The first time i ever ran across the CDS dial was on the MAX blog. Right away i liked the idea, very much. One came to our house the other day.



It was installed on the X7, and the way i feel about it right now, all my scopes will soon have one of these dials. Pictures below show the dial set for 100 yard, and 225 yard.







Target made this morning using this scope. The holes dyed green were made with the target near 100 yard, and the dial at 1. The 3 holes undyed were made with the dial set on 2, and the target at 200 yard. The scope on another rifle with a fancy reticle with dots, now seems so uncool.

That is a great idea. Just take your time and reset the scope for the distance. Kind of like that sniper show I watched the other night.

The CDS is probably one of the better ideas for an MZ shooter that has came along in a long time. I bought a VX-3 in 3.5X10 with the CDS dial about 6 months ago.

What you have to make sure of is that the scope is of enough qualtiy to track properly. Leupold had some problems in the past. But they put a new elevator system in the new VX-3. They beefed it up considerably. And now the new VX-3's track pretty true.

I have a couple of scopes with that system. The above mentinoed one, plus a Swaro. in 6X18. Both scopes work great for hunting situtations. Tom.

Neat. If I were hunting in wide open spaces I think I would have to get one of those.

I am planning to have CDS installed on my FX-II scopes. From what you wrote here; it is not such a good idea?

Ron I do not believe the FXII has the same erector system as the VX-3. Not near the quality.

Tracking is a discussion for the optics experts. I have alot of good glass, and one of the best features of good glass is the ability of the scope to track perfectly.

It is my opinion that few scopes track as well as they should. Personally I have had tracking issues with several Leupold's in the past. But with the beefed up system in the new VX-3 scopes that has been remedied. The erector system in the new VX-3 is the same system as the one Leupold uses in their Mark IV scopes.

I know I would not trust the erector system on my fixed power Leupold's to track perfectly. And I would not spend the money for a CDS dial on an FX-II. Just my opinion. But I have them in my safe-so this is an experienced opinion.

Have you ever done a box test with your scope?? Tom.

There has been so many questions asked of me about the CDS, that i called Leupold. I have only had mine for a few days, but am already a believer, especially for Muzzle loaders. At any rate i found out that my FX-II scopes can be equipped with the CDS for $150, and that they will work as well as a VX-3; or so i was told. Soon most of my scopes will be with the CDS dial.

HEAD0001,

I have never done the box test with any of my scopes. Sometimes, i do think they don't track correctly, but i get by the best i can. When i figure i need to move the cross hair 6 click, i start with 3 click, and that seems to work much better than it would have, had i moved it 6 click. The few day i have played with this CDS dial have been quite fun, and i am looking forward to having the dial on most of my rifle, and having even more fun.

Honestly if my scope would not perform a box test then there is no way I would put a CDS dial on the scope.

I doubt very seriously if anyone at Leupold is going to tell you that your scope will not track true. So what they say would carry very little water with me.

Do a full 8" box test. If the scope does not perform that test properly then a CDS dial would be a mistake(IMO). I would not trust any of my fixed power scopes to perfrom a box test properly, and I have tried it before. But then very few scopes will pass that test.

The new VX-3's will pass a box test. Or at least the new ones that I have dealt with all passed the test. Tom.

Good advice indeed! OK, i will only send one of my fixed power to Leupold to get modified to use the CDS. If it doesn't work so very good, it will be just as good as it sits, without the CDS dial, and i can use it the way i am now using it. It is too hot to do the box test. You tried to talk sense, but it seems i am too lazy/stubborn. I can't imagine writing bad things about Leupold, but if the fella lied/exaggerated; then what.

Ron, I would like to have your opinion of the cds after you have had one upgraded, I have been interested in it but have not found enough reliable information to decide if I want to go that route.