Leupold expands its award-winning VX-6HD scope lineup to include the new-for-2025 VX-6HD Gen 2. The new tool-less CDS-SZL2 Speed Dial is a win, and the scope easily handles range and field tasks.
The following is a review of the Leupold VX-6HD, to be clear, Leupold has never sponsored or advertised with North American Deer Hunter or supported us in any fashion. The writer was sent one for testing. If you find the review helpful, and plan to purchase one, you can support us using this affiliate link where we earn a 3% commission at no additional cost to you.
My first ever big-game rifle, a lightweight, shoulder-abusing 7mm Rem. Mag. wore a Leupold scope. I spent more on the scope than the rifle. If the Gold Ring was good enough for Jim Shockey and his crazy adventures, it was good enough for me.
My first big-game adventure was a DIY sojourn for elk on public land. I was nineteen and finally had enough money to secure an OTC tag. My good buddy and hunting mentor, Bill Seamans, handled the food, gas, etc. I’m forever grateful for Bill.
The ride in was hellish. The young colt I was riding spooked, and I hit the ground. I watched that horse run and buck down the mountainside. The only thing stopping the horse was the saddle swinging under his belly. My rifle was in the scabbard, and it took a beating. Two days later, I shot a bull. The shot was perfect, and I’ve been sold on Leupold optics ever since.
Twenty-five years after that first Leupold experience, I chased plains game in Africa. I never thought in a million years that my hunting adventures would take me to the Dark Continent. It always seemed like a pipe dream, but hard work and dedication tend to produce results. Ironically, I was a guest of Leupold on this hunt.
I took full advantage of my African experience. Over 10 days, I harvested 10 different species of plains game, from kudu to red hartebeest to gemsbok. I kept the barrel of Browning’s X-Bolt 2 McMillian Pro SPR Carbon Fiber warm, and the scope I was there to test, Leupold’s VX-6HD 3-18×44, proved ultra-effective. I love Leupold’s VX-HD series of scopes. I’ve tested numerous models over the years, and hunters will not find a clearer, low light dominating scope with a simple ballistic system that works.
Reviewing the Leupold VX-6HD
As an outdoor writer, I’m often asked to assemble a list of pros and cons at the end of articles. The only con I ever had concerning Leupold’s VX-6HD lineup was the on/off of the CDS Elevation Dial. To remove the dial meant removing a trio of tiny Allen head screws with a microscopic Allen wrench. The dial typically needs to be removed during the sight-in process, and after sending the standard dial back to Leupold, a customized dial-to-the-yard dial must be obtained. I can’t tell you how many times I dropped screws while at the range, forgot my Allen wrench at home, etc. I love the simplicity of the CDS Elevation Dial, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the on/off design.
In true Leupold fashion, this optic kingpin took a good thing, recognized what could be better, and made an improvement. Enter Leupold’s VX-6HD Gen 2 scope lineup. Available in 1-6×24, 2-12×24, 3-18×44,3-18×50, 3-18×56, and 4-25×42 models, the Gen 2 crop is Leupold’s finest-ever rifle toppers.
The new and vastly improved CDS Elevation Dial system was my first prominent notice when I removed my Gen 2 3-18×44 from the box. Dubbed the CDS-SZL2 Elevation Dial with Speed Set, Leupold lovers still get a standard dial, and once ballistic testing is complete, specs are sent to Leupold to obtain two custom dials for two different loads.
The difference is the Speed Set. Leupold removed the three holes with Allen screws and added a silver push-and-flip lever to both the elevation and windage dials. Immediately, I pressed the gridded silver button in and flipped the black lever up, and the elevation dial came off smoothly. I repeated the process with the windage dial with the same result. The on/off problem is solved, and you need not worry about the dials coming loose on their own. They lock in and out of place, and after a 32-mile Colorado horseback ride through ultra-rough terrain and spot-and-stalk New Mexico elk hunt, I never had a dial loosen or fall off.
