
Referenced GAT Daily, Features Aimpoint H2
In this review guide, we are taking a look at the Leupold’s 35mm Mark 5HD 7-35X56 rifle scope; First focal plane, ergonomic design, 35mm main tube for the widest range of turret adjustments for extreme long-range shooting, various sophisticated reticle selections for any precision rifles.
There are many great options out there, and this is Leupold's offering for precision shooters after listening to the community and finally made a great product that we have waited for a very long time.
The Mark 5 HD has many different models available, and if you're interested learning more about them, please click here.
We will go over the core specs, features, benefits and who the ideal customer is for the mark 5.
- Core Specification of Leupold’s Mark 5
- What's comes in the box
- Shooters who benefit from this scope
- New features
- Reticle Choices
Let's get started
Core Specs
- Magnification: 7-35X
- Objective Lens: 56mm
- Focal Plane: 1st Focal Point
- Exit Pupil: 1.9 - 8mm
- Eye Relief: 3.6 - 3.8 in
- Overall Length; 15.7 inches
- Weight: 33 ounces
- Tube Size: 35mm main tube
- Material: 6061 T6 Aerospace Aluminum
- FOV at 100 yards: Low Magnification—16.8
- FOV at 100 yards: High—3.3
- MOA Elevation Adjustment Range: 100
- MOA Windage Adjustment Range: 50
- Backed by Leupold’s Warranty for Life, the Mark 5 is covered if anything goes wrong!
What’s Included When You Buy It
- 7-35x56 Mark 5HD Riflescope
- Manual
- Lens Sun Shade
- Lens Covers
- Allen Wrench
- Leupold Sticker
- Leupold Lifetime Warranty (Even if you're not the original buyer)
Mark 5 is Ideal for the Following Shooters
- Long-range shooters past 1000 yards with bolt guns and gas guns
- Hunting
- Military
- Competition
- Shooters who want intuitive features
Referenced Powered By Ceros
Whether you're using a bolt gun or a soft recoil semi-auto rifle, this scope is ready for spotting the target and clearly view the bullet impact at long ranges.
Leupold’s Mark 5HD is a middle-ground, high-precision scope that excels in a variety of environments. The Mark 5 will not win the best at any single feature. However, the Leupold Mark 5HD holds its ground against the best scopes in its class.
A 56mm objective lens and 35mm main body give the Mark 5 excellent light-gathering abilities and wide turret adjustments for shooting past 1000 - 2000 yards.
In addition, the first focal plane reticle makes windage and elevation accurate throughout the entire magnification range.
Core Mark 5 HD 7-35x56 Features
Great User Ergonomics
Long-distance competitive shooters who enjoy targeting in the prone position or firing off a bench rest will love this Leupold scope.
Included fast eyepiece adjustment - Any shooter can get behind the scope and adjust the eyepiece to fit their vision need
Added non-bolt interfering magnification throw lever - The scope has an integrated throw level built in the riflescope magnification dial for fast adjustment, and the throw lever stops at the 1 o clock, which doesn't interfere with the action of the bolt on a bolt gun even if the bolt is oversized
Referenced Recoil Web
Improved rotation identification - First rotation and the lock button stays protruded, second & third rotations, the button recedes back into the housing, so the shooter doesn't have to guess which rotation the turret is on
Lighter than other 7-35X scope - With all the great features on this scope, the scope weighs less than most scopes in its class
Improved Turret System
- Wide internal click adjustment for long-range - The 35mm large-diameter erector system gives shooters the widest internal click elevation adjustment range compared to a 34mm for long-range shooters up to 4000 yards
- Features intuitive windage indexing line - It allows the shooter to work the windage adjustment and stay behind the scope without changing the shooting position
Referenced Alabama Arsenal
- Never get lost in the turret rotation - Unlike scopes with 4-5 turret rotations, getting confused on which rotation the turret is in results in frustration and missed shots, the Mark 5 HD only has 3 rotations to make things easier to remember and navigate
- Prevents inadvertent adjustment - M5C3 ZeroLock Adjustment Dial System requires the shooter to press on the button to turn
- Precision click value for long range - Turrets are 1/10th MRAD (Most are ¼ MOA or MRAD) for precise elevation and windage with 10.5 MRADs per rotation
- Audible & Tactile clicks - For positive turret adjustment without missing or over travel
Referenced Sportsmansnewstv
- Easy to read turret numbers - Numbers are stacked on top of one another for easy reading, the bottom for the first rotation, middle for the second rotation, and the top for the third rotation
If you're not sure to dial or hold, please check out this article here to learn the pros and cons for each technique.
Low Light Performance
When most people think that the 35mm tube is responsible for maximizing light gathering capability, in fact it's the Twilight technology and other components of the scope.
Twilight technology - It allows better color and contrast consistency in low-light environments. It adds up to 30 minutes of illumination while eliminating 90% more glare-producing light than its competitors.
Shooters can see a high-definition image from premium Mark 5 glass with a distinctive edge-to-edge clarity.
Crisp image at long range - The gradual slow transition from 56mm to 35mm throughout the front of the scope body to prevent harsh light bend & lengthens objective focal length inside the scope tube, which gives a sharper image resolution, less lens stacking behind the objective lens to correct aberrations and keeps the weight and cost down.
