Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics How does CDS custom dial system work on leupold scopes?

What is the diference with this model copared to other models? Does it work good?

JJHack has a post over at the Predator and Varmits Forum about them. Try reading about them there. E

Here's what I know, others will chime in with more...

-they are lower-profile than the M1 or Target turrets;

-they only give one revolution (15 MOA if I remember)... this is defeatable with a little careful filing, but you don't get reference marks for which revolution you are on;

-the cap is swappable with a custom one that Leupold will etch for you, based on your load data. So, it's calibrated in yards not MOA.

-they look and feel great.

-my next Leupold scope will have 'em!

I built a load up for my 270 Win and have a dial on the way from Leupold.

So I'll be able to tell you more next week when it gets here.

The tick marks cover 100, 200,... to 7 or 800 IIRC.

If you understand the needed Mins. for your loads at various ranges, the standard finger tip dials for the current VX3 and FX3 scopes will work fine. You can go beyond 15 Mins. with them, but you need to remember that you did when you go back to zero for that load.
Apparently 15 Mins. is enough to get a 180 gr., .308 bullet at 2700 fps. zeroed for 600 yds. E

Yeah, one rotation (15 MOA) is plenty for a sporter HUNTING rifle. For me anyway.

I think Leupold has hit a home run with these. I can't wait to try one for real. All I've done is handle them in the gunshop. They do feel great. Combined with the new VX3 erectors they should, one hopes, solve the issues some have seen with Leupolds and turrets...

I hope they release one next year in 2.5-8. I know you can send one in, but you get a free custom dial if it's a factory optioned scope.

I'd also kinda like to try one with my xp-100

You can order CDS knobs without the zero stops thus allowing more than one complete rotation and allowing you to maximize mechanical travel.

Having just registered to this site, I'm sure I've missed considerable conversation on the Leupold CDS system. I am considering sending my scope in, but first I would like to ask those in the know their opinion. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tnx

They are a huge concession.

Don't..............

I can take 130's in my 260 to 1000+yds with the standard CDS cap. Thats two full Rotations 30moa. I've only one Custom cap at this point. It's set up for 140gr NPs/ABs. I'm good to 680yds with the ball stop witch is just under one full turn and a 200yd zero.. Plenty far for me as I'm pretty good to 700yds.

The CDS system has been spot on and very reliable at any range. It's too easy. The one fall back could be that the dial dose spin fairly easy so you'll need to check where it's set while hunting..

It has yet to be a problem for me. After a full season of bustin brush here in West Wa. it was not an issue.. Rifle was hauled in a Kifaru Gun Bearer, strapped to side of pack, a sling,or carried by hand. Never had an issue. But, I can see if you brushed the dial up against your body and or your pack it "could" turn. The brush I "busted" did not move the dial. It's not that tough to pay attention to what your doing. Ball stop makes it simple to return to zero without wondering.

For me it's an affordable system and at this point I'm happy with it.

MOA scales do everything and M1's have no peer.

The rest is turd polishing.................