I am about to purchase a leupold VX5HD 3-15x44 with firedot for my 300PRC. I have a bushnell dmr that I have actually loved. But on top of a proof carbon fiber barrel it is so heavy it defeats the purpose and throws balance way off. So I had to find one that was on a diet. Any negative input before I do this?

I have that same scope (with CDS). No complaints. Love the fire dot, and the CDS is dead on to 400.

Seen enough malfunctions to not trust Leopold for tracking, and return to zero. That is, if you're going to dial it.

I have it, without the fire dot. It's a great scope. Fantastic glass, excellent in low light, holds zero very well and as stated above the CDS is on the money. I actually shot an 8" plate this weekend, 300 yards, no problem. I been hunting with this scope two years and I have made some great shots on game in some tough hunting situations. I could say a whole lot more about how well this scope has performed for me. I have dialed this scope probably 15 times and killed game with it. Today actually.

Well, we got differing opinions within first two posts..lol

A little more info.. I do dial. 300 yards with a 300PRC does not require dialing. I do enjoy further ranges out to about 750.

Has anyone else seen this scope not track or return to zero? “FiremanJG” not knocking on you at all. I know you see a lot of glass in class. Just curious about other guys that have time behind these at decent distance.

No, flawless for me and I dial it often. I've got a lot of posts on the scope, the CDS dial and how it works for me in hunting situations. I was about to post my hunt from this weekend. I confirmed zero at 100 yard range, dialed to 300 and hit 8" steel, back to 100
and then this morning made the best shot of my life on a hog. I take this scope a lot of places, on a 4 wheeler, a back pack, slung over my shoulder and cover miles on foot. I've pre-range spots in my set up area, see a shot opportunity and have dialed out to 420 and made kill shots. Done it a dozen or more times and more than I can count with out dialing it. If I were to try and guess, its returned to zero 100 or more times counting long range steel. It's a great hunting set up for the way I hunt.

I don’t crank on the tracking that much, so I can’t say it’ll last forever. But if it doesn’t, they’ll fix it for free forever. The one thing I needed a bunch was the fire dot. Dark evening, dim shooting lane, black hog, black crosshairs - that combo was giving me fits. Lost more than a few hogs due to that. But not now. Put the fire dot on the pig, and I know where the bullet is going.

I recently mentioned shooting a hog at 300 yards in very dim light. Could barely see the hog with Leica binocs. The light was going fast. With the help of a small flashlight, I set the CDS. Lit the fire dot and shot the hog. Found him later. Without the CDS and fire dot, I doubt I’d have made the shot. The only flaw in the whole deal was not being able to see the CDS numbers in the dark, a situation I had not anticipated. I have now added tiny glow in the dark tape markers to 200, 250, and 300 yard marks.

Ya know, upon further reflection, this scope is probably more of a hunting scope than it is a target scope. If a fellow is going to ring steel out to 750 yards or more on a regular basis, I’m sure there are FFP scopes more suited to that. But, for what I need, it’s just about perfect.

Trying to speak a LITTLE more objectively (I truly mean just a little more), the return rate on these is FAR lower than something from Vortex, who, frankly, doesn't have a comparable offering. Pretty similar to Swaro, Pretty similar to NF on defective rate, but in a very apple vs. orange sort of way. In this price point, my "decision" flow chart goes something like this for my customers-

Do you need a 30mm tube (how far out are you dialing for)? If yes, get the Leupold.
If no- How many distance setting do you need?
-4 or Less, consider Swarovski Z3 w/ BTS
->4 stick with the Leupoldv w/ CDS
Will the couple hundred extra break the deal?
-Yes. Go with the Leupold
- No. Go with the Swarovski.

Bottom line, you'll be happy with the Leupold. As a percentage, their "failure" rate lags only behind NF for us, and they don't offer anything comparable to that feature set.

I’d throw out the new Razor HD LHT and the only thing I’d say that NF has that would compare price and weight is the NXS 2.5-10x42 which is less magnification, so does it really compare? Only you can be that judge but they are options. The new US Optics TS line is light too but I don’t like the fact their made in China (unclebubba pointed that out last time I brought it up and it’s kept me from buying one).

For a hunting scope I’d bet Leupold has more out there sitting on top of rifles than anyone, there is a reason for that...they have pretty good (if not great) glass and they work. If you’re a turrent spinner then I’d do some box testing to validate the scope you have returns to zero acurately. Leupold has been known for having turrets that don’t return perfectly to zero.

Crazy as it seems, I have a VX1 4-12x that was on a rifle I bought...It’s impressed me for a pure hunting scope and by all means it should be a piece. A couple times I’ve started to replace it but why? It just works and I’ve dialed it to kill stuff and it returns to zero close enough for a hunting scope. It’s still on close enough to be minute of coyote.

OP, I see that you're in Argyle. If you want to look through mine holler at me. I'll meet you at Quail Creek. If you want, I'll let you dial it, shoot it, dial it again, shoot it again. I don't need much of an excuse to go to the range.

I haven't had any problems with my Mark 5HD returning to zero or tracking. I've shot several matches with it hunted with it and shoot at my range weekly dialing from 400-1000 . I don't know about the CDS on the hunting scopes I've had a few but didn't dial them much.

I have worked in the corporate office of 2 of the largest outdoor retailers and what this guy is saying is correct. Leupold, Swarvo and NF have by far the lowest return rate. I use the first 2 and keep jumping off the fence on the Night Force only because of the weight. When I get a little older and stop walking as much when hunting, I will probably get a NF as they seem to have the better glass and internals, but not by very much.

Guys I appreciate the responses, I bought the vx5HD. I will report in once I give it a work out.