By Jace Bauserman
I’ve had a lot of success when a Leupold has topped my rifle of choice. That’s not arrogance; it’s factual. Shooting and hunting are all about confidence. If you don’t have 100-percent confidence in your gear, your chances of being successful in the moment of truth shrink.
Two years ago, while hunting elk in Colorado’s backcountry, my buddy’s strap holding his leather scabbard broke, and his scope hit the ground. It didn’t hit hard. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Earlier in the hunt, my scope bashed into a tree when my mule’s lead rope got under my filly’s tail. That’s all it took for her to realize she could buck.
The second he picked his scope up off the ground, he freaked. He explained that he was having trouble with the scope holding zero before the hunt. It was likely a base/ring issue, but who knows. That evening, he missed a six-point bull at 176 yards. I killed it at 304 yards.
The bummer of the deal was that his scope was dead on when we shot it the next morning. He missed because he had no confidence. He’d predetermined the scope would be off. You want a clear and confident head when you hunt. If you don’t have that, you won’t bring home meat. It’s really that simple.
An optic line that fills me with extreme confidence is Leupold. I’ve used Leupold optics—scopes, binos, and rangefinders in four countries and 10 states. I’ve never experienced a single malfunction. Leupold optics are built to win, and I like winning.
Always Forward
There is no pause button on Leupold’s remote. There is only a play button. The manufacturer works tirelessly to bring new, purposeful products to market and continually improve existing lines.
One of my favorite bolt-action rifles chambered in .280 Ackley Improved still wears Leupold’s OG VX-5 HD 2-10×42. The scope is lightweight, built like a tank, and spends the months of September and October riding in a leather scabbard. It gets smashed into trees, dropped on the ground, and the list goes on. Since sending Leupold my specs and having them cut my CDS Dial, I’ve only had to make some slight windage adjustments over the scope’s five-year lifespan on my rifle. It’s taken six bull elk, three pronghorn, and two mule deer. It’s a warrior, and I love it.
In January of 2025, Leupold launched its VX-6HD Gen 2 scope lineup. The VX-6HD line is the Cadillac of Leupold’s scope crop. When considering Leupold VX scopes online or in a store, think of the options as follows: good (VX-3HD), better (VX-5HD), and best (VX-6HD). Just a quick FYI, I have three rifles that wear VX-3HD scopes. They are rock-solid scopes that hit an excellent price point.
I spent September of 2024 testing Leupold’s VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18×44. In October, I took the scope to New Mexico and killed a great bull with it in ultra-lowlight at 300-plus yards. In March, I took the scope to Spain and harvested a 300-plus-yard Southeastern ibex and a 200-plus-yard Iberian mouflon. Minutes before shooting the mouflon, I tripped, my sling slipped, and the CDS-SZL2 Elevation Dial hit a rock. It didn’t matter. My 6.8 Western 175-grain Long Range Pro Hunter round hit the high-shoulder tuft of hair I was aiming at.
A buddy asked me recently, “Bro, are the VX-6HD Gen 2 models better than the VX-6HD?” I told him, “Yes, they are.” Nothing else needs to be said. When Leupold makes improvements, those improvements have a purpose.
Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 Features
Dubbed the VX-5HD Gen 2, this series of riflescopes is the latest evolution in Leupold’s rifle-topper lineup. I’ve always paid attention to what manufacturers name a product that’s replacing an existing one. If the manufacturer names the product something wildly different from its predecessor, they likely want you to forget about the previous model. If they name it something close to the model/line that came before it, they want you to know that what you loved about that model/line isn’t going away, but there are some new bells and whistles.
That’s the case with the VX-5HD Gen 2 Series. Available in six magnification ranges, the VX-5HD Gen 2 features Leupold’s award-winning Professional-Grade Optical System, which promises remarkable color, clarity, and definition, regardless of lighting conditions.
