Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL Riflescope Review | Optics Trade Reviews

The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL is a great riflescope for long-range shooting. Its features, MIL-MIL turrets, and an illuminated reticle make this scope a perfect American-made scope for tactical applications.

Leupold Sport Optics

Leupold Sport Optics is a well-known name in the field of sport optics, especially in the United States, since its headquarters are located in Beaverton, Oregon. Leupold creates, engineers, and installs scopes at their own facility. The lenses are an exception; Leupold hires other companies across the world to produce them.

Leupold Sport Optics has a long and rich history dating back to 1907. The company was founded by German immigrant Fred Leupold, who started the business in his basement by making rifle scopes for local hunters and sportsmen. In 1917, Leupold & Stevens was born after Leupold partnered with businessman Oscar Stevens. Stevens brought business and marketing expertise to the venture, while Leupold contributed his machining skills and optical knowledge.

The company continued to grow throughout the 20th century, and in 1945 they developed the first variable power rifle scope. This groundbreaking innovation allowed shooters to adjust the magnification of their scope on the fly, depending on the distance of their target.

Leupold’s popularity and reputation as a modern producer of scopes, red dots and mounts only increased in the 80s and 90s. Today, Leupold Sport Optics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality optics for all types of shooting activities, from hunting to competitive shooting to tactical operations.

Leupold Mark 5HD Series

The Leupold Mark 5HD rifle scopes are some of the most high-quality and versatile models on the market today. They are perfect for tactical applications, long-range shooting, and hunting. They all feature Leupold’s newly designed elevation turret. With three revolutions of elevation adjustment, the Mark 5HD was built to max out the performance of the latest long-range rifles and ammo. Leupold 5HD scopes are produced in the USA. What is so special about this series is that all scopes feature a 5x zoom factor.

Leupold Mark 5HD line-up is lightweight and short compared to riflescopes from other brands with similar magnification. Thanks to their superior edge-to-edge clarity and extreme low-light performance, Leupold Mark 5HD scopes will give you an edge over your competition or prey.

See the VIDEO REVIEW of Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 here!

Physical Properties

The large diameter of the thick main tube of Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL measures 35 millimeters. There are several advantages to using a larger-sized scope chassis. First and foremost, you get more elevation travel with a bigger tube than you would with the 30mm standard.

The thicker frame of Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 also adds to the overall robustness of the device. All components of the Leupold Mark 5HD series avoid rust and corrosion by utilizing lightweight aluminum alloy as the primary construction material.

Need Quality 35mm Scope Mounts?

35mm Scope Mounts

The Leupold Mark 5HD rifle scopes come with a fast-focus eyepiece that has an internal locking mechanism. This ensures that the eyepiece will remain in focus no matter how much you move or shake the rifle. The eyepiece also glides smoothly, allowing you to adjust it quickly and easily.

Water, Temperature, and Shock Resistance

The Leupold Mark 5HD is a very rugged scope that can handle the abuse of any shooting activity. The 35mm ultra-lightweight metal chassis disperses recoil energy with superiority. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL is rated for all calibers and shockproof up to .50 BMG. This scope is perfect for tactical operations, long-range shooting, and hunting.

The housing is purged with dry Argon gas, which means you can use the scope in a very cold environment. All Leupold riflescopes are tested to perform from -40ºF to 160ºF (circa -40°C to 70°C). The lenses will not fog up and obstruct your view-through. What is more, the scope is also waterproof without protective lens caps installed.

Magnification Ring

The magnification ring is well-made. You can seamlessly glide from 5x to 25x magnification in an approximately 180-degree turn of the wheel.

The magnification power ring is designed with a raised fin lever already built into the magnification ring. However, some users may find it too big. But fear not, the outstanding Leupold Mark 5HD engineering gives you options. If you don’t want the pre-installed throw lever, you can remove the handy tool and replace it with a small, unobstructive screw.

Of course, Leupold also makes quality throw levers that can be attached to the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL magnification ring for fast and easy adjustment. Leupold throw levers are made of machined aluminum with a hard anodized finish for durability. They install quickly and provide a secure grip.

