What is the best Leupold scope for elk hunting on the market? Continue reading to learn more.
Elk hunting can be very challenging as much as it can be fun. To be successful at elk hunting, you must have a reliable firearm and, more importantly, a rifle scope with the necessary features for an accurate shot regardless of the conditions.
With that in mind, consider the Leupold rifle scopes, which many shooters highly acclaim. The Leupold brand has been around for a while, meaning the maker has honed their craft to produce high-quality scopes.
Here, we will look at some of the rifle scopes from Leupold that stand out and can be used for elk hunting.
Lets begin.
Best Leupold Scope for Elk Hunting
1) Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope is without a doubt the best Leupold scope for elk hunting, the scope is designed to provide unmatched performance even in low light conditions.
This scope is equipped with a 1/4 MOA Finger Click adjustment mechanism, ensuring precise and reliable adjustments even in the field. Its 3:1 zoom ratio affords you versatile magnification options, allowing you to effortlessly transition between close-quarters and mid-range shots, a crucial asset when tracking elusive elk.
Built to withstand the rigors of the hunt, the VX-Freedom scope boasts scratch-resistant lenses, guaranteeing clear and unobstructed visuals for years to come.
What truly sets it apart is Leupold’s signature Twilight Light Management System, which enhances low-light visibility. This feature becomes invaluable during dawn and dusk, times when elk are most active.
Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum, the scope is waterproof and fogproof, ensuring its performance remains uncompromised regardless of weather conditions. The one-inch main tube provides both a durable foundation and a sleek profile that doesn’t obstruct your line of sight.
In the context of elk hunting, quick target acquisition is paramount, and the VX-Freedom delivers with its thin lines at the center. These lines facilitate swift aiming, making it easier to lock onto your target.
The scope’s reticle, the most popular in the world, coupled with its rear (second) focal plane design, ensures that your aim remains precise and consistent, regardless of magnification.
Furthermore, the VX-Freedom’s ability to stand out against cover in low-light situations grants you a significant advantage in spotting elk amidst foliage and shadows.
Its carefully engineered features create a synergy that maximizes your hunting prowess. Whether you’re stalking through dense woods or waiting patiently at dawn, the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope is your reliable companion, elevating your elk hunting experience to new heights.
Pros
- Twilight Light Management System
- 7 Brightness settings
- Waterproof and Fogproof
- Strong and durable 6061-T6 Aluminum construction
- Lightweight and rugged performance
- Incredible low-light performance
- Designed, machined, & assembled in the USA
- Quick target acquisition
Cons
- Non-Illuminated
2) Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm Riflescope
This is a rifle scope that’s effective for mid to long-range targets. It boasts a wide field of view which is useful in tracking targets as well as situation awareness while hunting.
The Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm Riflescope also has the Twilight Max HD Light Management System. This system adds up to 30 minutes of shooting light, offering best-in-class glare reduction and edge-to-edge HD lens clarity.
The system ensures outstanding brightness, color consistency, and resolution, which is needed to dominate the first and last 15 minutes of the day.
Additionally, it is equipped with an Illuminated FireDot Duplex CDS reticle, which makes it ideal for low-light conditions. The in-scope electronic level simplifies mounting and improves long-range accuracy. This means that you can easily make accurate shots in challenging conditions.
Pros
- Excellent light management system
- Illuminated reticle with 7 brightness settings
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- Customizable dial system
- Wide field-of-view
- Ideal for low light conditions
- Rugged construction
- Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Optical Coating
Cons
- No BDC Dial
3) Leupold VX-6HD 1-6x24mm Rifle Scope- Best LPVO
Leupold VX-6HD 1-6x24mm Rifle Scope is the best Leupold scope if you are looking for an LPVO. It comes packed with impressive features to deliver exceptional performance across various shooting scenarios, this scope is tailored to meet the demands of modern shooters who require adaptability, precision, and reliability.
The scope features Leupold’s 2nd Generation Argon/Krypton Waterproofing, ensuring that your optics remain clear and unobstructed in rain, snow, and humidity. Its 30mm main tube not only augments durability but also allows for better light transmission, enabling bright and crisp visuals.
