Anyone have a good recommendation for a MRAD scope that's under 20 ounces? Needs to have a side parallax, but it can be in first or second focal plane.

So far, the Leupold Mark 3HD is the only one I can find.

Thanks for the help!

Nope

Doesn't exist, that I'm aware of. And I've done lots of digging.

If there is one, I'd like to know about it.

March is the lightest Mil based scope I've found.

I went with NF NX8, instead. Heavier by a few ounces, but $1000 less, and the NF I depend on every day.

There is a huge hole in the market. I've got a list of parameters I'd like to see all built into a rifle scope. If an optics manufacturer would give me an audience, I could help them make some more income. The scope would sell, very well.

March will get you to 20.8 ounces in their "F" series 3-24x42 FFP MRAD (non-illuminated) but not under it with your requirements. I am also not aware of anything else out there.

I have both a March FX (not the F I referenced above) and the NF NX8. The two biggest differences I notice between them are the glass is visibly better in the March (granted mine is the FX so it's a higher end lens than what's in the F), however it's parallax is very finicky and narrow. I constantly have to adjust parallax when behind the March and rarely need to adjust it if behind the NF. I honestly gravitate to the NF simply because it's more forgiving, to me at least, while in the scope. Might be a different experience behind the F given it's not as compact as the FX.

I personally would go March before I went with Leupold if those are the only two 20 ounce scopes that meet your criteria and are dead set on not compromising.

Vortex has one but it’s a Vortex. I’d personally go with a few extra ounces.

https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Razor-HD-LHT-3-15x42-HSR-5i-MRAD-Riflescope-RZR-31502.aspx

its a good scope but its price point has gotten little high for what it is, but its been good to me so far.

Thanks for all the advice! It sure is a tough one to find and I hope scope companies notice the opportunity in the market.

I have a 3/15/50mm LHT in Mil i would let go of

Agree 100%…I’ve got several and they are my favorite scope (MOA version).

Another one that I’ve always been tempted to try but the China factor has kept me from attempting to try it…USO TS-12.

Bushnell LRHS is gonna be your next best option-- around 24-25oz, solidly built with a usable reticle in FFP, a couple magnification and illumination options... and very decently priced if you aren't gonna spend the jangle on a March or NF.

yep, it's tough to find.
I still have a LHRS 3-12. it's on my lightweight Tikka 7mag.
Awesome scope that will hang with anything on the market really.
Has bounced around on different guns and stood the test of time

I wish I hadn't sold the 2nd one I had.
Too bad they discontinued them.
I would buy a used one with no concern.

in stock at Gap, but its 27oz thats a half pound heavier then March and LHT

https://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/optics/bushnell-lrhs-2-4-5-18-x-44-g2h-reticle.html

I did not like the 4-5-18 nearly as much as the 3-12 for some reason..

We tried one of the March scopes but did not like the one we got in, this was years ago so maybe things are better

Ive used the March-F 3-24x42, via two separate set ups. glass was great in both scopes, reticle was useable at about 5-6x if one was just throwing rifle up. If in a blind you could use it down to 3x with right light.

One was on 28 nos(Barneywho’s), the other ultralight 6.5 Saum sheep rifle. Saum has been abused on sheep hunts, held zero. Both rifles track well to 800 yards, Saum has two first shot sheep kills over 500

Not sure of the differences, but that one is Gen 2 of the LRHS.

The 3-12 weigh in at 24 oz, while the 4-18 weigh in at just under 27 oz.

So not terribly off from the 20 oz weight desire.


I have a gen 1 LRHS and it is great. I would not hesitate to buy a used one, but for the price the gen2 is listed, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those either. For well over half the cost of a March scope, the LRHS will definitely hang with almost any hunting you want to put it through.

they are both special makes, Gen2 is whats available currently, Gen1 may never be produced again

This is one of my favorite rifle scopes. I need to purchase another one for a rifle now.

19.84 oz.

https://swfa.com/swfa-3-9x42-ss-hd-mil-quad-reticle-30mm-tube-1-mil-clicks-ffp/

The SWFA has a cult following and if it fits the mag range you are looking for it could be a competitor as well.