Scope Measurements

The magnification range goes from 5x all the way to 25x. The scope sports a 56-millimeter objective lens. The outside diameter of the objective is 64.6 millimeters. If you’d like to use this scope in combination with a thermal or night vision clip-on, this is the right number to look at.

Now, what about the scope dimensions? The length of this Leupold Mark 5HD is 398 millimeters and it weighs only 850 grams. Compare that to Kahles K525i 5-25×56 with 970 grams (34.2 oz) to its name or whooping 1080 grams (38.1 oz) of Schmidt&Bender 5-25×56 PMII/LP. For a tactical 5-25×56 configuration, this Leupold model is indeed very lightweight.

Parallax Adjustment

The parallax turret on non-illuminated models has a very low profile. Models upgraded with illuminated reticles house the brightness intensity dial on the same turret as the parallax adjustment.

No matter the small design differences, the parallax adjustment on all Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 scopes goes from 50 yards or meters all the way to infinity. That gives the user a lot of space to make fine adjustments. Even after 300 or 400 yards or meters, there’s plenty of space left for fine-tuning the parallax. The distances labeled on the turret are 75, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and infinity.

A capable tactical scope with such a precise parallax turret is a rare find. There are many 5-25×56 scopes with a finely-adjustable parallax up to 100 or 200 meters. But once you dial past that threshold, the adjustments are made difficult. Thankfully, with Leupold 5HD, you won’t have to make ridiculously minuscule turret movements to get the parallax just right.

Leupold Mark 5HD Turrets

Arguably the best design feature of the Leupold 5HD scope are the turrets.

The turrets are locked at the zero position. If you want to make corrections, there is no need to remove the turret. Thanks to the ingenious Leupold engineering, the user simply pushes on the small lozenge-shaped button inside the turret. The turret button will click in and unlock the turret for tool-free adjustment. When the turret returns to the zero mark, the button immediately pops out and locks the elevation turret into place. This eliminates all unwanted movement.

Moving onto clicks, which are audible and have a nice feel. As previously stated, a single turret click moves the reticle for exactly 1 centimeter at 100 meters. These dials are not too stiff – in fact, Leupold Mark 5HD turrets glide faster than most premium W&E turrets. If you’re worried that you’ll move 3 clicks up instead of just 1, be at ease. There is no click skipping with Leupold Mark 5HD scopes. The clicks are very distinguishable.

Another positive thing to note about the turrets on this 2-25×56 model is the value of a full turret turn. In a full turret revolution, you get 10.5 MIL of travel. Why is this a good thing? The way the turret is designed, the click marks do not cover each over. Instead, the click numbers are nicely lined in a diagonal fashion in accordance to the turret revolution. You’ll never have to second-guess which turret revolution you’ve dialed to.

Setting the Zero on Turrets

How do you set your zero on these Leupold turrets? The zeroing process is the same on the elevation turret as it is on the windage one. First, you’ll need to loosen the 2 turret screws with the included hex wrench. Rotate the turret till the zero is facing toward the ocular. All that’s left to do is to retighten the screws.

Elevation Turret

The multi-turn windage and elevation turrets are configured in 0.1 MIL. As previously stated a single turret click moves the reticle for exactly 1 centimeter at 100 meters. The maximum internal elevation range of this scope is 35 MIL. So even with a very canted rifle mount, it’s easy to zero and use the entire 30 MIL of elevation.

The turret also goes a few clicks below zero, which is great for law enforcement and other users who intend to use this Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL scope with a thermal or night vision clip-on device. With the latter, the user sometimes has to make minor adjustments. Sub-zero clicks come in handy if the zeroing-in was done in a hot air environment but you now need to shoot in winter-like conditions. A few clicks below zero can make be a lifesaver in a tight spot like this.

Mechanical Turn Indicator

Another superior design feature is the visual and mechanical turn indicator. The turn indicator button juts out when the turret is in the 1st revolution.

When you rotate the turret to the 2nd revolution, this button is perfectly aligned with the turret knob. Drag a fingerpad along the surface and you’ll notice that the turn indicator is now completely flush with the housing.

