Leupold 5HD 7 X 35 X 56

[Ernest T]

I have owned few scopes over the years, but until last year, none with large magnification. Early on they were low power fixed Redfields or Bushnells, then in 1988 I splurged on a Leupold 2.5 X 8 for my 338 Win Mag. What a revelation that scope was compared to what came before. That scope moved from gun to gun until I quit hunting in the early 2000's and sold it on a whim at a garage sale. Last year I bought my present Arken SH-4 and have been very pleased with it, but had a nagging feeling that I was missing something that a high end scope might provide. Then I found out that Leupold had a discount program for veterans, law enforcement, first responders and a few other categories. It's called the VIP program, and it offers pretty decent discounts on their gear. That tipped me over the edge and I ordered a 5HD 7 X 35 X 56 for almost $500 off of list price. The discount was over $100 more than I paid for the Arken! It should be here next Tuesday and I can't wait to put it on the 6.5 Creedmoor and try it out at 1000 yards.

[Stumpkiller]

My whitetail deer rifle is a .260 Rem with a Leupold VX 5HD 3-15x44. No regrets. It's a hell of an optic. Love the FireDot in low light. I had the CDS turret made for a factory Swift 130 gr Sirocco II that I chronographed at 2,860 fps and tailored reloads to that load.

[Blue Avenger]

Being satisfied with economy scopes is great for finances! But once you get a great piece of glass your dollar per value curve just jumped to a higher limit!

[want2ride]

I have a buddy with an Arken SH4, and it is worth every penny that they go for... But, you are absolutely right. compared to a higher end optic they do leave you wanting. That Leupold should do just wonderful out to 1000. I am sure the Arken could also, but it sure is nice having a bit better optic.

[Ernest T]

Being satisfied with economy scopes is great for finances! But once you get a great piece of glass your dollar per value curve just jumped to a higher limit!

No doubt. I think I could get by with a lower quality scope 30 years ago, but I appreciate every advantage I can get today.

[Ernest T]

I have a buddy with an Arken SH4, and it is worth every penny that they go for... But, you are absolutely right. compared to a higher end optic they do leave you wanting. That Leupold should do just wonderful out to 1000. I am sure the Arken could also, but it sure is nice having a bit better optic.

I've shot out to about 950 yards with the Arken, but 1600 meters is my goal and I question if its up to that, at least in my hands anyway. I'm looking forward to the experience with the Leupold.

This is one of the places I go to shoot. On the left, I was told the ranges were 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 yards. These are distances measured with a range finder. They're off considerably from what I was told! On the right side I was told its 700, 800, 900 and 1200 is way back just over the 717 YDS in yellow. Those were off too! I can hit first time just about every time out to 717 yards. Once I can do it out to 950 yards I'll move over to another range about 50 miles farther from where I live where I can shoot out to 1600 meters.

[Ernest T]

I got the scope mounted and bore-sighted and was headed to the gun club on Monday to zero it, but I got an email this evening that the rifle range is closed next week while they pour concrete. Dang, that's bad timing.

[Ernest T]

I couldn't wait for the construction to finish on the rifle range so I used the pistol range to zero the scope. Its got multiple bays with targets to 50 yards and two bays with targets at 100 yards, but that's all there is. You can't access the 200-500 yard berms from there. I don't know how people zero a scope with just a few shots. It took me 12+ to get where I thought the rifle was really going to hit where I put the crosshair at 100 yards. Then I shot a series of 5-shot groups with 140 grain Nosler RDF bullets with 42 grains of H4350. That gave me velocities of 2750 fps which is the fastest velocity I've gotten out of this rifle.

The Leupold is everything you'd expect a scope at this price point to be. The image is bright and clear with no hint of chromatic aberration or distortion, all the way to max magnification. The eye box becomes smaller as the magnification goes up, but even at the upper ranges its manageable, The PR2 reticle is excellent for long range shooting with enough information to be useful, but not so much it obscures the target. I am surprised by how small the reticle is at lower magnifications. Even with the scope adjusted to up to 10-12, the center dot is hard to pick up if the target isn't light or a solid color. I knew that'd be the case with a first focal plane scope, but it still came as a surprise how small it was. Its definitely made for longer ranges and higher magnification. The reticle presents hash marks as 1/2 height and alternates between up and down so there is plenty of empty space within the reticle. I thought the lines were thicker and clunkier than on the Arken. There is 100 MOA of internal adjustment in the Leupold, about the same as the Arken. When you are at 7, this is pretty much what the reticle looks like.





I like the turret arrangement and action on the Arken SH-4 better than the Leupold. Its not that the Leupold isn't good, its just that the Arken is better in my opinion. The turrents are larger, the clicks are louder, and the tacticle feel is more pronounced. I also don't like the covered windage knob. I like to dial in both, not dial elevation and hold wind. I'm pretty sure I'll eventually lose that cap. The clicks are audible, just not loud, and the feel is crisp, just not a high amplitude feeling as you spin the turret. You can order custom turrets from Leupold, based on your gun and that's a nice customization feature. I don't know where the scope turrets are supposed to be adjusted as it comes from the factory, but the elevation turret must have been at one end of the range because I had to release the zero stops to adjust it down enough to center it on the target. That confused me at first as I hit a hard stop with the rifle still shooting a little above the center of the target. The parallax/side focus adjustment is excellent- smooth and precise. The Arken is marked closer than the 75 yards the Leupold is marked, but I was able to focus the Leupold at 50 yards anyway.

I didn't get to shoot at any distance so I didn't adjust elevation or windage to compensate today. I'll address those after I get to try them out.

[want2ride]

Looks good! i like that reticle more than most Leupold reticles

[Whynot]

I don't know how people zero a scope with just a few shots. It took me 12+ to get where I thought the rifle was really going to hit where I put the crosshair at 100 yards. Then I shot a series of 5-shot groups with 140 grain Nosler RDF bullets with 42 grains of H4350. That gave me velocities of 2750 fps which is the fastest velocity I've gotten out of this rifle.

You got it done- and that is the important thing. If you are good at bore sighting then it should only take a few shots- all you need to do is get a round anywhere on target. Then you just use the "measuring stick" in the scope. Hold your reticle where you where aiming at and count how many moa/mil you need to adjust for elevation and windage. Your next round should be real close to the point of aim.