the contribution of the turret.

The Mark 5 HD has some of the best, most tactile clicks used by most users on a Leopold scope, and provides a far better experience than the baseball-card-in-the-spokes clicks of its previous Mark 4 series. The closed vintage turret comes with a detachable cap and is fully constructed of waterproof materials.

The turrets are equipped with push-button zero locks.From behind the scope, it’s hard to read exactly where zero is.
Turret developed by Leupold has a positive click.The M1C3 turret features a revolution indicator.

Pros

  • High-speed throw lever
  • Mark 4 dial illumination control
  • Front focal plane & M1C3 adjustments

Cons

  • Expensive one

First Focal Plane

PR-1MOA is a primary focal plane reticle that has reticle subtensions that are precisely aligned with the test chart and measured with magnification.

Experts always recommend secondary focal plane reticles for hunting purposes, but this PR-1 MOA of the Mark 5 HD is far better than its first focal plane and offers dual benefits when working on the field.

Dialing in at high heat can be a daunting task, but users say that this reticle helps to adjust the magnification and dial a little more. Usually increasing the FOV to make it easier to find the target even over long distances will enable you to dial the device again.


   First Focal Plant at 3.6X





VS

First Focal Plant at 3.6X

Optical

The coating choices and optical designs of Leupold are aimed at providing maximum performance even in low light conditions. The Leopold Mark 5HD scope aims to have significant advantages over the right price range, making them stand out among competitors.

The Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm riflescope is composed of remarkable features such as low distortion, punchy contrast, great resolution, exceptional optical performance and more. These features work well for all light conditions as high light and low light. In every way, its optical performance is far better than we expected. This is a little further from chromatic aberration that dominates other higher-level scopes.

This rifle scope is built in the 3.6x to 18x magnification range, and it is paired with a bright exit pupil and a field of view at the lower end to provide better performance. There is an inadequate quantity of tunneling at all forces and it is stable in the magnification range.

Eyebox

The Eye Box is an essential feature that is incorporated to increase the ability to quickly capture a clear image through a scope. If you put your cheekpiece on the target and at the wrong angle, it can affect the performance of the eye box.

So by aiming at the right angle, you can enjoy the “tunnel” view image even if you are too far ahead or too far behind. Perhaps your scope is too high or too low, and if the angle of your cheekpiece is wrong, it will create a hard eye box, allowing you to get a distorted visual image.

At first, you need to properly mount your scope on the rifle, then only partially tighten your scope to fit the rings and bring your scope to the position, and then you will see a clear view. If you are not comfortable with these adjustments, you can repeat this process to get the correct mounting position.

At the same time, you need to adjust the cheekpiece to get the best output. The goal is to be clear with a very sophisticated eye box every time you bring a range to your natural grip.

Field Use

With a length of 3.6-18 12.06 inches and a very lightweight 25.5 ounces, the Mark 5 HD stands out among its competition. Because of this, it is called a small tactical scope. Some scopes are weighed at more than a pound, but this product has a narrow mounting area of ​​less than 6 inches.

Strangely, Mark 5HD’s tube size is 35mm, which is slightly higher than the most common 34mm. With these limitations mounting options, Leupold offers compatible rings. Its common turret size performs it effortless to drive in and out of the horse’s scoreboard. Its lightweight structure and short handheld dimensions make it the perfect backdrop for a hunter.

Mechanical Performance

The scope is best because the dial works in the flawless way of looking at animals. What surprised me was that post-season zero verification is consistent at all moments. This means that Mark 5HD’s automatic adjustment and return to zero after all use is a flawless ability for me.

A rigid resistance ring-spiral and the short-throw lever are installed to facilitate magnification changes. Scope makes eye relief and eye box layout much easier and more intuitive. The focus is adjusted via the parallax adjustment set screws. Besides, the scope is limited to 75, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 yards, and infinity.

Its luminous reticle versions control the light sitting in the parallax knob to provide a quality view. Built with more waterproof materials, this purpose-built vintage turret comes with a detachable cap. If you are a hunting expert, this kind of extensive support provided by Leopold is the best solution for you.

Tracking

Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm Riflescope has a very good tracking experience of overcoming some product conflicts.

Conclusion

For hunters looking for a riflescope with a reliable dialing system, long-range capability, lightweight model and well-built construction, choosing the Leopold Mark 5 HD 3.6-18 X 44mm riflescope would be the best decision. This gear is perfect for bad terrain and can be used for the long migration.

With a view to remedying all this backwardness and injecting a little more versatility, Leupold has developed the new Mark 5 HD series, which meets all military specifications. The 3.6-18X44 version is better than the other two models, the Leopold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 and the Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35X56.

I hope our review about the topmost selling product Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X44mm Riflescope will satisfy all your needs and lead you to choose the correct one to make your hunting experience more adventure.

About Annalena Wood

Annalena is carrying her rifle with passion and pride for her love of the outdoors and the experience of hunting. Her most memorable hunting season was back in 2015 when she and her dad were drawn for special elk tags. That allowed them the chance to fill their tags with an actual bull elk rather than a spike. That year both her and her dad came home with their first trophy elks, with hers a 6 by 6 pointer and her dad’s a 6 by 5.

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