So does scope tube diameter size matter? click here to learn more
Diamond Coat 2 is an updated exterior lens coating treatment. The ion-assisted coating delivers better light transmission and abrasion resistance. DiamondCoat2 also offers brightness, clarity, and contrast in a variety of environments.
Eye relief on the Mark 5 is good enough just like other scopes, at 3.6 to 3.8 inches. However, add the right base and rings to the setup, and shooters may find their perfect position.
There are several definitions of a scopes eye box; this author is most comfortable with the following.
Mark 5 Reticle Choices
Referenced Leupold, Features Ruger Precision Rifle
The Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35X56 comes with multiple reticle options. If you are new to long range shooting and don't quite understand how to use the dots and lines on a reticle, please visit our reticle guide to learn the basics it will tremendously help you pick the right reticle intelligently.
Mil-Dot
- TMR (Mk), illuminated and non: Spec Sheet (Tactical Milling Reticle), Uses 0.5 mil increments hash marks rather than dots for improved ranging. Aiming points for windage and elevation also, the reticle expands on existing Mil-dot designs.
- CCH Reticle: CCH stands for Combat Competition Hunter, an uncluttered grid-style .25 mil increments reticle features aiming points, moving target holds, open center crosshair at every intersection that is optimized for speed & clarity
- Horus H-59: Horus Vision Mil based design. Grid style with precise aiming points, with full function of holdovers.
- Tremor 3, illuminated and non: Horus Vision mil based system. Numerous aiming points. Centralized dots at crosshairs, chevron mil markers, and rapid changing marks.
MOA
- TMOA Plus: Spec Sheet, Rear Focal Plane, TMR style with MOA configuration. Open aiming point compensates for crosswinds and vertical holdovers for bullet drop—non-caliber specific reticle.
- Impact-60 MOA: Spec Sheet, Patented Leupold design, FFP, and Wind hold dots. Vertical grid down to 60 MOA for straightforward and quick follow on shots.
Recommended Scope Rings
35mm scope rings or mounts are what you need for the Mark 5HD 7-35X56, and we recommend buying high height mounts due to the large 56mm objective lens to prevent it from touching the bore or the flat top of the rifle.
Ade Advanced 35mm Tactical Rings by Ade Advanced Optics: Hex bolts for maximum hold, designed for a Picatinny rail. They designd the rings for automatic tactical weapons under extreme temperatures.
Geissele Super Precision MK5 is specifically designed to work with the Leupold's Mark 5 line of optics. It's optimized for use with SR25 and AR10 variant uppers providing up to 1400 lbs of clamping force for absolute zero retention and scope alignment from a single piece 7075 T6 aluminum billet.
Westhunter: Offset Cantilever Dual ring with bubble levels. Aircraft-grade alloys and extremely lightweight. Westhunter rings hold up under heavy recoil, with a quick-release system.
MDT Elite Scope Rings by MDT: Top of the line rings built for a lifetime of heavy use. MDT rings are heavy and durable. Black matte finish, with extra high fit.
Mark 4 VS Mark 5 - Any Difference
The Mark 5 family scope line isn't exactly the replacement for Mark 4. It's just an evolution of the family, what makes the Mark 5 special is incorporating everything Leupold has mastered in building scopes in the past, to meet the demand of the uprising popularity of extreme long-range precision shooting for hunters and competition, and making it more affordable without breaking the bank in the $2000 range.
When you compare the Mark 5 in the $2000 price range to scopes in the $3000, $4000 or $5000, it's a great value product that Leupold has created.
It's mostly designed from the shooter's view point, and Leupold has spent a lot of time building this scope line learning from people who have done a lot of competition and combat-related shooting. If you would like a scope just around $1000 please check out this scope guide here.
If you're interested buying the Mark 5 HD 7-35X scope please be sure to click on our link below for the best deal plus free shipping.
Testimonials
Dirk from OpticsPlanet says, “Excellent scope! Very nice high quality couldn't ask for anything better. I was very pleasantly surprised on how quickly my scope arrived to my home.”
“I have had the scope for about four weeks, and it is growing on me. The parallax adjustment is really good. The turrets are really good ... crisp and the clicks are audible. I like the distance between the clicks. It is a true 30 mil scope and after I zeroed at 100; I have over 27 Mils of elevation travel.” Chris from SnipersHide Forum
Dogma from Soldier Systems gives us this update on Leupold glass, “As I understand it Leupold’s glass blanks are sourced to meet their requirements, with each one inspected. After passing inspection the blanks are ground, polished and coated to meet requirements, then inspected again before assembly into the body of scope, also made by Leupold, then inspected once again after assembly.”
Additional Resources
If you would like to check out other scopes similar to the Leupold Mark 5 HD or other scopes, please check out these guides below:
Best Long Range Precision Scopes Overall
Wrap Up
After reviewing several products, I have come to the conclusion; Leupold is unlike any other technology company. This American brand scope builder does not rest on its laurels and patents. There is no area of its products which cannot be improved.
Other technology companies, not just scope builders, establish a patent or a product and that is it. No more is heard from that company again. Not Leupold. Take the company’s turrets as an example. It is not enough to just have a zero stop system. Leupold must develop its own patented turrets that make their scopes so much better.
Yes, Leupolds high-end scopes are pricey; however, the company knows its customers. There are products at every price point along a steep range. Scopes start at a couple of hundred dollars going up to several thousand, and each one gets a lifetime warranty.
Leupold is a company families can stay with for generations.