With a remarkable 6:1 zoom ratio, this scope offers the versatility needed for quick target acquisition in close-quarters engagements while providing ample magnification for precise shots at extended distances. Blackened lens edges enhance contrast, providing you with a clearer sight picture.
A generous eye box coupled with the Extreme Fast-Focus Eyepiece ensures rapid target acquisition, a crucial advantage in dynamic shooting situations. Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Coating and lead-free construction underscore Leupold’s commitment to sustainability and protection against the elements.
The VX-6HD integrates Motion Sensor Technology, conserving battery life while providing instant activation when you’re ready to shoot. The scope also features a reversible throw lever for swift magnification changes and the Twilight Max Light Management System for enhanced visibility during low-light hours.
Pros
- Fiber-optic powered red dot
- Rugged and weatherproof performance
- Lightweight design
- Unparalleled low-light performance
- Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Optical coating
- Extreme Fast-Focus Eyepiece
- Motion Sensor Technology
- Push Button Illumination
Cons
- Not ideal for long-range applications
4) Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Rifle Scope
This Leupold scope is the best choice for hunting elk at 1000 yards. The scope is specifically designed for long-range shots and is praised for its precision, clarity, and innovative capabilities to help you improve your long-range shooting.
The scope has a lightweight and small design, and it defies expectations by packing amazing power into a form factor that does not limit mobility.
Engineered to excel even in adverse conditions, the Mark 5HD is fully waterproof and fogproof, ensuring that weather won’t impede your sight picture. Its package includes a lens shade and cover, demonstrating Leupold’s commitment to comprehensive protection and long-term reliability.
The scope features a 5:1 zoom ratio, providing you with an unparalleled spectrum of magnification options from 5x to 25x. The high-speed power selector, complete with an integrated throw lever, grants you swift adjustments, a crucial advantage in dynamic shooting scenarios.
Enabling you to acquire targets swiftly, the fast-focus eyepiece ensures that your reticle is crisp and clear at any magnification setting. The precision side focus guarantees that parallax is eliminated, allowing for impeccable accuracy even at extended ranges.
The Mark 5HD boasts a substantial 35mm main tube, accommodating superior light transmission and ensuring that your sight picture remains vivid and clear.
This scope is bolstered by Leupold’s Full Lifetime Guarantee, a testament to their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and the enduring quality of their products.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Scratch-Resistant Optical Coating
- Shockproof, Waterproof, and fog proof performance
- Comes with a Lens shade and cover
- 5:1 zoom ratio
- Features a high-speed power selector with an integrated throw lever
- Precision side focus
- 7 brightness settings
- First Focal Plane (FFP)
Cons
- Quite expensive
5) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Rifle Scope
This is another of the best Leupold scope for elk hunting, it is designed to excel under the most demanding lighting conditions, Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System sets new standards in light transmission.
Whether faced with challenging lighting scenarios or direct sunlight, this system’s unrivaled glare reduction ensures a clear, unobstructed image, while its resolution and clarity satisfy the discerning demands of professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Leupold’s pioneering Custom Dial System (CDS) empowers you to tailor your turret to your precise ballistics and environmental conditions. This system streamlines your shooting experience—range the target, dial the customized number, and confidently aim with pinpoint accuracy.
Enriching the scope’s adaptability, the Second Focal Plane design ensures consistent reticle size even as magnification changes. This design suits low-light hunting scenarios and scopes without hash marks for range estimation.
With the ZeroLock system, accidental dial movement is eradicated, locked securely in place to uphold your settings. Complementing this, the Zero Stop mechanism acts as a safeguard, preventing inadvertent full dial revolutions.
Equipped with the innovative Guard-ion lens coating, the scope remains impervious to dirt and water, presenting a perpetually clear and crisp image. The Guard-ion hydrophobic coating guarantees a maintenance-free viewing experience.
The Leupold VX-5HD’s ruggedness matches its optical excellence. Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, it has been engineered with advanced gasses and sealing methods that endure extreme temperatures, elevation changes, and shocks. Its internal optics remain moisture-free and crystal clear for life, ensuring you can rely on its performance in any environment.
