Leupold Vx5-HD - 3x15 yes or no?

[D Lee]

I may be beating a dead horse here? Fortunately - or unfortunately?? - I own this scope. Only limited use so far - on the bench - the scope has performed. Third trip to the range @ 100 - loads are all under MOA - can't complain about results at the target.

1. The vertical MOA adjustments - firm clicks can be easily counted for adjusting. Score: B+.
2. Horizontal MOA adjustment: clicks are pure mush. Score: D-. Guess & go. Absolutely Inexcusable for a scope at this price.

With purchse money tight - this rifle and scope were very carefully put together for HUNTING. Now, I'm reading about Leupold failing drop tests - unable to hold zero and whatnot. ??????????????????????

I totally understand that any mechanical device can fail and often do. Typically, we look at dependability before buying. I just trusted Leupold and upgraded over the Vx3 to the 5 HD. Now that the rifle is sighted in and the hunt is upcoming very soon - I'm wondering if I should have purchased another scope????? I realize no purchase comes with guaranteed dependability - but - at this moment - I really don't want to find myself afield and find this scope not doing what it's supposed to. <<IMHO - reasonable expectations.

Budget: $ Very limited if trading.

Your personal experiences please. If you care to express your opinion with another make / model - please do so with your reasons why. I'm tired of reading all the mixed reviews - so pls forgive my bringing this up again. Just trying to make a good decision here and finalize this rifle project. You have my undivided attention.

Thank you kindly.

 

[wyosteve]

I have the same scope on my 6.5 and it has been banged around some and has always maintained it's settings. fwiw

 

[Johnwell]

I personally like having the peace of mind that my scope will retain zero no matter what.

My wife uses an (ab)used Simmons that was probably less than $75 like 30 years ago. She still kills deer with it. I guarantee it won’t pass a drop test. It also is not sealed or argon purged or any of the other features that are standard on even the cheapest scopes now. It all depends on what you expect your gear to withstand.

I think you’ll be fine with that scope as long as you don’t: drop it, ride with it bouncing around, or constantly turn the turrets. How far would you consider shooting at a game animal?

 

[D Lee]

Wyo & John....

Thank you. I very much want to trust this scope for multiple reasons. Made in the USA - seems (?) to have a good rep amongst the majority of users.

I AM careful with my gear including while hunting. With that good care - I expect ALL my gear to hold up / work. Got concerned with too many posts on this scope's problems - both Vx3 & 5.

Right now - the scope is working very well. No reason to let it go and will trust it this hunting season.

How far? TRUSTED - 25 to 500 yards. Accurately - meaning MOA at each yardage - consistently. And yes - I understand - if the gear is working - it's all on me.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Formidilosus]

Wyo & John....

Thank you. I very much want to trust this scope for multiple reasons. Made in the USA - seems (?) to have a good rep amongst the majority of users.

I AM careful with my gear including while hunting. With that good care - I expect ALL my gear to hold up / work. Got concerned with too many posts on this scope's problems - both Vx3 & 5.

Right now - the scope is working very well. No reason to let it go and will trust it this hunting season.

How far? TRUSTED - 25 to 500 yards. Accurately - meaning MOA at each yardage - consistently. And yes - I understand - if the gear is working - it's all on me.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Cheers.

You have the scope in hand- zero it correctly, walk over to the grass and drop it a few times in the left, right, and top from waist high. Then check zero immediately. Then walk back over to the grass, drop it a couple more times on Al sides, and check again. Then you know.

 

[KenLee]

I personally like having the peace of mind that my scope will retain zero no matter what.

My wife uses an (ab)used Simmons that was probably less than $75 like 30 years ago. She still kills deer with it. I guarantee it won’t pass a drop test. It also is not sealed or argon purged or any of the other features that are standard on even the cheapest scopes now. It all depends on what you expect your gear to withstand.

I think you’ll be fine with that scope as long as you don’t: drop it, ride with it bouncing around, or constantly turn the turrets. How far would you consider shooting at a game animal?

Where do you find these women?
I've been married many times and had long term relationships and not married. Most have hunted, either sitting with me or in separate stands/blinds. If I've bought myself a better scope, I end up buying them one also. When I'm dropping deer 15 minutes after they can make out a deer in their scope and see the reticle, they seem to lose the enthusiasm for the next hunt.

 

[Sneaker]

I’ve had this scope for years and it’s been terrific for me.

 

[DagOtto]

I have this scope.

Bought it last year before discovering rokslide and the drop evals. Mounted to 25 fps with blue loctite to a rukus/proof 6.5 cm.

I too love leupold as a brand. They do right by hunters through conservation giving, and are pnw company etc… i also love the way the scope operates.

When i started reading the drop test i was more surprised to learn that some scopes dont come out of true than I was to learn that mine doesnt hold true. I was raised to believe that all scopes lose zero.

It was an eye opening moment to hear Form say (not quoting exactly) that hunters accept constant product failure as a norm with scopes. And then even more eye opening for him to show some scopes that generally dont lose zero.

Last week while elk hunting I dropped my gun from about 18” onto hard dirt. It had a neoprene cover on it. This week at the range the zero was shifted 2” left and 1 1/2” high and did not correct after firing a few rounds. The gun has held zero and 1.25” 10 shot groups all season.

While it may not be the scope that failed, I expect it is. The rifle is bed set and action screws are torqued and loctited.

I no longer will accept zeros randomly shifting and will be selling this scope and replacing with one that has passed the eval. Im kinda heartbroken about it though. Hope leupold adds some beef and passes these evals some day.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

OP, I have the same scope and it's taken 2500 mile round trips in a 3/4 ton and lots of nasty roads, fell out of the back seat hitting the door frame on the scope bell on the way down, and gone for boat rides in my flat bottom aluminum boat. It's not lost zero. For the same reason you're questioning I also began questioning and switching out other Leupolds for Trijicon scopes. Wife and myself and my son had a big hunt coming up last weekend and we all went to the range to check things as our guns have been on several trips. Wife's Trijicon Huron needed three clicks to the left, my Credo required 4 clicks down, and my son's Vortex freaking Diamondback was dead on. So now I'm second guessing my second guessing. I'll be doing some shooting with the rifle that has the VX5 late next week, not expecting any shifts but I'll definitely post up if it's not zeroed. Now I'm annoyed with questionable confidence in anything. I guess I'll try a Nightforce next.

 

[EdP]

It is impossible for me to discern the difference between actual general experience and fanboy factor on a forum. When bashing a particular mfg or touting another becomes the next hot trend, those with differing opinions tend not to express them.

Forms testing does not adequately control variables to be considered scientific and so some of the results are questionable. What isn't questionable is that Form has shown that many scopes cannot be relied upon to hold zero when exposed to conditions that occur all to often in the field. The only question is to what extent one brand stands up better than another. At a minimum his drop testing raises questions that need to be raised. I am hoping that Form's testing will drive the scope mfgs to develop a standard testing method for robustness akin to the IP68 standard for electronics. This would involve a standard testing methodology and a rating system that consumers could compare between products.