Leupold CDS Review

Ranch Fairy

New Member
Jan 9, 2017
6
0
Headed to west Texas Aoudad hunting in February, scooped up a CDS Leupold for my 264 Win Mag earlier this year. Attached is a review of the CDS function out to 400 for Nosler AB 130's. I have shot it out to 600 and the vertical turret is spot on. Now if that silly wind would just cooperate :cool:



Ranch Fairy
 
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brianboh

Active Member
Jun 4, 2015
396
1
Powell, Wyoming
It is any better than the Vortex PST...?

I love my Vortex PST and will probably always go with vortex due to their warranty. I got my leupold because of a warranty issue. What I like about the CDS is the turrets have a true zero stop as a vortex has a zero stop that stops on the revolution and not exactly on zero. The CDS does not have the shims which vortex does.
 

Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,860
3,664
Ohio
Yeah, I have the Vortex PST. I just turn the dial back to zero and I'm back to a 200yd zero.
I like the sleek look of the Leupold. How much better is the glass?
 

brianboh

Active Member
Jun 4, 2015
396
1
Powell, Wyoming
No clue as I just got mine in the mail yesterday. I can tell you Cabelas did have a sale on the Vari x 6 the other day for like 700 and change for a scope that costs over a grand
 

NDHunter

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2011
1,166
25
North Dakota
Yea I really like mine as well.

Just curious, are you hunting public or private there? Have heard there is some public there but not a lot. Aoudad look really cool and I'd love to hunt them some year.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,306
4,682
83
Dolores, Colorado
Let me start by saying that all my scopes are Leupold VXIII's from 6.5 x20 to 3.5 to 10. All have load specific CDS, which I love. All have been used for many years (since first offered by Leupold) without any problems. I have worked on loads for all my center fire rifle since I was a teenager (I'm 75 now!) and have developed loads for each one of them that suit my needs exactly. I won't be changing any of them anytime soon.

Leupold offers a great product at a reasonable price. They stand behind their stuff without question.
 

WapitiBob

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,385
58
Bend, Orygun
It is any better than the Vortex PST...?
Not from what I've seen.
The PST erector assy was copied from a Nightforce NXS, and they're made in the same plant. Difference is the PST is final assembled in Japan, the NXS comes back to ID for assy, bonding, and mechanical testing. Leupold's erector wasn't made to be turned repeatedly. They did have a dual spring upgrade at one time, thru the custom shop. I have heard of new offerings for 2017 and hopefully they have it figured out.
 

mcseal2

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,172
196
midwest
I have a Vortex 4-16 HST that's probably 6 years old. The clicks on it's turret are more noticeable and it's harder to turn. Not a bad thing in my view. The Leupolds I have, a couple VX3 4.5-14x and three VX-6 3-18x44's are all very reliable, the clicks just feel a bit more mushy for lack of a better term. No issues with either. I like that the VX-6 have a cover for the turret, it makes me 100% certain that my turret isn't being moved unless I remove the cap and do it. I like having the option of dialing, but don't have to do it that often when hunting. I carry my rifle in an Eberlestock scabbard a lot and always worry about the turret getting inadvertently dialed even though its never happened.

The glass in the VX-6 is definitely far better than the Vortex or VX-3. The low light performance is every bit as good as the 1" tube 3.5-18x44 Swaro Z5 I have.
 

packmule

Veteran member
Jun 21, 2011
2,433
0
TX
I have quite a few of them on various rifles. Mostly the vx3L, and for the most part they're on if the data is right for the situation.