Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

On Target: The Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5C2

Dave Bahde by Dave Bahde
December 12, 2017
in Gear, Optics & Sights
0
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5C2 riflescope
0
SHARES
210
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 scope
“…this particular model was a pleasure to use. It has many of the features I look for in an optic.
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 scope
The new Mark 8 M5C2 adjustment knobs are lower profile and easier to read.
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 lens and extension
Leupold includes a removable sunshade and flip-up lens covers with the Mark 8.

Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5C2 scope test
The Leupold scope made it easy to get the most out of a Mega Arms rifle in .260 Remington.
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 objective
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 lens cover

Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 aerial view
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 bubble level
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 with mrds sight

Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 objective lens cover
Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 side view

The previous Leupold Mark 8 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 riflescope has been a workhorse for me for a few years. Built like a tank, it offers plenty of elevation and crystal-clear glass. I initially used this scope with a TMR reticle, but the last year or so, it has seen use with a David Tubb Dynamic Targeting Reticle (DTR).

new gun optics and sights
RELATED STORY

16 Companies and Their Newest Optics & Sights for Today’s Shooters

I’ve used the Leupold Mark 8 on a number of guns in various calibers, and it has proven precise, consistent and capable. It’s just heavy, and the lighted reticle knob severely limits your mounting space. Mine uses “pinch and turn” knobs, a favorite, but they add weight and are pretty tall. The newer M5C2 knobs are flatter with a more user-friendly zero stop. I also needed a reticle less dependent on ballistics that can be used on multiple platforms. My experience with the Horus T3 is extensive, and this reticle’s availability in the new Mark 8 made it a solid choice for me.

The latest Leupold Mark 8, the 3.5-25x56mm M5C2, lost a couple things, including some weight (over 5 ounces) and the illuminated reticle. The weight savings is immediately noticeable. No, 5 ounces isn’t a ton, but you can feel it on an AR. Illuminated reticles have their place, but you don’t need them all the time, especially if you use night-vision or thermal devices. Removing this capability and its corresponding knob produced a sleeker design that allows for more mounting space. It also cuts the production cost. You can still get the illuminated version, but at a retail price that is almost $1,500 more.

The new markings on the Mark 8 M5C2 knobs are larger and brighter, making them visible without my glasses. The zero stops are solid and easily adjusted, and the scope offers 26 mils or 93 MOA of elevation, which is excellent for a high-power model. With a 35mm tube, the scope has a 56mm objective and an overall length of 18 inches. It weighs 32.5 ounces, which is comparable to most larger scopes.

I was able to zero this new scope using a 20-MOA mount on a 20-MOA rail, something that isn’t always possible. Having 3.5X magnification at the low end is huge for police snipers and those working in tactical environments, as it provides a wide field of view so you can see your team. At the same time, 25X nets you the detail necessary at close range and magnification for longer distances. The glass is very crisp and clear, even on targets close to a mile away.

Test Platform

I tested the new Leupold Mark 8 M5C2 on a .260 Remington rifle I built on a Mega Arms receiver set with a 22-inch Proof Research CAMGAS barrel. Dedicated to competition, it sports an APA Little Bastard muzzle brake, a LaRue Tactical two-stage trigger and a Magpul PRS stock. To install the scope, I used a Spuhr ISMS mount. It mounts low on a flat rail (AR or otherwise), with 20 MOA of elevation and a level built-in. Finally, I added an EOTech MRDS reflex sight on top of the scope, in an offset position, to spot small targets at distance.

Burris RT-6 Riflescope Athlon outdoors Rendezvous lead
RELATED STORY

The Burris RT-6 Riflescope Is Built For Stupid Fast Speed

The optics package was set up and zeroed using Hornady’s 130-grain ELD (Extremely Low Drag) Match ammunition, then trued at 1,172 yards along with three other loads. And once the shooting started with the Mark 8, groups in the 10-inch range on a 12-by-16-inch steel target were the norm. It was a hot day, but the mirage was manageable from 15X to 25X.

One of the greatest advantages of an AR is rapid fire once a target is acquired. Using the T3 reticle, you can range, hold and get solid hits on 12-inch targets out to 700 yards pretty easily without touching your scope’s knobs. You simply find your target, range it, hold for elevation and wind, and press the trigger. Doing so on steel from 100 to 600 yards, the Leupold Mark 8 was dead on and consistent. Holding at 500 yards, I was able to center 10 rounds on the steel target about as fast as I could pull the trigger.

Then I turned the knobs and confirmed the adjustments at the same ranges using a Kestrel 4500 Applied Ballistics meter. Each range saw five rounds on steel. Turning the knob back to zero, the reticle saw the same results. Running a couple of PRS-style courses, the adjustments proved equally effective either holding over or dialing the scope in. Once complete, the knob was returned to zero and checked; there was no change at 100 yards. The reticle subtends accurately, and the knobs were precise and accurate.

I also performed three cold-bore shots over three days. Day one was on a 12-by-16-inch target at 1,000 yards. The Kestrel provided the hold for the day’s conditions. The solution was dialed in and fired, resulting in a first-round hit followed by three more shots on target in a moderate wind. On the second day, the range was 500 yards on a 12-inch target. Holding left, there was another first-round hit. Finally, I targeted a 1,300-yard IPSC steel target on a windy day with gusts in the 20 mph range. The elevation was dead on, but it took me three rounds to get on the steel with the wind, before three more shots consistently hit the target. I’m just not sure it gets any better for a scope in real-world conditions.

Elite Leupold Mark 8

The Leupold Mark 8 M5C2 is a top-tier scope that would make a great choice if you’re going to really stretch out and go the distance. If you don’t need as much magnification, Leupold’s Mark 6 scopes are likely a better choice. But this particular model was a pleasure to use. It has many of the features I look for in an optic.

If there is an issue for some, it will be the 35mm tube, which limits your ring choices. Most ring manufacturers make 35mm sets, but they cost more. Then again, putting this scope in anything but the best set of rings is ridiculous, so it comes with the territory. Ring choice is critical, but it’s just one of a few important choices.

For more on this high-quality riflescope, visit leupold.com.

This article was originally published in “AR Rifleman” 2018. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

Some of the top guns and gear released at SHOT Show 2023.

30 of the Best Guns & Gear Launched at SHOT Show 2023

7 Tactical Boots from SHOT Show 2023.

The Latest Tactical Boots from SHOT Show 2023

Tactical Flashlights

10 Things to Remember When Buying a Tactical Flashlight

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

Some of the top guns and gear released at SHOT Show 2023.

30 of the Best Guns & Gear Launched at SHOT Show 2023

We walked more than 40 miles on the show floor over four days. And we picked through every last rifle,...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The upgraded Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical is built for long-range shooting.

FIRST LOOK: Rounds Downrange With the new Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Videos
  • News
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.