In 2024 Leupold updated their popular Mark 4 line of tactical rifle scopes. After the huge success of their Mark 5HD line they took the lessons learned and transferred them to their lower cost Mark 4HD line. I got my hands on a Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52. Here are my thoughts on Leupold’s newest mid tier offering for hunters and shooters.
Specifications
First off, the Leupold Mark 4HD falls into a relatively new family of crossover scopes that can be used for hunting and match shooting without making serious concessions in either. The 4.5-18×52 weighs in at 27.5oz. The model I had was without illumination, although illuminated models are available. One issue I have with Leupold’s scopes in general is the large premium they place on illumination. In most of their scope lines, adding illumination costs hundreds of extra dollars, and the Mark 4HD is no different.
The diopter is a fast focus non locking setup that most scopes are going to. Both the elevation and windage turrets use Leupold’s push button locking turret system. I really like the ergonomics of this system as it ensures that the turret stays locked on zero and return to zero is quick and easy. Also, the Mark 4HD uses 10 MIL per rotation turrets unlike the 10.5 MIL turrets of the Mark 5HD. This is a marked improvement as the numbers on the turret still line up once you get past one full rotation. Finally, the Mark 4HD has done away with the Mark 5HD’s oddball 35mm tube diameter in favour of the much more common 34mm tube. This opens up a lot more options for scope rings and is a smart move.
First Impressions
Next, I mounted the Mark 4HD on a 6.5 Creedmoor custom built off of a ARC CDG action with a Krieger barrel. Then, I took the Mark 4HD to the field for some real world shooting. Right away, Leupold’s bloodline was apparent in this scope. Like many Leupolds, the eye box was forgiving. Additionally, the low light performance was very good for its price range and objective diameter. The zero position on the windage turret returns to the traditional horizontal location vs the 45 degree of the Mark 5HD. This felt more intuitive in use as it is easier to make sure you’re not a click off when the zero position is horizontal.
Optical quality was on par with what should be expected at the price point. There was some chromatic aberration visible in certain conditions. Resolution was decent but lagged slightly behind the Mark 5HD. Field of view is not terrible but certainly not as generous as the alpha tier precision rifle scopes. Zero retention didn’t have any glaring issues. However it did seem like the scope would occasionally wander 0.1 MIL between zero checks. This amount of shift is small enough it is difficult to detect. That said, my Nightforce optics don’t seem to wander at all from week to week.
Reticle
The Mark 4HD using Leupold’s PR1 and PR2 reticles. My example had the PR2 reticle. At first glance, the PR2 reticle is similar to most of the Christmas tree style reticles on the market. However, the reticle is very fine. This made it difficult to use at low magnification in anything less than optimal lighting conditions. This was disappointing, as theoretically the 4x erector should be more forgiving than higher magnification ratio designs. This may have been offset if the scope had illumination, but alas it did not. Another quirk of the PR2 reticle is the windage hashmarks are in 0.25 MIL increments. I was able to adjust, but it is definitely a change from the standard 0.2 MIL and 0.5 MIL hashmarks. Coming from other precision reticles the quarter MIL hashmarks were unintuitive at first.
Philosophy of Use
Candidly, due to the overly fine reticle and premium cost for illumination, the Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52 misses the mark on the cross-over scope segment it was targeted at. Coupled with the possibility of minor zero shift, and it isn’t my choice for a hard use hunting rifle. On the other hand, the Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52 is well suited for target applications.
For those setting up a rifle to shoot PRS Sportsman or NRL Hunter the light weight is attractive. Another great use case would be as a companion scope for a rimfire trainer. Many top PRS shooters are running the Mark 5HD on their competition rifles. The Mark 4HD offers the ability to have the same reticle and ergonomics on a trainer rifle without fronting the cost for another Mark 5HD. Finally, the Mark 4HD is a solid scope in its own right and offers a lower cost option for getting into the shooting sports.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, the Leupold Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52 is a welcome addition to the mid tier precision riflescope market. It provides optical performance biting at the heels of the popular Mark 5HD at a significantly lower price. The fine reticle and upcharge for illumination make it difficult to recommend as a hunting scope. Also, the unique reticle hashmark increments isn’t bad, but can take some adjustment for shooters acclimated to other reticles. Target shooters and competitors on a budget will find the Mark 4HD provides solid performance suitable for its cost.