In the Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Rifle Scope, precision meets innovation, delivering an optical masterpiece that excels across all levels of hunting and shooting. From the ethereal glow of dawn to the dusky challenges of twilight, this scope equips you with the tools to seize the moment with unwavering accuracy and unmatched clarity.
Pros
- Durable and strong 6061-T6 Aluminum construction
- Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Optical coating
- Side Focus Parallax
- 8 brightness settings
- Waterproof,fogproof and shockproof performance
- Wide magnification range
Cons
- No BDC Dial
6) Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm Rifle Scope
Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm Rifle Scope is the best Leupold scope for elk hunting if you are using a 223 thanks to advanced features with a rugged design for unparalleled accuracy and clarity.
Designed to accommodate higher magnifications, the VX-5HD’s longer eye relief and generous eyebox present a panoramic field of view that’s complemented by edge-to-edge brightness. The result is a full, clear-sight picture that fills the eyepiece, providing you with unhampered awareness and precision regardless of your shooting position.
Enhancing the durability and longevity of the VX-5HD is the twin bias spring mechanism, which applies up to 30 percent more holding force on the erector system. This ingenious design virtually eliminates backlash and minimizes stress on the scope’s internal components, translating into extended performance.
The VX-5HD’s 30mm main tube not only imparts remarkable strength but also facilitates a wider range of windage and elevation adjustments. Constructed from 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum, the scope is built to withstand the rigors of the field while maintaining a lightweight profile.
This scope’s exceptional light management sets new standards in visual acuity. Lens coatings maximize light transmission in blue and red spectrums, yielding heightened contrast for crisp and vivid images. Mechanical structures are strategically employed to control glare, ensuring that you can discern antler tines in the dimmest shadows, even after others have called it a day.
The VX-5HD is equipped with the Guard-Ion rain-shedding coating, a resilient shield that combats scratches, water, dirt, and fingerprints. This protective layer guarantees a perpetually pristine lens surface, maintaining your scope’s clarity in the face of challenging conditions.
Empowering your shooting experience, the CDS-ZL2 elevation adjustment dial delivers swift and precise sight-in. The ZeroLock button releases up to 38MOA of elevation adjustment, re-locking seamlessly for consistent re-zeroing and preventing accidental movement.
Simplicity reigns in the Pop Up Rezero windage adjustments. Easily calibrated without tools, the dial resets to the zero mark, secured by a thread-on aluminum cover that safeguards your settings.
Incorporating cutting-edge innovations, the Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm Rifle Scope emerges as the ultimate companion for your .223 pursuits. From optimizing light transmission to combatting environmental challenges, this scope affirms its superiority in every detail, ensuring that your shooting experience remains precise, clear, and resolute.
Pros
- Guard-Ion Rain Shedding Optical Coating
- Long eye relief and generous eye box
- Easy windage and elevation adjustment
- Strong and durable 6061-T6 Aluminum
- Waterproof,fogproof, and shockproof
- Proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend
Cons
- No BDC dial
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Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Leupold Scope for Elk Hunting.
A scope with a reticle that matches your hunting or shooting needs will aid in quick and accurate target acquisition. But with so many reticle options available, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. Here is how you can choose the best reticle depending on your needs.
Low-Light Hunting
Elk hunting mostly occurs in low-light settings such as dawn or dusk. In these lighting conditions, the best reticles you should choose from are Duplex, Hunt-Plex, or FireDot reticles. They offer superb low-light visibility while maintaining an accurate aiming point. Getting a scope with an illuminated reticle for hunting in low-light conditions is also wise.
Long-Range Hunting
The best reticle for long-distance hunting and shooting accounts for bullet drop. If you shoot 500 to 600 yards away, go for a scope with a Boone and Crockett (BDC), Wind-Plex, or TMOA reticle. These reticles are designed to help you aim more accurately at longer ranges.
