Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold vx-5HD vs vx-6HD

I'm trying to decide on the following 2 scopes:

Leupold vx-5HD 2-10x42mm
weight 17.9 oz.

and

Leupold vx-6HD 2-12x42mm
weight 19.7 oz.


The vx-5HD is lighter and a few hundred dollars cheaper than the vx-6HD. Is there any difference in the optics/glass between the two?

The scope will be going on my elk rifle (.338WinMag).

Thanks!
Mike

The duplex reticle on the 5 is not the same as the 6, even though the box and website would lead you to believe it is.

The 5 duplex reticle sucks in my opinion. It’s like a “wide” duplex.

That’s not really true, assuming he’s looking at the fire dot duplex in both. With that reticle, the sub tensions are very similar. What you’re saying about the VX-5HD is true, but only for the non-illuminated version, which didn’t have a 6HD analog.

I can't speak for the 6HD because I've never even looked in one. I bought the 5HD standard duplex and I've been completely satisfied with it thus far. I was use to a vx3 crosshair so the 5HD was definitely wider but I've had no issues shooting with it close or long range and harvested a couple deer this season with no problems. I picked up a second 5HD for my daughter's rifle and she loves it. They both have bright clear glass, light weight, tracked just fine when I sighted them in and have held zero. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another 5HD based on my experience with these two.

Not true. The firedot duplex in my 2-10 VH5 is wide. Much wider than a standard duplex. Mine is several years old, maybe Leupold improved them some time in the interim?

To further complicate things, there are two firedot reticles. The wide one is called a firedot4. Leupold has detailed reticle dimensions and the firedot duplex is essentially the same between the 5HD and 6HD. The reticle complaints about the 5HD are typically about the standard non illuminated duplex.

I ended up ordering the Leupold vx-6HD 2-12x42mm with the fire dot duplex. I did a little more research and it looks like the 2 scopes are almost the same weight, so the weight diff. was ruled out of my decision process. Thanks again for your feedback.

I have this scope. It has worked great for me. Wishing you the best with yours.

Not correct. the Firedot Duplex on the VX5HD and VX6HD are different. The VX5 has thinner bars than the VX6HD model.

Agree with you on the 2-10/2-12. On the 3-15/18, they are the same. See below for full details. (I don’t know why Leupold has to make this so confusing)

https://cdnp.leupold.com/content/do...heet-all_171867.pdf?mtime=20190903070724

I have several VX 5HD 2x10x42 scopes. Outstanding scope for a hunting rifle. Great in low light. No issues for me with the reticle.

From what I've gathered online, the 5's and 6's have the same glass.