Leupold Custom Dial System (CDS) Opinions

Bought a Leupold VX5HD 3-15X44 HTMR reticle scope last year. I'm not a brand loyal guy, and not a Leupold supporter, but this scope is the mutt's nuts! Glass is spectacular and the tracking is stellar. Anywhoo, I put the scope on my 300WM Savage 110 High Country and I dial all my stuff from my ballistic cheat cards. Big thanks to this Brian Litz fellow too! Thanks to his true BC results my ballistic tables all line up. Moving on, I figured if a CDS dial is worth $80 and I get one free one with purchase of the scope I might as well reap the benefits. So, I provided all my data I've gathered on my hand loads and ordered a turret. 300 WM, 200 Accubond, 2900 FPS 70 F. 1000ft ele, etc.

So, how many are happy with their free turret? Did it make you lazy and did ya'll throw away all your data tables? Did you provide the Litz true BC data? Do tell.

never felt the need to get a yardage cap. Too many things change in my world.

If you change elevation, like from 300 ft to 9,000 feet, what happens for those long shots past 300 yards?

or if you change that 70 degree temp to the low 20's during hunting season?

A good range finder takes all those variables into account before it provides a solution for you to dial - all variables current data points will be accounted for … except wind, that solution you will have to determine yourself.

I've ran several CDS turrets on Leupold VX 5s and 6s and they work great for hunting applications.
I live at 1000ft asl and generally sight in at temps from 70-90 degrees F. I always ordered my CDS with the correct BC but had it cut at 2500ft and 50 degrees. I hunted from 2500-8000 ft in different areas and temps in the 20s-50s and made all lethal shots out at distance. For hunting I think they are great, will the bullet deviate a little, most likely but unless you're hunting rabbits at long range I doubt the deviation is enough to matter. Of course there are always other variables in long range shots but as far as the CDS and tracking they work well in my experience.

Mnovak73 said:

I've ran several CDS turrets on Leupold VX 5s and 6s and they work great for hunting applications.
I live at 1000ft asl and generally sight in at temps from 70-90 degrees F. I always ordered my CDS with the correct BC but had it cut at 2500ft and 50 degrees. I hunted from 2500-8000 ft in different areas and temps in the 20s-50s and made all lethal shots out at distance. For hunting I think they are great, will the bullet deviate a little, most likely but unless you're hunting rabbits at long range I doubt the deviation is enough to matter. Of course there are always other variables in long range shots but as far as the CDS and tracking they work well in my experience.

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Good information, thanks

I have CDS scopes on a 30-06 and 25-06. I have used both out to 550 yards and they both work. I have mine cut for 5000 ft elevation and 50°f. I haven't hunted above 5500 ft but have hunted to 0°f and haven't had a problem.

Posts 2-5 are spot on! If you hunt in the same place and weather is fairly consistent, i think it would be handy. Many of us dont get that luxury.

asd9055 said:

If you change elevation, like from 300 ft to 9,000 feet, what happens for those long shots past 300 yards?

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I ran all these thoughts through my head and called Leupold. I was told by a Leu rep that they bracket elevation changes by 2000ft increments. When asked about temperature he said 0-40 F. and 60-100 F were the round about brackets. So one would choose 20 F. and then 80F. I went 70 because it seemed to line up in my data with 90 F. and I hunt earlier mornings in TX when temp is 70-80.

In the winter I hunt IL coyotes at usually 0-25 F. and then take off to TX for hogs hunting at 80-110. So my elevations with the two areas are only 400ft elevation difference. 750ft-1350ft. I opted for 1000ft and the summer temps for this turret. I'll dial my winter dope with the standard, or just get a winter calibrated turret.

I'm a flatlander so I think these things will work and staying with the KISS principle.

I've used similar stuff but haven't done the cds turret for my leuy's. Like others I experience too many variables and that makes the turret cluttered if you choose a 1 turret does all..... IMHO the best turret is a custom or a tape. It has a moa or mil line for when your data is no longer valid for that given atmospheric data/external ballistics component. For you, it should work pretty well out to 500. I'd have to run your data average and extreme's to see the net affect but it sounds like you'll be ok.

For me (mountain terrain with huge elevation and temp swings) I went a different route and have owned the G7, sig 2400, leica 1600, and now my choice is a leica 3200.com. I use a dope card for back up, my phone app for back up, but my primary is a simple press the button and get my data in less than 2 seconds and I am dialed in. It's legit.

Their turrets are awesome, as long as you understand that as conditions change the markings are no longer accurate. You have to know about how far it remains accurate over the expected changes in environmentals, velocity and BC you are dealing with. For example if your hunting elevation could be 8k-10k feet, it may remain accurate up to 400, 450 yards. After that, it is possible to manually count clicks to be accurate. Because of this, I would say the tables are still necessary, and in some ways made me spend a little extra time making sure I see how much each change affects the necessary number of clicks.

Of course the best data to give them is actual DOPE for the environmentals in which you want to shoot, but Litz's is probably a very solid option also.

I've been a big fan of Leupold's CDS optics. I run a VX6 3-18x on my 6.5x06 and VX6HD 4-24x on my M1A Supermatch and my LR308. For my Supermatch, I have two dials, one for factory 168 gr cartridges and one my 175gr SMK reloads. My Texas Hill Country hunting senderos run from 100 to 300 yds and it's nice to be able to 'dial in' the yardage quickly without any DOPE. This past season I shot a big sow right between the eyes at 297 yds without doing any calcs. It's worth mentioning that the MOA indicators on the turrets are still there (the yardage is printed above them) so it's not like you can't old-school it when you want.

Couldn't one realistically go with two dials?
one for the flat lander type elevation and then one for the high altitudes say in the 7000-9000 foot range. Would this be possible as I'm not familiar with these dials.