Of course, VX-HD favorites like ZeroLock remain, and no elevation or windage dial movement happens unless the ZeroLock buttons are depressed. I also appreciate that ZeroLock allows the shooter to instantly return to the rifle’s zeroed-in range with a hard stop.
Leupold also integrated a removable throw lever. The throw lever is a small but significant addition, allowing for smooth and instant magnification changes. My 300-plus yard shot at my New Mexico bull elk occurred with a minute of legal light remaining. The western sky grew dim, and because the bull only offered a hard quartering-toward angle, I had to stay in my scope for a long time. I constantly zoomed in and out on the bull, adjusting my magnification and parallax to achieve the best optical clarity possible. And, of course, Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System gathered every ounce of remaining light, allowing me to make a perfect shot on a 300-plus-inch 6×6 bull.
It’s all in the Details
I also noticed the new oversized numbers on the dials, which make dialing to the correct yardage easier, especially in low light. My aging eyes appreciated the large numbers when dialing my VX-6HD Gen 2 to the exact yardage in the fading New Mexico light.
Scope mounting with Leupold rings and bases is easy. Follow the appropriate torque settings, and you’ll be good to go. Leupold’s Electronic Reticle Level, found in Gen 2 illuminated models, is a win. I’m guilty of eye-balling scope leveling. This is a terrible idea! I get impatient, forget to use my Real Avid Scope Leveling Kit and roll on. Don’t be me! The good news is that you don’t have to break out the scope leveling kit. Gen 2 illuminated models with the Electronic Reticle Level let you press and hold the VX-6’s on/off button between 12 and 15 seconds. The leveling process is simple. If you see a flashing red dot, the scope is canted and not level. When a solid red dot appears, the scope is level.
After leveling my scope, bore sighting, and zeroing at 100 yards, I rang steel at distances between 100 and 800 yards. I’m no longer surprised when I pair a quality rifle with top-tier ammunition, top it with a Leupold—and Leupold—and experience remarkable accuracy. Not that I’m not always impressed; I’m just not surprised, which is a great thing. Is anyone surprised when Elon Musk makes another smooth million or Patrick Mahomes tosses a game-winner? Nope! People are impressed (or sickened if you’re not a Chief’s fan) but never surprised.
Of course, Leupold still provides multiple reticle options. Shooters can choose between Leupold’s Illuminated FireDot Duplex, Illuminated TMOA, Illuminated FireDot Boone & Crockett, and Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter.
The scope comes with scratch-resistant lenses, flip-up optic covers, and Guard-ion lens coating to ensure maximum protection from dirt, water, dust, etc.
Something not many articles or Leupold scope videos highlight is the adjustable windage dial that comes standard on VX-6HD scopes. Yes, there are more advanced windage dials out there, but if you love to shoot and spend time learning what bullets do in various winds, the windage dial is awesome. Remember, Leupold didn’t build the VX-6HD Gen 2 scope lineup to punch paper and ring steel. Leupold built this scope to punch lungs and exploding hearts and make those high-shoulder hits that drop animals in their tracks all the easier.
Though I didn’t have to dial for wind on my New Mexico elk hunt, I tested and tampered with the range windage dial. I shot steel at ranges between 300 and 500 yards in 12 to 18-miler-per-hour crosswinds. Using nothing more than guesstimation, I quickly learned what my 175-grain Winchester PowerPoint bullets did in windy conditions.
I put the scope through a pair of range days, shooting in various lighting conditions and distances. Leupold’s Professional Grade Optical System is second to none. The system optimizes light transmission, and during periods of maximum light when the sun is directly overhead, glare is eliminated, and eye relief is boosted.
The second range day came on the heels of a different 10-mile horseback ride. The elk loop my hunting buddy and I make is hellish. The terrain is steep and extreme, and you simply can’t prevent your scabbard from scraping against pines and bumping against boulders. I didn’t squeeze the trigger on that hunt, but when I returned, I went directly to the range and rang steel at 500 yards.
Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2: Pros & Cons
The list of pros is long and distinguished. Leupold kept its advanced ballistic system simple while making it more user-friendly. The scope is bombproof, and the Electronic Leveling System facilitates mounting and improves long-range accuracy. ZeroLock eliminates the chance of unwanted turret movement, and scope clarity and low-light gathering are remarkable.
As for the list of cons … nope! If you find one, please let me know.
Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18×44 Specifications
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Weight: 22.1 ounces
- Objective: 44mm
- Eye Relief: 3.7/3.8 inches
- Linear FOV Low Mag: 38.3 ft at 100 yards
- Linear FOV High Mag: 6.4 ft at 100 yards
- Elevation Adjustment: 85 MOA
- Wind Adjustment: 85 MOA
- Available Reticles: Illuminated FireDot Duplex, Illuminated TMOA, Illuminated FireDot Boone & Crockett, Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter
- Retail Price Range: $1,999.99-$2,699.99
Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 Final Thoughts
Do you need to replace every rifle with a VX-6HD Gen 2 scope? No, you don’t. I still have multiple rifles with VX-3HD, VX-5HD, and standard VX-6HD scopes. However, I’m all about upgrading when upgrading makes sense. For this reason, my two main hunting rifles for 2025 wear VX-6HD Gen 2 scopes. If you’re looking for a new riflescope, go with the VX-6HD Gen 2. You know what to do if you’re like me and have plenty of top-end scopes but demand the latest and greatest.
Leupold Tough
I’m not gentle on my gear. The hunts I go on don’t allow for it, and I have no room for candy-butt gear that can’t take a licking and keep on ticking. I’ve yet to find scopes as durable as those from Leupold. Over the course of testing the new Gen 2, the scope was banged around in a scabbard, dropped twice—once in jagged canyon rocks—and toted around while lashed to my ALPS Elite Frame +3800 backpack. It was used and abused.
Scope FAQs
What magnification should I use?
This one is simple but tricky. If you’re only hunting animals at close ranges (150 yards and in), a 3-5x variable magnification scope will serve you well. If you want a scope that allows for a broader magnification range, helping you conquer shots at close, medium, and long ranges, a 3-18x scope is an excellent choice.
What does it mean if a scope is waterproof and fogproof?
The better a scope’s build, the better it will serve you in the field. Scopes with poor glass and sub-par housings can/will let water in. Worse yet, possibly, when the outside air is cold, and your warm breath hits the poor-quality glass, fog occurs. Do your research and always go with a water- and fog-proof scope.
What is a ballistic elevation dial/turret on a scope?
If you plan to extend your range beyond 200 yards, a ballistic elevation dial/turret is critical. Many scopes come with standard turrets, meaning you sight your scope at a zeroed distance, and beyond that, you’ll need to use a holdover, which isn’t much more than an educated guess. A ballistic elevation dial/turret on a scope is pre-cut to your rifle/bullet combos’ exact ballistics. There are also ballistic dials that pair with ballistic data apps.
What is the difference between a fixed and variable magnification scope?
A fixed scope is set at only one power with no magnification adjustment. A variable magnification scope allows adjustment across a set magnification range.
How The Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 Compare In $$
My Leupold VX-6HD 3-18×44 will set you back around $2K; the scope has so much going for it. The glass is right there with most European brands, and the scope is German-tank tough. My VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18×44 will bump you in price another $500 and $600.
Let’s look at another new-for-2025 scope, Swarovski’s Z8i(+). This scope, in a 2-16×50 P, will cost around $3,500. Don’t get me wrong, the scope is fabulous, and Swaro is world-renowned for having the best glass in the business. The scope was engineered for poor lighting conditions, and though I’ve yet to test the optic, I have zero doubt Swarovski accomplished their mission. Still, I go back to my New Mexico elk hunt. The lighting conditions could not get any poorer than I faced, and the VX-6HD Gen 2 allowed me to place my crosshairs exactly where they needed to be
