Leupold CDS system

It's a neat option if you really like dialing for distance and don't mind having a dedicated turret made for each seperate load.

You get one for free, and they'll make more if you don't mind paying.

I'm kind of ambivalent about it. I prefer to hold over using the reticle instead of dialing in the field. But it is a nice option to have and can understand why someone would desire it.

I actually have the CDS system on my 4-12x50 VX-Freedom, but it has a TRI-MOA reticle so I can just hold for distance and treat it like a normal elevation knob.

I have a feeling I might use my "freebie" for a generic 150gr 308win trajectory since that'll never go out of style.

I've got 4 Leupold's with the CDS:

3 VX6HDs: 1-6X, 2-12X42 and a 3-18X50
1 VX3HD: 2.5-8X36

I've only done the custom turret for one and that's the 1-6X that sits on my 3Gun AR. For that purpose it works great as that rifle only sees one load. A friend of mine has one on his .300WSM and he swears by it. He had a cap made for his 165 Nosler CT load and it's worked very well. We often do walk about shoots and I've watch him ring steel from 200-600 just from lasing the tgt and dialing in. Last fall he popped a nice Antelope at a little over 350yds by dialing a few clicks past the 300 mark.

I've left mine with the MOA turrets because I find it more flexible. I've got a couple different loads for each rifle depending on the game and conditions. All of mine have BDC reticles which are good out to 500 and I find the BDCs simpler and faster for hunting. My target and varmint rifles all wear MIL reticles, the X-Mas tree being my favorite.

For hunting I make little dope charts that I laminate and tape to the side of my stock for dialing in when I have time. All have the same data from 300 to 600yds in 50 yd increments for a 10MPH, 9 O'Clock wind. One of the columns is for the actual range the BDC indices are correct for. This way IF I travel I can make a new dope chart for the expected elevation, temp etc. for that area.

It's a nice capability to have, but honestly in close to 40+ years hunting big game in multiple states and several countries the vast majority of my shots have been under 300yds.

I’ve got one (VX3 3-9X40) on my 30-06 and really like it. I waited until I was sure of the load I wanted to stick with before ordering the dial. With a 200y zero, my 180g Accubond reloads bring me out to 700 theoretic yards.

It’s worked well out to 500y in practice, but my longest kill out of quite a few hasn’t required any elevation adjustment.

The CDS feature isn't a make or break for me but while reading the owners manual on the scope it looks like a nice feature.

Click to expand...

If it turns out you like it, you can get custom turrets for just about anything.

https://ballistix.ca/

https://kentonindustries.com/

https://mavenbuilt.com/products/riflescope-custom-turret

https://customturretsystems.com/

I have a few and like them. I have never opted to order a custom dial. It is easy enough to run data though a ballistics program and print out a cheat sheet with data for that load.

I have one on a Tikka T1x in 22 LR that gets used the most. I zeroed it at 50 yards and used the old "trial and error" method to figure out where to set the dial for 100, 150, and 200 yard shoots. I run out of adjustment at about 220 yards but have shot out to 250 yards by holding over.

I have another on a 308 and a 223 bolt rifle. I've shot targets with both out to 600 yards with good success. Both of these rifles are just range guns, I don't hunt with them.

I only have one hunting rifle with one. For hunting I prefer a reticle with multiple aiming points. Dials are more precise but take longer to get adjusted. Once you figure out exactly where you'll hit with multiple aiming points it is a lot faster, and accurate enough to hit a big game size animal out to 300-400 yards. For longer shots something with dials is probably a better idea. But I'm not good enough to shoot at game farther than 300-400 yards. I don't mind those who are good enough if they choose to do it. I just know my personal limitations.

I used the one on my elk rifle last year and would HIGHLY recommend it. When the opportunity comes (along with the associated stress) the last thing you want to have to worry about is making the right calculation for your scope. You have enough things going on under field conditions such as getting a good rest, settling yourself down, clearing the fog off your scope and finally squeezing off the shot. With the CDS you get the yardage, dial it up and shoot without any worries about elevation. Couldn't be any simpler. My shot was 300 yards so the adjustment was fairly minimal but the shot had to be made very quickly.