From the moment I mounted the Leupold Mark 5 HD 5–25×56 scope on my rifle, I knew it was a purpose-built precision optic. I’ve put this scope through the rigors of over two years of hunting, NRL Hunter Games matches, and countless range days. The Leupold Mark 5 HD was even dismounted for a warranty repair (more on that later), then remounted and tested a second time around. I wanted to be sure of its performance before putting this review together, even though it ended up taking longer than expected.
How It Was Tested – Leupold Mark 5HD Review
Over the course of a two-year period, I’ve had the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 scope on countless range trips, two full seasons of backcountry hunts, multiple NRL Hunter Games matches, and perched atop my Christiansen Ridgeline FFT chambered in 6.5 PRC for load development on somewhere north of six different loads. This scope has easily seen north of 1,000 rounds.
Leupold Mark 5HD Scope Specs (5-25×56 model)
When considering and selecting a hunting scope, one of the first things we all look at is the specs. Whether that’s the right way to go about it or not, we all do it. If you are a specs junkie, you are going to like what you see with the Leupold Mark 5HD. It’s tough to get the performance the Leupold Mark 5 HD delivers without a scope becoming overly heavy, but this scope manages to accomplish exactly that.
| Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 30 oz (850 g) |
| Length | 15.7 in (398 mm) |
| Objective | 56 mm |
| Zoom | 5x -25x |
| Eye Relief | @5x: 3.82 in @25x: 3.58 in |
| FOV @ 100yds | @5x: 20.5 ft @25x: 4.2 ft |
| Parallax Adjustment | 50 yds to Infinity |
| Tube Diameter | 35 mm |
| Focal Plane | First |
| Elevation Turret | Exposed, Locking (CDS) |
| Windage Turret | Exposed, Non – Locking |
| Elevation Adjustment | 120 MOA / 35 MIL |
| Windage Adjustment | 60 MOA / 17 MIL |
| Turret Travel Per Rotation | 20 MOA / 10 MIL |
| Illuminated Reticle | Yes – 7 Stage |
| Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof | Yes |
| Zero Stop | Yes |
| Main Body | 6061-T6 Aluminum |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Real World Testing – Leupold Mark 5HD Rifle Scope
I ran this configuration on my Christensen 6.5 PRC featuring an XLR Element 4.0 chassis in everything from early-morning steel work to late-dusk glassing on high hunt ridges. The 5–25× zoom offered ideal versatility—wide enough for spot-and-stalk, yet powerful enough for exacting precision out to extreme distances. Despite being only 30 oz, it held up solidly throughout the rigors of backcountry hunting and the general beating a rifle takes.
Not only did this scope get used thoroughly during backcountry hunting trips that involved extended overnight excursions, it also endured many rides on a dirt bike, strapped to a backpack and bouncing around single-track trails. If anything tests a scope’s durability, these conditions are about as abusive as it gets.
Additionally, this Leupold Mark 5HD scope was used in multiple NRL Hunter Games matches that my son and I competed in, where a scope’s ability to track accurately and hold zero is critical.
Resolution and Low Light Performance – Leupold Mark 5HD Review
Leupold’s optical system with Twilight Max HD is excellent. In side-by-side comparisons of resolution, edge-to-edge clarity, and low-light performance, the Leupold Mark 5HD scope proved to have exceptional edge-to-edge clarity and excellent resolution. I did, however, find that other less expensive scopes, such as the Zeiss LRP S3 4-25×50 and Tract Toric UHD 5-25×50, offered better overall image quality for a substantially lower price. I also found that the Mark 5 HD offered better optical performance than the Maven RS 3.2 5-30×50 and the Maven RS5 4-25×50, though.
I was a bit surprised to find this given the steep price point of the Leupold Mark 5HD, but the Mark 5 HD still offers exceptional optical performance—far more than is needed in just about every possible hunting and shooting situation. The floating center dot remained crisp in dim twilight and provided a clean, precise aiming point at the moment of shot execution.
Holding & Returning to Zero – Leupold Mark 5 HD
This is where things got a bit interesting, and quite frankly, where the Leupold Mark 5HD failed initially. About a year ago, I was nearly ready to publish this review when, after one of my hunting trips, I noticed that the scope’s zero seemed to migrate by just under 1 MOA during a range day. I reset the zero in preparation for an NRL Hunter Games match and proceeded to use the rifle and scope for the match.
Following the match, again to my dismay, I noticed the scope’s zero had migrated by just under 1 MOA. This scenario repeated itself on several more range trips, so I finally decided to dismount the scope and send it to Leupold for evaluation and repair. Unfortunately, this occurred just before our fall hunting season was about to begin, so I was unable to use the rifle and scope that fall as the scope was away for repair.
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Once the scope came back, the repair invoice noted that the erector system was broken and needed to be replaced, which they did free of charge. That’s one awesome thing about Leupold-they stand behind their products.
Once I got the scope back, I remounted it on the rifle and essentially started over with my testing. After a few more range trips, another NRL Hunter Games match, and several hundred more rounds down the pipe, the scope has been tracking and holding zero so far. If anything changes, I’ll update this review, but for now, so good.
It’s always a bummer when a scope won’t hold zero, and even more so when it means you can’t use it for another hunting season. That said, Leupold customer service was awesome and took care of the problem exactly like you’d hope and expect.
