Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm: Precision Optics for Demanding Adventures

For those who demand unwavering performance, exceptional clarity, and robust reliability in their optical equipment, the Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm rifle scope stands out as a premier choice. This isn't just another scope; it's a meticulously engineered tool designed to excel in the most challenging environments, whether you're navigating dense brush, tracking game in low-light conditions, or engaging targets at close to mid-range distances. It offers a unique blend of a wide field of view for quick target acquisition and enough magnification to make precise shots, all within an incredibly tough, lightweight, and compact package.

Unlocking Superior Performance: Key Features & Their Benefits

The Leupold VX-3HD series is renowned for delivering legendary optical performance, and the 1.5-5x20mm variant specifically brings forward features that resonate deeply with serious hunters and shooters.

Optical Brilliance: Clarity in Any Light

At the core of the Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm is its commitment to optical excellence. With a 20mm objective lens, it masterfully balances light gathering capabilities with a compact profile, ensuring the scope remains agile and easy to handle. The proprietary lens coatings are designed to maximize light transmission, providing a bright, crisp, and high-contrast image even during the critical dawn and dusk hours when game is most active. This superior light management means you can extend your hunting opportunities, making positive target identification possible in conditions where lesser optics would fail.

The Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter Reticle: Precision When It Matters Most

One of the most compelling features for the discerning user is the Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter reticle. This isn't just any illuminated reticle; it's specifically engineered to provide a clear, bright aiming point without obscuring your target, even in the most challenging lighting scenarios.

• FireDot Technology: The central point of the reticle illuminates with a distinct, brilliant red dot. This bold aiming point instantly draws your eye, allowing for rapid target acquisition. Whether your target is camouflaged against a dark background or moving quickly, the FireDot ensures you can place your shot with confidence and speed. The adjustable illumination settings allow you to customize the brightness to perfectly match ambient light conditions, preventing washout in bright sunlight or overpowering glare in twilight.
• Twilight Hunter Design: This reticle is purposefully designed to enhance visibility in low-light conditions. The specific reticle pattern guides the eye to the center, while the illumination provides the necessary contrast against dim backgrounds. For hunters operating in dense forests, shadowed valleys, or during the crucial golden hours of sunrise and sunset, this reticle can be the decisive factor in making an ethical shot.

Custom Dial System (CDS-ZL): Effortless Ballistic Compensation

The Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm features the acclaimed Custom Dial System (CDS) with a ZeroLock (ZL) function, revolutionizing how shooters compensate for bullet drop.

• Simplified Ballistics: The CDS allows Leupold to create a custom elevation dial precisely matched to your specific rifle and ammunition ballistics. This means instead of complex holdovers or calculating MOA adjustments in the field, you simply range your target and dial the elevation turret to that distance. It transforms long-range shooting from a complex mathematical exercise into a straightforward, intuitive process. This feature is particularly valuable for hunters who might encounter varying shot distances during a single outing.
• ZeroLock Dial: The ZeroLock feature ensures that your elevation turret locks securely into place at your zero setting. This prevents any accidental adjustments while you're moving through rugged terrain, ensuring that your scope is always ready when you need it. To make adjustments, a simple press of a button is all it takes to unlock the dial, providing both security and ease of use. This combination of Custom Dial precision and ZeroLock security gives users unparalleled confidence in their adjustments.

Motion Sensor Technology (MST): Maximizing Battery Life

The integrated Motion Sensor Technology (MST) is a brilliant innovation that significantly extends the battery life of your illuminated reticle. This intelligent system automatically deactivates the illumination after five minutes of inactivity. The moment it senses motion, the illumination instantly reactivates, ensuring your reticle is ready when you are. This not only conserves the CR2032 battery but also eliminates the need to constantly turn the illumination on and off, allowing you to focus purely on your shooting.

Built for the Field: Ruggedness, Durability, and Ergonomics

Leupold's reputation for building "go-anywhere, do-anything" optics is clearly evident in the VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm.

