(Photo courtesy of Steve Couper)
July 30, 2025
By Colton Heward
Executing a precise shot in high-pressure situations is not a happenstance occurrence. Experience is necessary, but the use of a rifle capable of precision paired with a reliable optic is the catalyst to execution at the moment of truth. Add on the additional pressure a mountain hunt on the other side of the world brings and the importance of my rifle/optic selection for an upcoming adventure was taken to a new level. Fortunately for me, I had the utmost confidence in my setup and New Zealand’s stunning Southern Alps provided a picturesque backdrop to field-test Leupold’s newest VX-5HD Gen 2 riflescope .
The Next Generation (Photo courtesy of Steve Couper) Leupold Optic’s signature Gold Ring has long signified the standard for premium-grade, American-made riflescopes. The newly released VX-5HD Gen 2 carries on Leupold’s tradition of excellence, building upon a proven platform and providing shooters with enhanced features to make them more efficient marksman.
Visually, the first thing that shooters will notice with the VX-5HD Gen 2 is a new dial system. Like the VX-6HD Gen 2 riflescopes that were released earlier this year, the VX-5HD Gen 2’s feature Leupold’s new CDS-SZL2 Speedset Dial. That is a mouthful, but the result is an extremely useful, toolless turret that can be popped on and off via a simple detent lever. More importantly, the new dial eliminates the need for Allen wrenches to swap out turrets. Coming from someone who constantly forgets or misplaces his Allen wrenches, this is a big deal.
(Photo courtesy of Leupold) Cosmetically, shooters will also notice a new integrated throw lever atop the magnification ring. Again, this may sound like a minor addition but one twist of the magnification ring with the new lever and I can assure you it will be a welcomed addition by all. Throw levers become especially vital once the temps dip below freezing and the need for gloves becomes a necessity.
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Internally, the VX-5HD Gen 2 also got a noteworthy upgrade with the addition of the same competition-grade adjustments featured in Leupold’s Mark 5HD riflescopes. Precise tracking, both up and down and left and right, was never a problem for me in the original VX-5HD but if it ever gave you a fit, rest assured you can now make adjustments with the utmost confidence in the Gen 2.
As we have come to expect, The VX-5HD Gen 2 delivers excellent light transmission, glare reduction and crystal-clear resolution thanks to Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System. Like the first generation VX-5HDs, the Gen 2 turret features Leupold’s push-button ZeroLock system as well as the ability to use custom cut CDS turrets. If you are not taking advantage of having your free custom CDS turret cut, you are missing out on the simplest dial system on the market. Other notable features of the Gen 2 include multiple reticle options (including illuminated reticles) to choose from, Guard-Ion lens coatings, scratch-resistant lenses, waterproof and fog proof.
At the Range (Photo submitted by the author) New Zealand’s unforgiving and awe-inspiring landscape provided an ideal proving ground to test Leupold’s new VX-5HD Gen 2 riflescope, but my preparation began months before I departed. Weighing out the ideal balance of magnification and weight, I chose to go with the 3-15x50 model. This proved to be a solid decision as I was able to shoot with precision out to extreme distances, but the scope itself was not overly cumbersome mounted atop my Horizon Firearm’s Venatic chambered in .25 Creedmoor.
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I had no doubt the new scope would perform well but the more time I spent behind it, the more my confidence soared. Once sighted in, I gathered the necessary data to have a CDS turret cut and really stretched out the capabilities of the rifle and scope. The rifle/optic combination delivered first-round impacts out to 800 yards, instilling the utmost confidence in my setup. But shooting steel and a living animal is two very different scenarios. Using Hornady ’s 128-grain ELD-X bullet loaded in their Precision Hunter line, I felt confident that my setup could deliver a lethal blow out to 500 yards if necessary, though I hoped we would be able to get much closer than that.
Luck is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity (Photo submitted by the author) Amidst the internal chaos that coincides with executing in the moment of truth, I took a deep inhale and exaggerated exhale of the crisp mountain air to settle my frazzled nerves. 371 yards uphill, standing with his head erect and mane bristled, stood an animal I had dreamed of hunting for more than 20 years, a magnificent bull tahr sporting an impressive winter coat and sweeping battle-worn horns. With a calculated twist of the CDS turret, set halfway between the 350- and 400-yard hashmark, I settled into the rifle. Laid out prone, the tremors in my crosshairs settled on the center of the shoulder. The mounting pressure was palpable but I was confident in my setup. Squeezing through the trigger, I sent the ELD-X downrange. The undeniable “thwack” of the bullet centering the shoulder and the assurance of a well-placed shot from my guide was music to my ears as a tangible weight lifted off my shoulders. The bull didn’t make it 15 yards.
(Photo courtesy of Steve Couper) Three days later, I found myself a mere 170 yards away from a massive red stag feeding up a knife ridge. If he made it off the backside before falling, the recovery would be a monumental affair. With this in mind, I dialed the magnification on the VX-5HD Gen 2 back to 5x and settled in for the shot. My first shot impacted center mass, right behind the crease, taking out both lungs but I wasn’t taking any chances. Three more rapid follow-up shots anchored the stag where he stood and saved us from a backbreaking pack out.
(Photo submitted bu the author) In two very different shooting scenarios, the versatility and reliability of Leupold’s new VX-5HD Gen 2 riflescope proved its worth in spades and aided in completing a lifelong dream of hunting red stag and tahr in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Given my time at the range and in the field with Leupold’s new offering I can attest with the utmost confidence that the VX-5HD Gen 2 line delivers on their promise of rugged reliability wherever your relentless pursuits take you.
(Photo courtesy of Leupold)
Colton Heward
Managing Editor
Colton Heward comes from a multi-generational line of hunters and conservationists entrenched in the rich hunting heritage of the West. Growing up in Northern Utah, plentiful hunting opportunities lit a fire inside him that burns with more fervor with every passing season. For more than a decade, Heward spent his falls guiding mule deer, elk, pronghorn and moose hunters before taking on his current role as Managing Editor of Petersen's Hunting. Outside of guiding, his passion for hunting and the outdoors has taken him to the remote corners of the world from Alaska to Africa in search of adventure and provided some of his most cherished memories.
Prior to working for Petersen's Hunting, Heward was a freelance outdoor journalist with regular contributions to many Outdoor Sportsman Group publications, as well as several other major hunting media outlets. Preserving our revered hunting tradition through education and conservation is of the utmost importance to him in his role at Petersen's Hunting.
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