Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 Review [2025]

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	Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56	Check Price

The Leupold Mark HD5 rifle scope is a high-end optic that is designed for precision shooting. It features a 5x magnification range and a 34mm objective lens diameter, which provides a wide field of view. The scope is also built to withstand the recoil of high-caliber rifles, making it a good choice for hunters and shooters who need a scope that can handle the power of large caliber guns.

Let’s dive into our review of the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 riflescope.

The Mark 5HD 5-25×56 scope includes a wide adjustment range and multiple reticle options for increased versatility. However, not everyone needs the flexibility provided by the Mark 5HD scopes.

Overall, I found the Mark 5HD 5-25×56 to be an impressive product with a wide range of benefits. The 5:1 zoom ratio and 5-25x power magnification combined with crystal clear optics ensure great performance for mid-range and long-distance shooting.

Before choosing a scope, it’s important to review its specifications and benefits to ensure it matches your needs. In this Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 review, we’ll take an in-depth look at its advantages and potential disadvantages. Keep reading to learn more about its main features and best uses.

The Mark 5HD line of riflescopes from Leupold was designed to provide increased edge-to-edge clarity and better low-light performance. The 5-25×56 model includes 5-25x power magnification with multiple reticle options.

The Mark 5HD riflescopes were originally released with MIL-based reticles. It now includes MOA options, including an FFP PR2-MOA reticle. Other useful features include a motion sensor to conserve battery life and a removable throw lever.

Why Choose the Leupold Mark 5 HD 5-25×56?

The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 is a versatile riflescope and well-suited for hunting or tactical shooting. The magnification range and fractional elevation adjustments offer reliable accuracy for mid-range and long-range shots.

Marksmen looking for a rifle scope for tactical applications should appreciate the flexibility of the Leupold Mark 5HD. You can easily make precise adjustments for extreme accuracy at distances beyond 500 yards. Hunters should enjoy the lightweight, durable design and low-light performance.

5:1 Zoom Ratio

3:1 and 4:1 are more common zoom ratios for rifle scopes. The 5:1 zoom ratio found on the Mark 5HD riflescopes gives you greater versatility. You can adjust the magnification to find the ideal field of view and magnification level for almost any distance.

Thanks to the removable throw lever, adjusting the magnification level is quick and simple. If you choose to remove the lever, you can plug it with the provided thread protector.

Side Focus

The Leupold Mark 5HD scopes include a side focus for adjusting the parallax setting. Using a rifle scope with a side focus makes it easier to adjust the parallax when you are still behind the scope.

Compared to adjustable objective (AO), the side focus can make the scope heavier, as it includes more moving parts. However, the AO ring is positioned on the front of the scope, making it unreachable when you are in a prone position. Side focus is more convenient and the recommended choice for tactical shooting, as you can quickly adjust the parallax correction.

Professional-Grade Optical System

Leupold is known for producing quality scopes with excellent light transmission and the Mark 5HD scopes are not an exception. The professional-grade optical system includes fully coated HD lenses to give you a clear image in most settings.

The Mark 5HD rifle scopes use Leupold’s Twilight Max HD light management system, which offers the company’s clearest image. It helps maximize ambient light in low-light environments to increase your visibility.

The coatings, HD lenses, and light management system also help reduce glare. Eliminating glare has the added benefit of preventing the image from appearing washed out. The colors are vibrant while the contrast is sharp.

Variety of Reticles

You can choose from several different types of reticles with the Mark 5 HD 5-25×56 scopes:

• FFP PR1-MIL
• FFP PR1-MOA
• FFP PR2-MIL
• FFP PR2-MOA
• FFP TMR

All five options are first focal plane (FFP) reticles. The PR1 reticles resemble MIL-dot reticles but are available with MIL or MOA measurements.

The PR2 reticles have an open 12 o’clock design, which means that it does not have a line north of the center dot, making it somewhat resemble a German reticle. However, the PR2 is an original design developed by experienced shooters working for Leupold. It includes a Christmas tree design for range finding and extended hash marks for windage and elevation, which are useful for long-distance targeting.

The Tactical Milling Reticle (TMR) is available in non-illuminated and illuminated versions. An illuminated reticle is beneficial when hunting in low-light settings. As with the previous reticles, the TMR reticle includes hash marks for windage and elevation. It is another great choice for long-distance shots but only available with MIL markings.

Removable Throw Lever

A throw lever is a handheld lever for quickly changing the magnification level of the riflescope. Levers have become almost standard for quality rifle scopes. However, not everyone enjoys using them. If you do not frequently need to switch between low and high magnification, you may not need a lever.

The throw lever on the Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm riflescope is removable. It also includes a protector that screws into the threaded hole when the lever is not attached.

Motion Sensor Technology (MST)

Leupold rifle scopes already enjoy long battery life, but the Mark 5HD models help extend it thanks to Motion Sensor Technology (MST). MST is included in versions of the Mark 5HD with illuminated reticles.

After five minutes of inactivity, the device automatically deactivates the illuminated reticle. As soon as you move your rifle, the motion sensor triggers the reticle to light back up.

M5C3 or M1C3 ZeroLock Adjustments

Leupold offers two different options for the turrets on the Mark 5HD riflescopes. You can choose from M5C3 or M1C3 ZeroLock adjustments. Both options have a low-profile design but different levels of adjustment. One uses MIL adjustments while the other uses MOA adjustments.

The M5C3 dials provide up to 30 MILs of adjustment with 3 revolutions and 1/10 MIL clicks. The dials also have clear visual indicators and audible clicks to help you track your adjustments. The M1C3 dials provide up to 71.5 MOA of adjustment in three revolutions and ¼ MOA clicks.

Both types of dials are part of the ZeroLock dial system, keeping you from accidentally moving the dials. The scopes also include a ZeroStop system, which adds a backstop for easily returning the dial back to zero.

If the Mark 5HD does not quite meet your needs, you may want to consider one of these alternatives:

Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56mm

The Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56mm is a little more affordable compared to the Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm rifle scope. However, it includes many of the same beneficial features, including 120 MOA of elevation adjustment, a 5:1 zoom ratio, and exceptional clarity. It is also available with MIL or MOA reticles.

Leupold VX-5HD 4-20x52mm

The Leupold VX-5HD 4-20x52mm rifle scope is a small step down from the Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm riflescopes. The objective lens is slightly smaller in diameter. It also offers lower maximum magnification, with a maximum power level of 20x compared to the 25x on the Mark 5HD. Yet, you may prefer the smaller price tag of this rifle scope if the Mark 5HD scopes exceed your budget.

Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56mm

The Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III rifle scopes and the Leupold Mark 5HD scopes are comparable in quality and optical clarity. It also features micro-adjustments and a zero-stop feature for returning to zero quickly. However, you may notice slightly improved edge-to-edge clarity in a direct comparison with the Leupold scopes.

The Mark 5HD rifle scope from Leupold is a carefully constructed piece of equipment that may enhance your current setup. It only has a couple of potential limitations. First, it is a costly scope. At over $2,000, the Mark 5HD scopes may be out of the price range for some.

Another possible issue is the field of view. The FOV is comparable to other scopes with the same lens size and magnification range. However, you can also find options with larger lenses, which may be useful when tracking targets.

The bottom line is that the Leupold Mark 5HD is a high-end rifle scope and worth the cost for those with the budget for it. You get crystal clear optics and a durable design that you can take into any environment.

Order the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm rifle scope today to enhance your long-distance shooting skills.