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Leupold Mark AR 3-9X40

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seahawk View Drop Down
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    Posted: April/23/2009 at 18:01
I ordered the mil-dot version of this scope from SWFA over the weekend. It is on backorder, but I will report on it when it arrives. I asked Leupold about the BDC dial so I can work up a load to match it. For those who are interested here is what they sent me:

Leupold Customer Service
Product Specialist Group
Phone (503) 526-1400
Reference Call #

Mr. Ryan:

The Mark AR T2 is calibrated for the 55 grain .223, muzzle velocity
3200, BC .267, Nosler.

We also do custom calibrated dials for any specific load you may have if
you are ever interested.

Sharon Stephen
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2009 at 23:20
You should get one for the 69 gr SMK

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote seahawk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2009 at 13:27
That would be better on top of my 24 inch Sabre Defense upper, but this will certainly get me through the summer. I am going to be shooting 55 gr milsurp at short distances (RWVA Appleseed shoots) for most of the summer with the occasional 300-500 yard opportunity, which will require hand loads. I'm going to make my loads up with 55gr Combined Technology because I had good luck hunting with 180 gr CT. If I get another turret it will be for 69gr or 77 gr.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2009 at 14:06
 You really should reconsider your bullet choice. At 400 yards or more the 69 Match King or the 75 HPBT Match will perform tons better than any 55 grain bullet, especially in any wind at all. Both should shoot well out of a 1-9 or faster twist.
 The 75 A-Max or any similar VLD probably needs a 1-7 twist rate.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2009 at 01:19

69 gr Sierra (overall length 2.25")

Powder Type
Grains
Notes
Reloader 15
24.0 to 24.8
This is my favorite load with the 69 grain bullet. It is extremely accurate and consistant. Very good velocity.
Varget
24.0 to 25.0
Very accurate. You may have trouble obtaining the velocity of faster burning powders. Also, Varget powder burns dirtier than Reloader 15.
AA 2460 23.5 to 24.0 Very accurate and excellent load. It is a ball powder, so it measures very well. No chronograph data.
Hogdon 4895 24.0 Shoots very well, but it does not meter very well, as it is a medium stick powder.


80 gr. Sierra (overall length 2.450 to 2.485, depending on lot)
(allow for .005" - .015" jump)

Powder Type
Grains
Notes
Reloader 15 23.5 to 24.4 My pet 80gr load. Very accurate, good velocity, and clean burning.
Varget 23.5 to 24.5 Compressed load. You will not get the velocity of the faster powders.
AA 2460 22.8 to 23.3 Ball powder. No need to weigh charges, even for 600 yard loads. Meters very uniformly. No chronograph data, but shoots very well.
Hogdon 4895 22.5 to 23.2 Accurate; good velocity. This is a very good 600 yard load. You will probably want to weigh charges, as it does not meter as well as other powders.
Info compliments of WhiteOak Armory  

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote seahawk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2009 at 18:54
Thanks for the reloading data. My barrel is 1 in 8 twist and 24 inches long. I will see if I can find any of the components, and if I can then I will try these loads. Right now I have brass, primers, and varget powder. I will probably get whatever projectiles I can find for the right price, and I will keep my eyes open for other powders. The scope I ordered from SWFA is in the mail and it should be here Monday, so I should be able to write about the scope soon. I know I am going to like it because I love VX-IIs; with my eyes, astigmatism, and glasses, I have not seen anything I like better for the price. I got a chance to look through a friend's Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 and while brighter than the VX-II, i couldn't focus my eyes well enough to make use of the outside part of the image.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote seahawk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/04/2009 at 18:13
I got the scope today. It looks great. BDC Dial says "3100fps" so I am assuming the lady from Leupold gave me misinformation when she said it is calibrated for 3200fps. I just ordered a new steel mount to replace the Leapers mount I crushed this afternoon while I was tightening screws. The new mount is steel and American, so it should do better than the Chinese Aluminum it is going to replace. I also ordered some 77gr SMK and some 55 gr Winchester / Nosler Combined Technology projectiles. This will let me make some loads for the turret and some for the gun. The moral is that I am not going to write about scope performance until I get the mount in another week and a half.

I compared the Mark AR to a VXII my wife just bought in the same magnification and objective. The eyepiece and the bell are the same, including the glass, but of course the Mark AR has white and black paint where there is some gold paint on the VXII. The focus lock ring is also the same. The magnification ring and the turrets are knurled and tactical, with the tactical BDC dials on the Mark AR. On the Mark AR there are exposed gaskets (probably neoprene) under the caps; I hope they are as durable as everything else. I am really happy Leupold has made a product like this and priced it the same as hunting scopes with less features. I guess it is going to be a couple weeks before I get this thing out to the range with the new mount so I can report on it again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/04/2009 at 18:31
If you get a chance can you post a photo of the turrets with the caps off and comment on them.
 
Thanks

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote seahawk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/06/2009 at 18:37
I'll try to get some photos up Friday when the new mount is supposed to be here.
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