Leupold's VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2 with Firedot Duplex Riflescope (Review)

Todd Helms reviews Leupold's VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2 with Firedot Duplex riflescope. This is the lightest, most durable rifle scope in the 5:1 zoom class and boasts a magnification range that's ideal for most hunting. Todd was impressed by the Illuminated Firedot Duplex even in the brightest sunlight. This scope can be built with a turret custom to your specs or can be used with the standard CDS ZeroLock 2 MOA dial.
Compare this to Leupold's VX-6HD: • Feature Packed Rifle S...
New rangefinding binos by Leupold: • Review: Leupold’s BX-4...
Subscribe to our channel for more hunting videos, gear reviews and tips! Tap the bell to get notifications and we'll let you know every time we drop a new video each week!
#review #leupoldoptics #eastmanshuntingjournals
---
Eastmans' TagHub the ultimate hunting research tool: taghub.eastmans.com/
Join Eastmans’ Social Media
Facebook: / eastmanshuntingjournals
Instagram: @eastmanshuntingjournals
Eastmans’ Blog: blog.eastmans.com/
Eastmans’ Forum: forum.eastmans.com/
Shop: www.eastmans.com/

[@stevennelson4552]

Just bought this scope. Can't wait to try it out!

[@diehard8061]

Been relly indecisive on the fire dot reticle. I appreciate your info and opinion. Thanks for the video

[@terencemcclain3367]

Great review, going to pick one up for Xmas!

[@MichaelValenti-li7jt]

Great video brother. Heading to wy next year and didn’t know much about the leupold lineup. Oddly enough this scope had caught my eye on the website. Based on price and max zoom. but you answered any questions I had about it Thanks bud

[@rogerramjet7567]

I ran a V6- 3x18 firedot. One AWESOME SCOPE. 👍👍

[@Simon-talks]

My favorite is the 5HD 2-10X42mm. I live and hunt around the South East U.S. and just never have 500-600 yard shots available to me, so the 15x power just isn't remotely needed for me(and creates extra unwanted weight and loss of FOV), so I can enjoy that incredible wide FOV and bright image of the 2x power for hunting in the woods and out to the ranges, the 10x is more than enough power for accurate shots out to 400 yards.

[@lifted_above]

Difference in weight is only 0.8oz (the weight of about 9 US currency pennies). Losing the ability to adjust parallax (with side knob) seems like the biggest determent; you're stuck at 150yards whereas the 3-15x dials back to 50 yards minimum.

[@Simon-talks]

Yeah, but you don’t need parallax adjustment on a hunting rifle. You just need to make sure you know how to aim and shoot and everything else is taken care of. You’re not stuck at 150 yards, you can shoot any at distances, you just have to aim correctly as always. With modern scopes you don’t need parallax adjustments. That’s a new age “youtube tackti-Kool” fad lol.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

@@Simon-talksThat’s the scope I want! Did you get the cds with firedot or just the plain old school with no cds? Trying to decide.

[@Simon-talks]

@@NCWoodlandRoamer I got the CDS with wind plex. It’s for sale everywhere for only $899.00 right now until the end of Nov! Grab it

[@joncavallo4391]

I have the VX-5 HD 4x20x52mm! Awesome scope💯💥👍

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

Way to get two reviews from one outing. I remember watching the Bergara rifle review not long ago. I like that even though you all are partners with Sig Sauer and Savage that you review other manufacturers’ products. Many outdoor writers and reviewers recommend this scope as a great all around scope at a decent value in the 2nd tier above “budget” friendly scopes.

[@classicrocker889]

Looks like an Amazing Rifle Scope.

[@classicrocker889]

This looks like a Great Rifle Scope .

[@donrowan760]

Pro tip: Use a metallic silver sharpie marker to mark your yardage on your CDS dial if you want to stick with the MOA one on it. A dry erase marker wiped over the sharpie will take it right off. So you can customize your MOA dial whenever you want for whatever load you are shooting. It will save you time. No need to memorize the math or did our your phone app or ballistics card.

[@nmhvactech5474]

Which one do you think is better for a Lite Weight hunting rifle, VX-5 3-15x44 or VX-6 3-18x44 ?