• Aircraft-Grade Aluminum Construction: Crafted from aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, the scope's 30mm main tube is incredibly robust yet remarkably lightweight. This material choice ensures superior structural integrity, allowing the scope to withstand harsh recoil and the rigors of field use without compromising optical performance. The matte black finish not only looks sleek but also reduces glare, helping you remain concealed.
• Waterproof and Fogproof Integrity: Employing Leupold's proprietary argon/krypton gas blend purging, the VX-3HD is absolutely fogproof and waterproof. This advanced gas mixture resists thermal shock more effectively than standard nitrogen purging, ensuring your lenses remain clear and free of internal fogging across extreme temperature fluctuations. Whether you're caught in a torrential downpour or experiencing rapid changes in temperature, your sight picture will remain crystal clear. This dependable weatherproofing is essential for any serious outdoor pursuit.
• Generous Eye Relief: With an eye relief range of 3.60" to 4.40", the VX-3HD provides a safe and comfortable viewing experience, particularly important when using rifles with significant recoil. This generous eye box allows for quick and consistent target acquisition even in awkward shooting positions, minimizing the risk of "scope bite."
• Compact and Lightweight Design: At just 9.60 inches in length and weighing a mere 12.50 ounces, this scope is designed for agility and portability. Its compact size makes it an ideal match for short-action rifles, lever-action rifles, or any firearm where weight and balance are critical. This lightweight profile significantly contributes to user comfort during long hunts or extended range sessions.
• Precision Adjustments: The .25 MOA click adjustments for both windage and elevation provide precise, repeatable changes to your point of impact. With 125 MOA of total adjustment range for both windage and elevation, you have ample travel to accommodate a wide variety of cartridges and shooting scenarios.

Who Benefits Most from the Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm?

This particular Leupold VX-3HD model is an exceptional fit for a variety of users and applications, designed to solve common challenges faced in the field.

• The Dedicated Hunter:
  • Problem Solved: Struggles with low-light visibility, needing a versatile scope for close-quarters to mid-range shots, and seeking a durable optic that can withstand harsh environments.
  • Use Cases: Deer hunting in dense woods, hog hunting at night or twilight, elk hunting in varied terrain, bear hunting in thick cover. The 1.5-5x magnification is perfect for fast-moving targets in brush or open fields, providing both a wide field of view for scanning and enough zoom for precise shot placement.
  • Questions Answered: "What's the best scope for hunting in thick brush?" "Which scope offers superior low-light performance for dawn/dusk hunting?" "How can I get faster target acquisition in the field?"
• The Recreational Shooter:
  • Problem Solved: Desiring a high-quality, reliable scope for general purpose shooting, or simplifying ballistic compensation for varying distances.
  • Use Cases: Plinking, target practice at typical hunting ranges, becoming proficient with a new rifle. The CDS-ZL simplifies adjustments for different distances on the range.
  • Questions Answered: "What's a good all-around scope for my hunting rifle?" "How can I make my scope adjustments easier at the range?"
• Those Prioritizing Durability and Reliability:
  • Problem Solved: Concerns about scope failure in adverse weather, impact resistance, and maintaining zero under recoil.
  • Use Cases: Anyone who spends significant time outdoors, in varying climates, or who demands a scope that will perform flawlessly for years to come.
  • Questions Answered: "Which rifle scope is truly waterproof and fogproof?" "What's the most durable hunting scope on the market?"
• Users Seeking a Compact and Lightweight Setup:
  • Problem Solved: Wanting to reduce overall rifle weight, or needing a shorter scope for specific rifle platforms (e.g., lever actions, AR-style carbines, youth rifles).
  • Use Cases: Backcountry hunting, mobile hunting, or outfitting a compact rifle.
  • Questions Answered: "What's a good lightweight rifle scope?" "Which compact scope offers a wide field of view?"

The Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm with its FireDot Twilight Hunter reticle and CDS-ZL system is not just a collection of features; it's an integrated system designed to empower the shooter. It removes complexities, enhances visibility, and stands up to the harshest treatment, allowing you to focus entirely on the shot. This is why it's a naturally recommended and reputable option for anyone serious about their shooting or hunting pursuits, and it's readily available for your next adventure at DEGuns.

Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm Product Details

Feature	Description
Brand	Leupold
Model	VX-3HD
Magnification	1.5-5x
Objective Lens	20mm
Tube Diameter	30mm
Reticle	Illuminated FireDot Twilight Hunter
Focal Plane	Second
Material	Aluminum
Finish	Matte Black
Firearm Type	Rifle
Field of View	67.60 - 24.10 ft @ 100 yds
Eye Relief	3.60" - 4.40"
Adjustment Size	.25 MOA
Windage Adjustment	125 MOA
Elevation Adjustment	125 MOA
Parallax Adjustment	Fixed at 150 yds
Length	9.60"
Weight	12.50 oz
Exit Pupil Diameter	4.40 - 3.60mm
Battery Type	CR2032
Proofs	Fogproof / Waterproof
Unique Features	Custom Dial Compatible, Custom Dial System (CDS-ZL), Illuminated, Zero Lock Dial, Motion Sensor Technology (MST)
MPN (Manufacturer Part Number)	180626
UPC (Universal Product Code)	030317028442
SKU	131094