The VX-5HD Gen 2 is an updated and improved version of one of the most versatile lines of hunting scopes on the market. Built with an array of features, the line delivers everything required to fill tags and freezers during the magical hours of first and last light. While I chose the 3-15×44 mm option in the new lineup, there are a variety of others that are quite tempting, including a 4-20×52 mm, a 1-5×44 mm, a 2-10×42 mm and a 3-15×56 mm, just to name a few, most offered with a variety of reticle options. My test sample boasted several improvements over the original VX-5HD, including a 10-MOA increase in both the elevation- and windage-adjustment ranges, an integrated magnification throw lever and Leupold’s toolless SpeedSet dial system.
Built around Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System, this scope emphasizes clarity, light transmission, resolution and everything else that can make or break a hunt during the dimly lit hours around dawn and dusk. Since ideal weather conditions rarely accompany hunts, Leupold opted for a Guard-Ion coating on this optic’s lenses, which is designed to shed dirt and water that may get onto the glass, ensuring the shooter has a clear, unobstructed view. Lastly, the integrated throw lever allows for quick, on-the-fly magnification adjustments.
Leupold’s SpeedSet system allows for a fast, foolproof return-to-zero option • The integral throw lever makes magnification changes simple • A knurled eyepiece allows for quick focus adjustments • The side-focus parallax adjustment helps ensure accuracy.
This U.S.-made scope has a Wind-Plex reticle in the second focal plane. Built to adapt to the varying needs of hunters, it is compatible with Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS). This system allows the owner to receive a custom-tailored elevation dial to match your specific shooting conditions and the exact load you are shooting, whether it’s factory ammunition or handloads. Everyone who purchases a VX-5HD Gen 2 is eligible to receive one free custom dial, with additional dials available for purchase so you can swap between dials marked for, say, a 125-grain tipped bullet and one for a 142-grain bonded projectile.
The ease and speed with which this swap is completed are thanks to Leupold’s new SpeedSet elevation dial. This new feature also allows you to reset your turrets quickly and easily. If you have ever tried to do this at the range or in the field, you know how much of a hassle it can be the second you drop a small screw in grass or gravel, seemingly to never find it again. This dial eliminates the need for extra parts, making the entire process toolless. To reset your turrets or swap in a new CDS dial, simply press the lever-release button, flip the SpeedSet lever open, make any necessary adjustments to reset your turret or remove it to swap in a new dial, then firmly press the SpeedSet lever back down until it clicks into place.
Building on the simplicity of a Duplex crosshair, the Wind-Plex reticle has hashmarks extending horizontally 10 MOA from the center on each side in 1-MOA increments, providing a clear reference point for how much to adjust or hold in response to an unwelcome crosswind.
For testing, I mounted the optic to a Winchester Model 70. Zeroing went smoothly, with both elevation and windage turrets offering tactile, positive clicks. A quick spin of the elevation turret confirmed 20 MOA of adjustment per revolution. Next, I “shot the box” to evaluate the riflescope’s tracking. The result was a quartet of sub-MOA groups spaced a perfect 10 MOA apart.
The VX-5HD 3-15×44 mm Gen 2 is an excellent choice thanks to its combination of premium glass, CDS compatibility and the handy SpeedSet dial. It’s an enticing solution for a multitude of hunting needs.
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