I had MOA versions of the LRHS 4.5-18 and enjoyed them.

As for the March-- I have two currently on rifles (both MOA) a 3-24x42 and a x52 -- very useable reticles in a FFP scopes, the 42mm is illuminated which does help. The glass is phenomenal as is the weight-- so it really boils down to the cost and magnification range you desire... or save some $$$ and hump 4-5 more ounces... but hey, pushups are free!!!


That said-- I kid on the extra weight, well aware that 4-7 ounces on a rifle in some spots can throw off the desired balance or overall weight (ounces make pounds), but everything is a trade off!

If the SWFA had a side parallax adjustment, it’d be perfect. But unfortunately, no parallax adjustment is a dealbreaker for me.

Tract Toric 3-15x42, 1" tube, 20.1 oz. I have a couple Torics, glass is awesome, well built, zero stop, not a big fan of the BDC reticle.

https://tractoptics.com/toric-uhd-3-15x42-bdc-rifle-scope

At 9X maximum, you probably wouldn't need it. That's why it doesn't have it.

24oz, if they'd just put the HD glass in the 3-15 they'd have something pretty nice.

I told Skylar that when he was working there. He told the board that more than once. They wouldn't take any action.

I said "I guess they don't like making money, because they would sell the hell out of them."

Agreed, the 3-15 be a winner with HD glass. I had it on a hunting rig and it wasn't clear in low light due to the glass quality. Had to get rid of it.

I looked through Big Fitz's down my range. At 500 yards it took me two seconds to learn not to buy one. The clarity wasn't there.

The 5-20X HD glass has done me well for over a decade. And made hits beyond 1000.

I have been very happy with my Mark 3HD in 4x12. I've only had it for about 6 months but the glass is good. It is SFP and that suits me well. No complaints but it's never been used hard.

I really like my Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22 x 50. It weighs 21.7 Oz. I have it mounted on a 6.5 CM Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT TI. (Awesome lightweight package) I got dope on it out to 800 yards last year at Jason Garvy's place and it tracked real well. The glass quality is very close to an NX8 I have on another gun but not quite as good.

March has two new scopes coming out, and 1-10x24 and a 1.5-15x42, that feature a dual-plane reticle. The center 'fire' dot and crosshairs are SFP, but there's a MIL FFP reticle that comes forward as you zoom. Pretty interesting concept. The larger scope is ~21-24oz but compact in design.

Article

Those scopes would be handy!

That's a smart set of features all rolled into one optic.

But at the $3000 price point are they expecting a legitimate shot at the market?

Very handy, just a shame it's $3k.

They'll get some sales, but the important thing to note is the offering and the dual-plane reticle. Much like high-end thermals, new features, when proven sound and desirable, eventually trickle down to other companies and more affordable options.

Vortex did this on their 3rd Gen 1-10x Razor...it's the first FFP scope I think I could hunt with and feel comfortable. It's the equivalent to a Leupy firedot on 1x and by 10x it's got a usable reticle for holding wind.

I wish March would've done a 3-30x or 4-40x...I'd like to see where those sat at 6x because that is where I typically set a scope until I get on an animal and increase the power based upon how much opportunity I have. And like many of you, I wish it was a 1/3rd the price

When I was researching a new scope 14 months ago, I was only at two manufacturers. March and Night Force. The percentage the March was lighter was far less than the percentage more expensive it was. Night Force NX8 4-32X is what I bought.

Agreed

Just ordered another March for my buddy’s rifle. I really like them and they have a good usable reticle for Hunting

If you don’t want to pig out your rifle and make it top heavy it’s one of the few elite choice with a lot of magnification

I still think that scope is the best hunting scope for the money. It looks great on just about any rifle.

How about the Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 or SWFA 6x. Both come in around 20 ounces

I agree, too bad they can keep them in stock! I could use 4 more.

I think that new Leupold Mark 4hd 2.5-10 is 26oz