The variable power Mark 4 Leupolds should not be considered in the same conversation with the fixed powers. That is, unless Leupold changed the fixed powers recently.
Never had any problems with the M3A scope on the M24. Great scope. I currently have two Mark 4 10x scopes, and find them quite reliable.
Had a 3.5-10 on a M21. Unreliable. I pulled the scope and used irons.
Similar scope (though illuminated) on an SR-25, needed to click past then back down like Mackay mentioned above.
I don't recall any issues with the 4.5-14s on the platoon's Barretts. Though they didn't see the number of rounds as the other rifles, and the ammo situation often made scope accuracy a moot point (we did get good ammo in Iraq).
This was all circa 2005-06, 1/327 Tiger Force, 101 ABN.
Edited to add: Being Regular Army, we didn't shoot nearly as much as we would've liked, though we did shoot with 5th Group enough to know about the variable's problems. The guys like Mackay and Formidilosus see a lot more rounds fired through these systems, and should be who we defer to on such matters.
Last edited by prairie_goat; 03/10/13.