Turret Operation & Tracking – Leupold Mark 5HD
The M1C3 elevation turret is unique and stands out compared to other turret offerings on the market. The ¼ MOA clicks are solid and audible, and the turret features a screw-on cover and ZeroLock to prevent accidental shifts. With three full turns offering 120 MOA of total elevation adjustment, I never had to worry about hitting the stops mid-range, and the locking zero stop is perfect for hunting—keeping your turret zeroed while the rifle is strapped to a backpack or slung over your shoulder while hiking.
The clicks are nice and crisp; however, I did find a bit of “play” in between clicks—more than I feel should be present in a scope at this price point—which I didn’t love. While I didn’t ever have an issue in the field with the slight movement between clicks, I’ve seen many scopes at a much lower price point offer more precise and crisp turrets.
After I got my Mark 5HD back from warranty repair, re-zeroed the rifle, and shot a second NRL Hunter Games match, I went back and performed a tall target test to see if the newly rebuilt scope was tracking true. I set up a large sheet of paper with a clearly defined aiming point at the bottom. I shot a bullseye at the starting point to verify that the rifle was zeroed, then worked my way up a vertical line (verified with a plumb line), shooting every 10 MOA.
The scope tracked true throughout the test, with a nominal correction factor of 0.9976, or 99.76% of the expected amount of travel. In other words, there was likely more shooter and/or rifle error than scope error. I was relieved to get this result after being frustrated with the scope not holding zero previously. While I didn’t perform a tall target test prior to sending the scope in for warranty work, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it hadn’t tracked true, given that the erector system was found to be faulty.
Reticle Usability – Leupold Mark 5HD
I chose the PR1-MOA reticle for a reason: its straightforward, uncluttered MOA hash system is fast, effective, and reliable. Given that I used this as a hunting scope, I preferred to keep the reticle clean and easy to use. With 1 MOA spacing across 100 MOA in each direction (at minimum magnification), I could quickly and precisely hold for elevation or wind. In windy conditions, the clean layout made fast windage calls easy—even under pressure.
One thing to note is that the majority of the reticle illuminates when using the illumination on the Leupold Mark 5HD. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. I understand why it can be useful to have all of the windage and elevation hash marks illuminated when holding for wind or elevation. However, I find myself personally preferring scopes that offer only the center dot illuminated. This is by no means a deal breaker, but rather a matter of personal preference. It also wouldn’t deter me from choosing this scope, as I rarely find myself using the illumination during an actual shot.
Ergonomics, Design & Build Quality – Leupold Mark 5 HD
The overall feel is refined and sleek. The elongated main tube gives you ample mounting space to customize the fit to your rifle and shooting style. The integrated throw lever made magnification changes smooth yet firm, and the side-focus parallax was precise and easy to dial both with or without gloves. Eye relief stayed consistent throughout the zoom range.
Build quality? Well, aside from the above-mentioned issue with the scope not holding zero, the Leupold Mark 5HD performed well and came out of many backcountry trips unscathed- other than a few scratches.
The scope is built with ergonomics in mind, as the large elevation turret is easy to operate in all weather conditions, yet it isn’t as high-profile as many turrets, keeping the scope sleek and low profile (especially for such a large scope). The enormous 35 mm main tube is certainly overkill for a dedicated hunting scope and adds some unnecessary bulk, but it also allows the Mark 5 HD to function as a crossover long-range and match-style scope. For those who like to do both, this is a great option.
What I Liked – Leupold Mark 5HD Scope Review
As with many pieces of gear, personal preference plays a significant role in what we select. With scopes, that often comes down to the feature set we’re looking for, but I’ll keep this list of “pros” focused on qualities that are less about personal preference and more about objective performance and design:
- Lightweight for the features offered
- Precise ¼ MOA clicks with 120 MOA of elevation in three turns
- Locking CDS dial designed specifically for hunting
- Multiple reticle and configuration options to meet individual preferences
- Crisp and audible turret clicks
- Excellent low-light clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness
- Lightweight and well-balanced at 30 oz for a 56 mm FFP scope
- Lifetime guarantee
- Excellent customer service when a warranty repair was unfortunately needed
What I Disliked – Leupold Mark 5HD Scope Review
- 35 mm tube limits ring options and adds bulk
- A little “play” noted in the elevation turret (between clicks)
- At $2,800 MSRP, it’s expensive compared to other similar FFP options with comparable features
- Glass is not quite as good as some less expensive options
- Didn’t hold zero initially and required a warranty repair
Conclusion – Leupold Mark 5HD Scope Review
Having used this Leupold Mark 5HD rifle scope extensively, I can say it is a phenomenal optic that blends the worlds of hunting and competitive shooting—and does it well. It’s an optic that respects the needs of precision shooters without turning a blind eye to real-world hunting and range demands. Firm tracking, excellent glass, reliable illumination, and a turret system designed with the hunter in mind come together to create a scope that is great for hunting and competitive shooting alike.
Additionally, whether you are running MOA or MIL, Leupold offers a model that will fit your needs. The one “black eye,” if you will, was the scope not holding zero initially. That being said, once the repair was complete and the scope was remounted, it has performed perfectly ever since. Unfortunate? Absolutely. However, did Leupold stand behind their product? One hundred percent. That gives you peace of mind in the event that something goes wrong with your optic.
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