I love long-range shooting. There is something about it. It’s both mysterious and objective, discerning and adaptive. It’s multiple. It’s the combination of elements to break a perfect shot. The conclusion is the sound of ringing steel carrying from a great distance—elation erupts.

Long-range shooting (in its various mediums) has come to dominate the shooting sports world. In response, there has been tremendous growth in the shooting industry catering towards precision shooting. One of the oldest players in that game is Leupold Optics. Their name is synonymous with precision. Included in that legacy is the iconic Mark 4 line of optics. They were Leupold’s foray into developing precision optics geared towards snipers. That line has seen extensive use on a host of platforms during the Global War on Terror. To some, it is the gold standard of precision optics.

The optic was born to bring a purpose-built optic to the United States Military. Better yet, Leupold offered variants of this line to the commercial market. This was the optic I chose when putting together my first long-range rig. Since then, I have used many and have owned several. They were always rock solid. However, as advancements were made in the optics industry, the Mark 4 began to fall behind. And eventually, Leupold pulled it from their catalog. That was over five years ago…

The Leupold Mark 4HD

Finally, for 2024, Leupold has brought back the Mark 4. The new scope line pays homage to its namesake but adds all the modern advancements in the optics industry. Named the Mark 4HD, the optic uses technology and engineering found in the more expensive Mark 5HD line but at a more affordable price point. In several videos put out by Leupold, they say the Mark 4HD is 90% of the Mark 5. If this is true, then the new line is an exceptional value.

One of the biggest updates is an expansion of the magnification ranges to be on par with the competition. This includes 1-4.5X24, 2.5-10X42, 4.5-18X52, 6-24X52, and an 8-32X56. The 1-4.5 and 2.5-10 options come with 30mm maintubes while the higher magnification options are 34mm. One thing that caught my eye about the 4.5-18 and 6-24 is they possess 36 MILs (125 MOA) of elevation travel. That’s a ton of travel.

Continuing, all have various reticle and illumination options. Leupold has also introduced a new reticle—the PR3. This reticle gives the same subtend measurements on the vertical and horizontal axis as the PR2 but without the extra gridded design. This gives an unobtrusive image. SKUs with illumination have Leupold’s Motion Sensor Technology (MST) and several models include an electronic reticle level that blinks when the optic is canted.

Another standard feature is the inclusion of the Zero Lock turret. This is like the one found on the Mark 5HD series but with a few updates. First, the M5C3 has oversized numbers so they are easier to see and reference. Next, they offer three revolutions (30 MILs) of travel and a hard stop for return-to-zero, as well as ½ MIL travel past zero for any corrections. Another new feature is the inclusion of a Zero Lock turret on the windage dial (the Mark 5 line uses a capped windage turret).

Finally, the price. The Mark 4HD series starts at $999.99 and tops out at $1599.99 for the 8-32 option. As mentioned before this is a lot of value for an optic that is comparable to the Mark 5HD on a lot of levels (For context, that line starts at $1999.99 and goes to $3299.99).

Final Thoughts

The Mark 4HD is a terrific addition to Leupold’s product line. Its name harkens back to the original Mark 4 and brings memories to many who learned the art of long-range shooting on that optic. However, the name is the only similar thing. It’s an entirely new optic with all the features of contemporary options. It is an option that Leupold has been missing for half a decade and at a price point that makes it very competitive. The Leupold Mark 4HD will be hitting dealer shelves soon.