On the 3rd turret revolution, the button retreats further inside. From the shooter’s perspective, you’ll see a hole in its place. What is more, a silver pin pops out from the top of the turret. This is a dead giveaway that you’re nearly out of vertical adjustment. In the first two revolutions, the pin does not protrude from the housing at all.

Windage Turret

The windage turret is capped. Under the aluminum cap, you’ll find a tactical 0.1 MIL turret. While this windage turret isn’t particularly stiff to work with either, it has a slower glide than the elevation turret. The maximum internal travel of the windage turret is 17.5 MIL. That is more than enough for an extended long range. Even if you use the scope without the protective aluminum cap, it remains waterproof. The scope coat also repels oil and dirt particles.

On the outside, the windage turret is marked with 5 MILs of adjustment in both directions. When you dial to the limit of adjustment, you’ll hear the hard stop click. This is an example of a great multi-turn turret design. Since you can’t dial right past the max adjustment back to zero, it’s not possible to make a mistake of a whole revolution. Or an error of 10 MILs in this case. You have to go back to zero in the opposite direction.

Visible Turn Indicator

There’s a white mark on the main tube that serves as your visual indicator of what click the windage turret is at. This horizontal line is placed higher than similar click position markers on competitors’ models. From the shooter’s perspective, you can see this line better. But the downside is that there is quite a lot of space between the line indicator and the enumerated dial. Because of this gap, it’s still too easy to misread your position for a click or two.

Optical Properties

Now let’s talk about the view-through. The optical performance of Leupold is impressive, to say the least. The image is rich in detail, with wonderful color accuracy and edge-to-edge sharpness.

The eye relief is between 91 and 97 millimeters, so rifle recoil won’t be an issue, no matter the caliber. Again, this rugged scope is perfectly safe to use with hard-powered caliber cartridges like the .50 BMG. The eyebox is comfortable as well. You won’t have to restrict your head movement to get a good image.

Field of View

When it comes to the field of view, Leupold 5HD passes the test with flying colors. There are not many 5-25×56 scopes in this price class that can boast a wider FOV.

The field of view at 5x magnification is respectable at 6.82 meters at 100 meters. At the highest magnification power (25x), the field of view is narrowed down to 1.4 meters at 100 meters. Note that even at the biggest magnification, there is no tunnel effect.

How do Leupold’s closest rivals fare? Kahles K525i 5-25×56 clinches the slim victory with a 7.1m-1.5m/100m field of view, while S&B 5-25×56 PM II/LP is a place behind Leupold with 5.3m-1.5/100m FOV.

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL Reticle

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56i MIL scope is available in 3 illuminated reticle model variants: PR1-MIL, TMR, and Tremor 3. The reticle selection is very interesting, as you can also choose these and additional reticle designs without illumination: PR2-MIL, CCH, H-59. Of course, this selection is even richer if we consider the
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MOA scope version. Every user can find precisely the right choice for their needs.

The scope we tested for this review is the non-illuminated PR-2 FFP model in MIL configuration.

The Leupold PR2-MIL reticle is a holdover reticle but designed to be precise and clean, without the clutter of extra markings that can often be found on other Christmas-tree-style reticles. The PR2-MIL reticle is perfect for shooters who want a simplified design that still offers all the functionality they need.

Check out all Leupold Mark 5HD RETICLES below!

Reticle Illumination

The illumination is located on the parallax turret. It comes with 7 intensity settings. The lowest intensity settings are dim enough to use with night vision equipment. The illumination also varies from one reticle design to another. Some reticles’ entire design is illuminated in red, while other reticles only have a small dot in the center that lights up.

The true premium feature on Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56i MIL is the motion sensor technology. When there is no movement for 5 minutes, the illumination will shut off automatically to save on battery life. The reticle flashes 10 times before turning off. On illumination re-activation, the brightness level is the same as the last used, which is a considerate touch. However, we wish that the illumination would turn back on quicker when motion is detected. It takes about 10 seconds for the light to come back on, which can be frustrating.

If you are forgetful with switching off illumination, Leupold Motion Sensor Technology (MST™) will spare you frequent CR302 battery replacements. The battery compartment is under the cap of the same turret.

