Leupold VX-5HD Gen2 3-15x50 CDS-SZL2

• 5:1 zoom range: The 3-15x magnification span covers close woodland shots and longer open-country holds with one hunting riflescope, reducing the need to compromise between speed and reach.
• 50 mm objective lens: The larger front lens helps maintain a brighter sight picture in poor light, which is especially useful at dawn, dusk, and in shaded terrain where game is harder to pick out.
• CDS-SZL2 lockable turret system: The multi-turn elevation turret combines a zero stop with locking operation, giving more confidence when dialing for distance while helping prevent accidental movement in the field.
• Illuminated SFP reticle: The second focal plane design keeps the reticle appearance consistent through the zoom range, while illumination improves aiming-point visibility against dark backgrounds and in fading light.
• Field-ready durability: Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof construction, together with fully multicoated optics and a fast-focus eyepiece, supports reliable use in changing weather and fast shooting situations.

About the Leupold VX-5HD Series

The Leupold VX-5HD series was developed for hunters who need a versatile premium hunting riflescope without moving into the company’s higher-positioned VX-6HD line. Introduced in 2017, the series was built around a 5:1 zoom ratio, giving each model a wide enough magnification range to handle mixed terrain, changing shot distances, and different game sizes with a single optic.

A defining part of the VX-5HD family is Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System, which is designed to improve light transmission, reduce glare, and preserve resolution and clarity in difficult light. That makes the series particularly relevant for hunters who spend time glassing into timber, across valleys, or during the first and last legal shooting light. Guard-Ion lens coatings add a practical advantage by helping water, dirt, and smudges clear more easily from the external lens surfaces.

Across the range, VX-5HD riflescopes are built with hunting use in mind: compact proportions, weather-resistant construction, and reticle options that include standard hunting layouts and illuminated FireDot variants. The second-generation VX-5HD Gen 2, introduced in 2025, continues that same all-round hunting focus while adding updated dial and handling features for shooters who want faster adjustment and more flexibility in the field.

About the Leupold VX-5HD Gen2 3-15x50 CDS-SZL2

The Leupold VX-5HD Gen2 3-15x50 CDS-SZL2 is configured as an all-round hunting riflescope for shooters who may move from short, reactive shots to deliberate longer-distance shooting in the same outing. Its 3-15x magnification range gives useful flexibility: the low end remains practical in tighter cover and on moving game, while the upper end provides enough image scale for precise shot placement across open ground. Paired with a 50.00 mm objective lens, the scope is especially well suited to dawn and dusk hunting, where extra light throughput helps maintain target definition.

This model uses a second focal plane reticle, so the apparent reticle size stays constant as magnification changes. In practice, that gives a familiar sight picture throughout the zoom range and keeps the aiming point easy to read at both low and high power. Daytime-usable illumination adds contrast against dark animals, shaded vegetation, or low-light backgrounds, while the fast-focus eyepiece helps bring the reticle into sharp focus quickly after mounting the rifle.

Mechanically, the scope is set up for shooters who want to dial with confidence. The CDS-SZL2 lockable tactical turret combines multi-turn elevation travel with a zero stop, helping the shooter return to the baseline setting without hesitation after dialing for distance. Side-focus parallax adjustment supports a sharper target image and more precise aiming as ranges increase. With a 30 mm main tube, 603.00 g weight, and waterproof, fogproof, shockproof construction, it balances dial-friendly capability with field durability for mountain hunting and general-purpose hunting use.

About Leupold

Leupold & Volpel was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1907 by Fred Leupold and Adam Volpel. The company later introduced its first riflescope, the Plainsman in 1947, and expanded its reputation in sporting optics with the Duplex reticle in 1962, a design that became widely recognized among hunters and shooters. In 1968, Leupold moved its manufacturing plant and headquarters to Beaverton, Oregon.

Today, Leupold & Stevens, Inc. remains a family-owned American optics manufacturer focused on riflescopes, red dot sights, binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders, and thermal optics. Its lineup spans hunting and shooting applications, from VX-series riflescopes aimed at sporting use to Mark-series riflescopes built for tactical roles. That long concentration on sport optics is directly relevant to products like the VX-5HD Gen 2, where optical performance, mechanical reliability, and practical field handling are central to the design.

Main Features

• Magnification: 3.00 x - 15.00 x
• Objective lens diameter: 50.00 mm
• Main tube diameter: 30 mm
• Reticle position: 2. focal plane - SFP
• Reticle illumination: Yes
• Daytime-usable illumination: Yes
• Turret type: Tactical - Lockable
• Zero stop: Yes
• Turret turns: MT - Multi Turn
• Turret rotation direction: CCW
• Elevation adjustment range: 25.00 mrad / 85.00 MOA
• Windage adjustment range: 25.00 mrad / 85.00 MOA
• Elevation per turn: 20
• Eye relief: 96.50 mm - 99.00 mm
• Field of view: 12.57 m/100m - 2.60 m/100m
• Parallax adjustment: Yes - side focus
• Fast focus eyepiece: Yes
• Exit pupil: 16.67 mm - 3.33 mm
• Length: 342.90 mm
• Weight: 603.00 g
• Power supply: CR2032
• Waterproof: Yes
• Fogproof: Yes
• Shockproof: Yes
• Lens coatings: Fully multicoated
• Made in: USA

Warranty

10 years. This riflescope is covered by a 10-year warranty period.