[@tgunz64]

Great scopes I own 3 of these. One has the 56mm objective. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy more. Everything I need and nothing I don’t for my uses.

[@davidpacker117]

Just read your comment and I was wondering if you would recommend the 56mm over the 44mm. I usually see the most deer in low light conditions. I hunt in northeast Pa. and the longest shot I can take is 490 yds.

[@tgunz64]

@@davidpacker117 I would go with the 44. Seems to be a better fit on most guns IMO. The 56 was the first one I bought and I was thinking the same thing. Larger objective for better low light. However there is no advantage to the 56 as far as low light. And this is coming from Leupold when I asked. It’s not the objective that determines the light it’s the lenses inside the tube. Weight wise the 56 is I think 1.8 oz heavier if I remember. Not a big deal. Just looks a little bulkier on the gun but that’s it. 2 of my 3 are 44mm and if I get another one in the future it’ll be 44 also. No don’t think there is a need for a 56 for hunting. All in all you can’t go wrong with the vx5hd.

[@davidpacker117]

@@tgunz64 Thank you. That made my decision a lot easier. I've been saving for a while to upgrade an old scope.

[@mortarman7353]

Have same scope on my AR and it makes the yotes take dirt nap.

[@edwardabrams4972]

I own several VX5 and several VX6 scopes and they are great scopes for there price range. Lifetime warranty and made in the USA

[@dougdruziak8795]

Getting my first rifle, which would you recommend?

[@rossauce12]

Why dont they put windage marks on the reticle i dont get it?

[@haydenkmason]

Didn’t want a lot of stuff going on within the scope. Just kept it simple

[@CodyVinson]

Is the difference in quality enough to justify the price difference between the vx5 and vx3

[@toddhelms5241]

I think so but it depends on how you're going to be using it. Hunting whitetails in the midwest? Probably not... Hunting big game out west? Absolutely!

[@santiagopenajr2397]

does anyone have the product number for this scope?

[@jmgates09]

Is the Firedot worth the extra hundred tore between it and windplex

[@myppsbroken]

Yes

[@Wookietown]

just purchased that scope and am sourcing mounts right now. question: Are there pros and cons to removing the picatinny rail and mounting directly to the rifle vs mounting to the rail? Leupold sells the option of ring mounts or rings that go on the rail.. what are this communities thoughts?

[@toddhelms5241]

Leupold mounts and rings have always treated me well. I love the practicality of pic rail mounting and the added MOAs it give me. That said, I do like the sleek look of integral ring mounts. It's honestly a horse apiece and has a lot to do with personal preference over function in a hunting rifle until you get into heavy recoiling rounds like the big Weatherbys, they can chew up pic rail style mounts. I had a .338-378 that had to have dual dovetail mounts, nothing else could stand up to the recoil.

[@Wookietown]

@@toddhelms5241cool, that pretty much confirms what I thought, but is good to hear from someone else. I have a message to Leupold asking what ring mounts I need as they don't specifically mention Benelli (I just bought a Lupo, price is way down as I think they are discontinuing them). If they are unable to recommend one, then rings on the pic rail it is!

[@Queensryche1]

Got one. Fired it 5 shot to sight it in. Needs to go back. Two black dots in the glass now. Really Leupold! 5 shots to break it?!?!?

[@ArpexOfficial]

I hate the windage dial

[@rossauce12]

Why dont they have any wimdage marks? Whyyyy

[@robertdahle7216]

They do if you get the wind. Plex Check-in to a little bit before commenting.​@@rossauce12

[@rossauce12]

​​@@robertdahle7216the wind plex is trash, there's like 3 marks total. And to get the fire dot with that it's a thousand more dollars actually more if u want anything other than two lines and a red dot. What do you mean please check? I've had these before that's why I said that. I have a trijicon tenmile now. Way better

[@rdsii64]

A hunting optic with no means to hold for wind AND has a capped windage turret is a non starter for me. When a shot opportunity presents itself, you may not have the luxury of enough time to dial your solution.

[@larrythompson5617]

Has anyone found out that the windage dial is designed so it is loose?