Scope of Delivery

What do you get in the box with the product? The user receives hard-plastic flip-up covers for eyepiece and objective lenses. Leupold also makes higher-quality Alumina lens covers made from metal that can be bought separatedly. Other accessories included are sunshade, lens cleaning cloth, and hex key for turret screws.

Additionally, Leupold Mark 5HD comes with a throw lever that is pre-fitted onto the magnification ring. However, if you don’t like the lever supplied, you can replace it with a spare screw contained in the box.

Last but not least, Leupold supplies the owner’s manual with everything you need to know about using and caring for this scope effectively.

Interested in More Leupold Mark 5HD Accessories?

1. Leupold Alumina 3″ Sunshade, Size 56mm
2. Leupold Alumina Flip-Back Lens Cover – Objective 56mm, Eyepiece Large EP
3. Leupold Nylon Laminated Scope Cover, Size XXL
4. Leupold ScopeSmith Mounting Multi-Tool (Ring Torque Wrench)
5. Leupold Lens Cleaner Pen
6. Leupold Heavy-Duty Decal Stickers

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 Warranty

Leupold Sport Optics offers a 10-year warranty on their Mark 5HD riflescopes. This is an impressive length of time, and it shows that Leupold trusts in the quality of their products. If something goes wrong with your scope during that time period, Leupold will repair or replace it free of charge. This warranty demonstrates Leupold’s commitment to providing quality optics to their customers.

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL Price

The prices start just below the €3000 mark for the basic models. The reticle design also factors into the final cost. Advanced designs like CCH, H-59 and Tremor 3 are slightly pricier. Another price increase comes with illumination. For the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL scope with a light-up reticle, you’ll have to reach 500 euros deeper into your pocket.

In short, the end-user prices move between €2819 and €3600, depending on extra features.

Pros

Now that we’ve discussed everything, let’s summarize the key points – be they good or bad. The build quality is excellent. The elevation turret in particular is masterfully designed with an innovative mechanism and user-friendly design. Turret clicks are both audible and tactile. You can feel every single one of them.

As for optical quality, Leupold offers great color fidelity, crisp details, and edge-to-edge sharpness – exactly what you’d expect from a high-end rescope such as this one. The versatile 5:1 zoom ratio will serve you well, no matter the distance from target.

30 MILs of elevation are enough for extended long-range (ELR) shooting.

It’s nice that the scope comes with an integrated throw lever, yet the user is not bound to the design. Since true tactical scopes are incredibly expensive, we appreciate that Leupold lets you choose between illuminated and non-illuminated models. This makes the Leupold 5HD attainable to a bigger pool of users.

Pros Summary

1. build quality
2. selectable scope features
3. audible and tactile 0.1 MIL clicks
4. hard zero-stop
5. lockable turrets
6. amazing optical performance
7. reticle selection
8. illumination control with motion sensor
9. reduced size and weight
10. 10-year warranty

Cons

There are a few things Leupold could’ve done better. The click marker line on the tube isn’t close enough to the windage turret. As it is, it’s still possible to misdial the right position for 1 or 2 clicks.

The parallax turret could be adjustable further down – let’s say from 10 meters to infinity. That would allow the user to place precise shots at closer engagements, with magnification set at 25x for a detailed target view.

While the 35mm tube is not a design flaw on its own, it does complicate finding a suitable mounting solution. In Europe, even specialized manufacturers often limit oversized diameter production to 34mm and 36mm scope mounts.

Cons Summary

1. windage turn indicator
2. parallax adjustment could go lower
3. unorthodox 35mm tube diameter
4. 10 seconds to re-activate illumination
5. high-end price

Interested in this Leupold Mark 5 5-25×56 rifle scope?

Final Thoughts on Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL

The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 MIL is a true MIL-MIL scope made by the venerable optics manufacturer Leupold. This riflescope is built to the highest standards and offers shooters tremendous flexibility in terms of magnification and reticle options. The MIL turrets are precise and repeatable, and the HD lens coatings offer top-notch clarity and brightness. Whether you’re taking long shots at extreme range or engaging targets up close, the Mark 5HD will give you the edge you need to come out on top.

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