The Leupold Custom Dial System (CDS) offers a revolutionary approach to long-range shooting, transforming how shooters interact with their optics. Its designed to tailor your Leupold scope’s elevation turret to the unique ballistics of your own rifle and ammunition. I put this system to the test with a CDS turret fitted on my trusty Tikka T3 and took it out on a hunting trip to the Isle of Arran. Read on to see how I got on with it, but first a bit of info on the CDS.
What is the Leupold Custom Dial System (CDS)?
Leupold’s CDS system provides a custom-made elevation turret that is specifically calibrated to match the ballistic profile of your rifle and ammunition.
Its seriously easy to get yours, you start by inputting key details such as cartridge specifications, bullet characteristics, and environmental conditions into the website, and Leupold take this data and produce your custom CDS turrets.
The turret facilitate quick and precise adjustments. This innovative system reduces reliance on manual calculations and dope cards, offering a more efficient shooting experience.
The Testing Process
For this review, I used my Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm scope, this is a second focal plane scope with side focus adjustment, and capped windage.
The CDS turret was customized for my Tikka T3, when you create yours you'll need the following info:
- Cartridge Caliber
- Bullet Weight
- Bullet Type
- Ballistic Coefficient
- Muzzle Velocity
- Average Altitude
- Average Temperature
- Sight-in Zero
- Sight Height
Mounting and Zeroing
Installing the CDS turret was a straightforward process. After zeroing the rifle at the distance provided to Leupold, I replaced the standard turret with the CDS turret. This is really easy and involved removing the original turret cap and placing the new CDS turret with the ZeroLock dial set to the specified zero distance.
Field Performance
A short trip on the ferry and we were on our hunting ground on Arran. Those that know this island will know we’re talking forestry, steep evaluation and open moor land. So shots can be close range or a distance.
As we moved across these terrains and spotted deer at various distances it was really easy to quick adjust the CDS so the rifle was zeroed at the right range. The results spoke for themselves, a truck full of red deer on the return leg and well shot deer from 100 to 350 yards. The CDS worked a treat.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Efficient Range Adjustments: The CDS system simplifies distance adjustments with clearly marked turret settings, reducing the need for manual dope cards.
- User-Friendly: Swapping turrets is quick and easy, allowing for rapid changes between different loads or returning to the factory setting.
- Customized Precision: The tailored turret ensures that adjustments are specific to your ammunition, enhancing the likelihood of accurate first-round hits.
Cons:
- Lack of Windage Reference: While the CDS system excels in distance adjustments, it doesn’t provide a windage reference on the reticle. This means you’ll need to use additional tools or apps to account for wind drift.
Conclusion
The Leupold Custom Dial System lives up to its promises by enhancing precision and convenience for long-range shooting. Its ideal for shooters who need to make quick adjustments in the field, for example if your moving from forest hunting to the open hill, in these situations the CDS system offers a significant advantage.
Available for Leupold VX-3HD, VX-5HD, and VX-6HD scopes, it simplifies the process of achieving accurate long-range shots. Leupold also provides a complimentary CDS turret with the registration of your CDS optic, and additional turrets can be purchased for a small cost.
For those seeking a scope tailored to their specific needs, Leupold’s CDS optics are an excellent choice. They offer a customized solution that can significantly improve your shooting performance, I’m sold on them, what a great bit of kit.
