Hunting riflescopes
Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL Duplex Riflescope lists at $599.99. Published figures: magnification 3.5-10x, objective lens 40 mm, tube diameter 25.4 mm. It suits first and last light hunting where the extra glass earns its money.
A genuine step up in low light performance over the VX-Freedom at the same objective size, which is the half hour either side of legal light where most hunting is decided.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
On this page
Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL specifications
The Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL publishes magnification 3.5-10x, objective lens 40 mm, tube diameter 25.4 mm, at a listed price of $599.99.
Sourced figure
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 3.5-10x |
| Objective lens | 40 mm |
| Tube diameter | 25.4 mm |
| Focal plane | Second |
| Reticle | Duplex |
Specifications above are the manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing. Figures the maker does not publish, such as total elevation travel or exact eye relief, are omitted here rather than estimated.
What the manufacturer says about it
The manufacturer own listing bullets, quoted rather than paraphrased so you can judge the claims yourself. These are marketing copy, not independent measurement.
Leupold lists 5 headline points for the VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL, quoted here verbatim.
| Manufacturer listing point |
|---|
| Model #180617 - VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 Riflescope with a Duplex Reticle, CDS-ZL and a Matte finish |
| The CDS-ZL (ZeroLock) provides quick dialing of elevation adjustment while eliminating accidental dial movement with the push-button ZeroLock system. It also features Leupold's award-winning Custom Dial System (CDS), which allows shooters to order a laser-marked bullet-drop dial to match their exact ballistics and conditions. |
| Leupold's Elite Optical System offers excellent dawn-to-dusk light transmission for a bright image when it matters most, elite-level glare reduction in harsh light, and the resolution and clarity that diehard hunters and shooters demand. |
| The removable, low-profile throw lever makes changing magnifications quick and easy. It includes a thread protector plug to use when the lever is removed. |
| Designed, Machined and Assembled in the USA. 100% Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and backed by Leupold's legendary customer care |
What this optic suits
Best for: first and last light hunting where the extra glass earns its money.
Category: hunting riflescopes. The honest test for any optic is whether its numbers match your rifle and the distances you actually shoot rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what ring height you need, what exit pupil the magnification gives you and how much elevation the distance demands, using the calculators on this site, then check this model against those answers.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 CDS Duplex Riflescope
$299.99 Full specificationsThe CDS turret is the point: Leupold will cut you a custom elevation dial marked in yards for your load, so dialling a come-up stops being arithmetic and becomes reading a number off the turret.
Best for: a hunter who wants to dial rather than hold over
Check price on Amazon
Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 Riflescope, Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
$299.00 Full specificationsThe 50 mm objective buys a 5 mm exit pupil at 10x, which is about as much as a middle-aged eye can actually use, and it does it without needing high rings on most rifles.
Best for: low light hunting without going to a 56 mm objective
Check price on Amazon
Burris Fullfield 3-12x42 SC Riflescope
$259.36 Full specificationsTwelve power and a 42 mm objective is the sensible ceiling for a walking rifle: enough magnification to read a far shoulder, not so much that the exit pupil collapses at last light.
Best for: an all-round hunting scope with a little more reach than a 3-9x
Check price on Amazon
Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 Riflescope, Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
$249.00 Full specificationsThe same configuration as the Crossfire II with better glass and a cleaner image at the top of the magnification range, which is exactly where a cheaper scope goes soft and dark.
Best for: the buy-once hunting scope at a sensible price
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Magnification | Objective lens | Tube diameter | Focal plane | Reticle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL Duplex Riflescope | $599.99 | 3.5-10x | 40 mm | 25.4 mm | Second | Duplex |
| Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 CDS Duplex Riflescope | $299.99 | 3-9x | 40 mm | 25.4 mm | Second | Duplex |
| Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 Riflescope, Dead-Hold BDC Reticle | $299.00 | 3.5-10x | 50 mm | 25.4 mm | Second | Dead-Hold BDC |
| Burris Fullfield 3-12x42 SC Riflescope | $259.36 | 3-12x | 42 mm | 25.4 mm | Second | - |
A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We leave it blank rather than estimating it.
How we chose
We did not test these optics in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets, published optical and ballistic formulas, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real objective diameter, a real tube size, a real ring height or a real exit pupil rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a figure is shooter convention rather than a sourced number we label it, and where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating it.
Sources
- Leupold published specifications for the VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL cost?
It was listed at $599.99 when this page was last compiled. Optics pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before committing to a purchase or budgeting a whole setup around it.
Is the Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40 CDS-ZL right for my rifle?
First and last light hunting where the extra glass earns its money. Beyond that, the honest test is whether it physically fits and whether its numbers match the distances you shoot. Check the ring height its objective needs and the exit pupil its magnification gives before deciding.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others.
Will this fit my rifle and my rings?
Check three things in this order. The tube diameter has to match the rings exactly, because a 30 mm ring will not hold a 34 mm tube. The objective bell has to clear the barrel at the ring height you own. And the rail or base pattern on the receiver has to match the mount. Those three account for most returns in this category.
Is it worth buying this rather than the cheaper alternative?
Only if the thing it does better is something you actually need. The alternatives listed above each trade something specific, and on a first setup the money almost always does more good spent on a solid mount, a torque driver and a level than on upgrading the glass by one model.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, published optical and ballistic formulas, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are shooter convention rather than sourced numbers, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Ballistic figures come from a point mass model using the ballistic coefficient the maker publishes, so treat them as a starting point and confirm them on paper at a measured distance. Confirm your firearm is unloaded with the action open before you mount, level, torque or bore sight anything. Verify a zero only on a supervised range or a safe, legal backstop, know what lies beyond your target, and follow the law where you hunt and shoot, including rules on land access and permitted cartridges.