I was looking for Leupold scopes with the ability to adjust parallax and found a bunch of options in VX-II and VX-III and noticed the Mark AR 4-12 has AO and CDS dials.

I would not use the CDS dials as designed, I would install my own turret tape for my loads.

This seems like a decent all around scope for the price.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/mark-ar-riflescopes/mark-ar-mod-1-4-12x40mm/

I have a Mark AR Mod1 P5 3-9x with the Firedot TMR on the way. I looked at/played with one of the 3-9x with mildots, and the scope is VERY nice. Very clear glass, good tactile adjustments. and the turrets are really well executed .

I didnt realize they changed the turrets from the old ones. My mark AR 3-9x40 (a couple year old) has the T2 turret with CDS calibrated for 223 55 gr as well as MOA markings right below it. So you can just use the MOA markings for any rifle, no need for a different turret or tape.

I prefer the 3-9 non AO over the 4-12, and saw them on sale for $250 a while ago. I thought for the $300 I paid it was a very very good buy, looks like a VX2 with factory turret for VX2 price.

Does it have VX2 glass coatings, or VX1 coatings?

Hard to believe they'd sell equal coatings for less dollars.

The new Mark AR 4-12x40 Mod 1 retails for $564, while the VX-2 retails for $562, without CDS. With CDS, its nearly a hundred dollars higher.

I am somewhat confused by the coatings as well, and intend to ask the Leupold guy this week at SHOT.

I was told they have the same coatings as the VXII. I have the 4-12 mil-dot, but ordered a plain MOA dial for it instead of the >223 one it came with.
It's on my Tikka 7 Rem. With a 200 yard zero, dialing it to 22 minutes puts me on target at 1000 yards. It's holding it's zero and seems very repeatable.
I like the scope a lot.

Did you have a chance to talk to Leupold?

Leupold indicates Multi-Coat 4, IIRC, that was the Vari-X III coating at one time.

Cabelas (in store) has the Mark AR 4-12 duplex on sale now at $399. Picking one up tomorrow. I really like the Zeiss 4.5-14x44 with MOA turrets(I have 3) but for $400+ less its worth a try.

I did speak to the Leupold rep at SHOT, but the one I spoke to wasn't as knowledgeable as I had hoped. He told me that the Mark AR is the the VX-R in a 1" tube, but thats all he would say. I have sent an email to Leupold directly in hopes of a better answer.

After playing with the scope at SHOT, I am still impressed. Very nice scope. Mil/Mil, tactile clicks, seemingly good glass, nice green dot as opposed to the red dot in the VX-R. Overall, a very nice piece of glass. I am quite anxious to get mine in and mounted.

That is good news overall, I think that will be my next scope purchase.

Turned out that the $399 price was for the old Mark AR 4-12x40 scope (non BDC). I purchased the Mark AR 4-12x40 with BDC for $449 and used a $50 off rebate so came out about the same. Looks to be a good scope.

FC and liliysdad, how do ya'll like the scope?

I called Leupold earlier this week and was told the the scope wad 1/10 mil clicks. The guy I spoke to recommeded the VX-2 AO CDS if the mil clicks didn't work for me.

Does the new 4-12 still have the very wide range of eye relief change from low to high power? That really bothered me on the old one, and it usually makes no difference to me. On the 4-12 though, it was over an inch of eye relief difference.

I have not had a ton of spare time to play with mine yet. I mounted, and got it sighted it in, and did a little load development. So far, I am happy. Good glass, tactile adjustments, eye relief seems just about perfect for me. I didnt notice any large change in eye relief when adjusting zoom.

If I have one complaint, its that the TMR reticle in mine is pretty thick. Great for hunting, not so much for making tiny holes in paper.

That's good--maybe the changed the eye relief to be a bit more consistent, as that is the main reason I got rid of mine.