Did a little Leupold CDS test

[magnatecman]

I conducted a little informal tracking test of one of my Leupolds, a VX3 4.5-14x40 with CDS to get a better idea of the reliability of the dial to return to zero as well as dialing up for distant targets. I read a lot of forums and what not where folks are bagging on this system. I personally have not had an issue with them, but I’m not a hardcore knob twister either. Just thought I’d share my experience with the CDS in case anyone is wondering.

6329FCE1-8539-48A3-AFA1-D82A20F2BF83 by Cornivorus, on Flickr


B12F59D5-4272-4DC4-803F-F0D63412DF53 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

I fired twenty shots in total, alternating between the steel target at 500 yards then to the paper target at 100 yards. So ten shots at each target. I managed to hit the steel 7 out of 10 tries, which I blame the wind for those misses. It was partly cloudy and each time a cloud was over head the winds changed/picked up on me.


C69127EA-4BDE-4C7E-9765-BDC0FA6BDBE7 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

As you can see it is not perfect, but for my hunting use where I seldom need to dial I feel it is certainly usable. If I were using it for longer range and in competition I would definitely want something better. Also this scope was zeroed at 200 yards so that’s why poi is high.

 

[LoonWulf]

good shooting. Ive never been a huge leupold fan, and the only one i tried twisting turrets with was an original Mark AR. Its performance, from what I could tell was pretty similar to what your getting. I could dial in and out well enough to hit a head size rock at 400 sometimes farther, but again i was shooting a 6.5Grendel, and my wind doping is poor to say the least. THAT was my primary issue. At shorter ranges i dont remeber it ever being too far off.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've got a couple Leupolds with CDS as does a friend of mine.

Both of us have found them to work pretty well, as long as you do the work up front and "anticipate" your conditions. Like you we've taken them out to a little over 500 and found the return to zero to be pretty good.

What they can't do is account for the delta between the current conditions and what you/I had the Leupold guys create the dial for. So whereas with a precision rifle using a ballistic program for current conditions, my CDS dieal is good for what I expected it to be. Still keeps it well within a kill zone for a deer etc. To help it stay closer I've gone to using powders that are less effected by temps, but altitude, air density, wind, still play a role.

 

[jmr40]

I have a 3-9X40 VX-2 with CDS. I have mine mounted on this 10-22 LVT. I used the "trial and error" method to figure out where to set the dials at 50, 100, and 200 yards. To get to 200 from a 50 yard zero requires more than 1 full turn on the dial. I've shot it as far as 250 yards on rare occasions. I've never had an issue with it not working. The rifle goes to the range with me almost every trip and the dials get twisted quite a bit each time.