Like the VX-6HD Gen 2, a big storyline with the new Gen 2 VX-5s is the competition-grade adjustments. The new CDS-SZL2 Elevation Dial, like its predecessor, promises precision and positive-felt clicks. However, unlike the original CDS, you no longer need to have or carry that tiny Allen wrench to pull the elevation turret off and lock it back down.
The new Speed Set Elevation Dial eliminates the need to carry an Allen wrench. Press the silver button on the back of the dial and pull up; it’s that simple. The button is attached to a lever system, and when the lever is raised, the elevation turret detaches. Remove the turret and access the internal elevation dial, which allows 1/4-inch MOA adjustments. Once zeroed, set the Speed Dial back on, rotate the 0 setting to the laser-engraved white line on the scope body, press the dial down, and engage the lock lever. It’s a simple process that takes seconds and eliminates headaches. Leupold also boosted the font size on the numbers, which I appreciate.
More Hunting/Shooting Features
Another feature of the new VX-5HD Gen 2 I appreciate is the integrated/removable throw lever. Magnification changes need to be immediate, and a stiff magnification wheel with no lever can make the task difficult. The new integrated throw lever lets you stay in the scope, locked on your target, and zoom in and out easily without ever having to take your eye out of the reticle.
We all want close shots, but when there’s more space between you and your target, you still need to be able to make a precise shot. Leupold crafted the new VX-5HD Gen 2 lineup with a new main tube design that allows for increased internal travel for elevation. This means that when you’re on the bench practicing, you can gain an advantage when taking longer shots.
You want a VX-5HD Gen 2 model with the FireDot illuminated reticle. Leupold offers numerous reticle options with the FireDot, allowing you to select the internal reticle design that provides you with the most confidence.
During periods of low light or while hunting in areas of low light—I killed a black bear in June in dark timber in the middle of the day—the FireDot shines. The fiber-optic-powered red dot turns on with the push of a button located on the opposite side of the windage turret just below the Speed Set Dial. The FireDot provides seven brightness settings and flashes when you reach your highest and lowest settings. The FireDot brings your eye to the center of the reticle and provides a defined aiming point you can trust. Battery life is forever.
VX-5HD Gen 2 Field Test
I received the VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15×50 in early June. Since then, I’ve had the scope on a Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter chambered in 6.8 Western and Kimber’s Mountain Ascent (old model) in .280 Ackley Improved.
Friends, there’s no reason to pen a lengthy field test. The VX-5HD Gen 2 with FireDot Duplex does precisely what it’s supposed to do. If you’ve used Leupold scopes, you know what I mean. The optic is a warrior—backed for life by Leupold’s unwavering guarantee. It mounts easily, provides remarkable low-light clarity, and features new additions like the easy-to-remove Speed Set Dial and throw lever, which are purposeful. Leupold doesn’t add “new” things just to add them. Those “things” must have purpose, and these do.
I love not having to fight with Allen wrenches, and I love being able to lock on my target, make magnification adjustments, and execute excellent shots. A scope is the final piece of any rifle build, but it’s the most critical piece. A janky or subpar scope that won’t hold zero will create headaches and lead to unenjoyable days on the bench. We work too hard to earn the moment of truth. When it arrives, I want a rifle-mounted optic that I know will do its job if I do mine. I get that with Leupold.
After getting a ballistically dialed yardage wheel for my 6.8 Western after sending my data into Leupold, I rang steel between 100 and 800 yards using the new VX-5HD Gen 2. I used the FireDot reticle in low-light and extreme light conditions. I prefer always to have it on, but you’ll need to do your own testing/tinkering before deciding what’s best for you. I can’t wait to put the VX-5HD Gen 2 3-15×50, as well as other VX-5HD Gen 2 models, to work in the fall woods.
Cost: $$1,399.99-$1,999.99
Pros: New, purposeful features that boost accuracy and make zeroing easier than ever. Plus, for a scope in its class, it’s priced perfectly.
Cons: Test it, find one, and then let me know.
