Innovative design, precision engineering, and rugged reliability make Leupold’s latest scope a standout choice for UK hunters and shooters.
At Viking Arms, we’re proud to be the UK distributor of Leupold optics, trusted by hunters and precision shooters around the world for their exceptional performance in the field. And now, one of Leupold’s flagship products has received top industry recognition — with the Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 being named Editor’s Choice for Best Riflescope for Hunting in Outdoor Life’s 2025 annual optics test.
This accolade reflects exactly what Leupold is known for: superb optical quality, user-focused innovation, and bulletproof reliability.
🏆 VX-5HD Gen 2 – Editor’s Choice Winner
The VX-5HD Gen 2 builds on the legendary performance of the original VX-5HD, adding clever design refinements and internal upgrades that make it one of the most dependable hunting scopes on the market.
Here’s what impressed the testers at Outdoor Life:
✅ Ultra-lightweight design – At just 20.1 oz, it’s one of the lightest scopes in its class.
✅ SpeedSet tool-less elevation dial – Makes re-zeroing in the field fast and easy.
✅ Custom Dial System (CDS) compatibility – Swap turrets in seconds to match specific rifles or loads.
✅ Hunting-focused magnification range – Perfect for UK stalking, driven hunts, and general field shooting.
✅ Overbuilt internal mechanics – Derived from Leupold’s Mark 5HD precision line, ensuring long-term durability and repeatable accuracy.
The Professional-Grade Optical System delivers bright, crisp images with excellent glare reduction, while the redesigned erector system — with improved springs, gears, and lubricants — ensures precision adjustments shot after shot, season after season.
Smart Features Hunters Will Love
• 30mm tube with ample mounting space
• Locking turrets to prevent accidental adjustments
• Elegant push-button illumination
• Side parallax adjustment from 50 yards to infinity
• Forgiving eyebox for quick target acquisition
• Reticle options including FireDot Duplex, TMOA, Wind-Plex, and more
One of the most notable upgrades is the tool-less SpeedSet elevation system. By simply releasing a locking lever, the turret can be lifted off and swapped quickly — ideal for shooters who want to use custom turrets for different rifles or loads.
While the system is limited to two revolutions of elevation (38 MOA of travel), this is more than enough for virtually all hunting scenarios and helps maintain the erector system in the optimal adjustment range, improving precision.
Built for Real-World Hunting
Testers praised the VX-5HD Gen 2 for its forgiving eyebox and intuitive controls, which make it particularly suited to real-world hunting situations where fast target acquisition and reliable performance matter most.
It’s also one of the lightest scopes in its class — a major advantage for mountain hunts or long stalks — yet remains rugged enough to withstand years of hard use in the field.
With prices starting from £1,500, the VX-5HD Gen 2 is an investment — but as Outdoor Life’s Mark Copenhaver put it:
“If I was buying any of the scopes in this year’s test, this is the one I would buy.”
Explore the VX-5HD Gen 2 Range
Whether you’re stalking deer on the hill, targeting vermin at range, or preparing for a season of driven game shooting, the Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 delivers the precision, clarity, and reliability you need to succeed.
👉 Read the full Outdoor Life review
👉 Explore the Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2 range on Viking Shoot
About Viking Arms
Viking Arms is the official UK distributor for Leupold optics, bringing world-class riflescopes, binoculars, and rangefinders to British hunters, stalkers, and precision shooters. With Leupold’s cutting-edge technology and rugged field-ready design, you can trust your optics to perform when it matters most.