Tactical Shooting
For long-range tactical shooting, go for an MOA or MIL reticle. Leupold offers a special line of scopes for tactical shooting. These scopes come with a first focal plane PR2-MOA or PR2-MIL reticle, delivering exceptional speed and precision at long ranges without cluttering. Leupold also has some of it scopes built with an AR Ballistic reticle which is also ideal for long-range tactical shooting enthusiasts.
Choosing Scope Mounts
Scope mounts are manufactured to fit specific rifles. Therefore, you must get the correct scope mounts depending on the rifle that you have. The right mounting system is key to getting and staying on target. Here are the Leupold scope mounts you can choose from.
Standard (STD) Mounts
Standard mounts are the best scope mounts if you intend to use the scope on a caliber that is less than .300 Win Mag. This scope mount comes in 1-piece and 2-piece steel bases with windage adjustment features. They also provide a platform where you can mount a scope on a rifle with a receiver that doesn’t align properly with the barrel.
Dual Dovetail (DD) Mounts
A Dual Dovetail mount is a traditional hunting style mount in 1-piece and 2-piece steel bases. It also has extra dovetail features on the mount’s front and back. This is if you want the ideal scope mount for standard to magnum calibers.
Quick Release Mount (QR)
This scope mount has 1-piece and 2-piece steel bases that accept QR rings. This is your ideal scope mount if you have a muzzleloader or a big game rifle. With it, you will be able to change from one optic to the other while in the field and still be able to maintain zero.
Cross Slot
This is your ideal scope mount if your rifle has a Weaver or Picatinny rail. All cross-slot mounts are weaver-style rings compatible with standard weaver and Picatinny rails. They are designed for standard to magnum calibers.
SFP or FFP
After selecting your ideal reticle type, you should consider where the reticle is housed next. It can either be on the first or second focal plane. The main difference between the two is that a first focal plane reticle changes its size with a change in magnification. In contrast, a second focal plane reticle stays constant in all magnifications.
When it comes to long-range target shooting and hunting, it is best to get an FFP scope. On the other hand, an SFP scope is your best option if you want to get reticle visibility through every magnification range.
Understanding Magnification and Zoom Range
Magnification is one of the most important features of a scope. When choosing a scope, consider how far you will be hunting and the environment you will be hunting in. This should guide you in choosing the right magnification.
Go for a high magnification if you shoot long distances in wide-open plains. On the other hand, look for a medium-powered scope if you will be hunting close to mid-ranges.
Leupold Optical Systems
Leupold rifle scopes have three optical systems; professional grade optical system, elite optical system, and advanced optical system. At the top end is the professional grade system, which provides brilliantly clear and color-accurate images even in critically low light conditions.
Scopes with the Elite optical system also provide stupendous image clarity in all lighting conditions, which makes them ideal for virtually all hunting applications. Lastly, scopes with an Advanced optical system are the most cost-effective, and they still deliver outstanding optical performance even in dismal environments.
Best Leupold Scope for Elk Hunting-FAQs
1) What makes Leupold scopes the best on the market?
Leupold scopes are known for their high-quality optics, durability, and reliability. They use advanced technology and materials to create scopes that provide clear and crisp images, even in low-light conditions. Leupold also offers various scope models and features to fit various shooting needs.
2) What is the difference between Leupold’s VX-3i and VX-5HD scopes?
The VX-3i is a lighter and more compact scope, making it ideal for hunters and shooters who want a lightweight setup. The VX-5HD, on the other hand, offers a larger objective lens and more advanced features, making it better suited for long-range shooting and tactical applications.
3) What is the Twilight Max HD Light Management System?
The Twilight Max HD Light Management System is a technology used in Leupold scopes that optimizes light transmission through the scope. This technology allows for better visibility in low-light conditions, making identifying and acquiring targets easier.
4) Are Leupold scopes waterproof?
Yes, Leupold scopes are designed to be rugged and waterproof, making them suitable for use in harsh environments and inclement weather.
Conclusion
A Leupold scope is efficient, reliable, and easy to use, therefore most hunters favor them for elk hunting. They are designed to provide any hunter or tactical rifle user with long-lasting performance. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting, we trust that this review helped you choose the best Leupold scope.