Leupold VX3 CDS 4-14 ????

[35 Whelen]

I just pulled the trigger on one of these that was on sale for $100 off sale price, $20 off order today discount, and has a $100 rebate from Leupold. I have wanted to try the CDS for a few years now and finally saw one at VX2 prices! Anyone own one of these that can shed some light on how they perform, I am all ears!
E
Ps for details just pm me

 

[Guy Miner]

I've used the heck out of a pair of 4.5-14x Leupold scopes for quite a few years. Had one on my SWAT rifle for nearly 20 years and liked it so much I bought another, quite a few years ago. It's been on various varmint, target and big game rifles over the years.

Mine doesn't have the CDS, just the M1 dials, but it's a good scope, with more magnification than I normally use.

Looks like you got one heck of a good buy on it!

Guy

 

[35 Whelen]

Thanks Guy, we will see, like to hear some comments on the CDS part from anyone that has messed with one for a bit??

 

[Elkman]

I have two, 3.5 X 10 X 40 with the CDS Dial. They are a fine scope and a great value for what you are paying. I think the optics on the newer ones are even better. I have used Leupold for years with no regrets. I like the Duplex crosswire and I would suggest you get the standard turret and develop a range card for your rifle and load. I personally have not had good luck with "custom" turret.

 

[DrMike]

Interestingly enough, I have the option of a free CDS dial on several Leupold scopes. I have yet to avail myself of the option. Similar dials are available on other scopes. I have yet to take advantage of these offers. Bill is correct--for the type of hunting I do, a range card is far more reasonable. I simply don't do, or even have need of considering, shots over 400 yards. The Leupold glass is certainly good and worth owning.

 

[35 Whelen]

Well that is an interesting point, just seamed like it might be cool if I ranfed a coyote out here on the lake 5/600 yards to be able to just dail up to the yardage and hit them would certainly be a great option.
Guess we will have to see how it works in real life??? Sounds like everyone likes the scope as far as optics are consirned?

 

[35 Whelen]

Well that is an interesting point, just seamed like it might be cool if I ranged a coyote out here on the lake 5/600 yards to be able to just dail up to the yardage and hit them would certainly be a great option.
Guess we will have to see how it works in real life??? Sounds like everyone likes the scope as far as optics are consirned?

 

[35 Whelen]

Well that is an interesting point, just seamed like it might be cool if I ranged a coyote out here on the lake 5/600 yards to be able to just dail up to the yardage and hit them would certainly be a great option.
Guess we will have to see how it works in real life??? Sounds like everyone likes the scope as far as optics are consirned?

 

[35 Whelen]

Well that is an interesting point, just seamed like it might be cool if I ranged a coyote out here on the lake 5/600 yards to be able to just dail up to the yardage and hit them would certainly be a great option.
Guess we will have to see how it works in real life??? Sounds like everyone likes the scope as far as optics are consirned?

 

[jimbires]

you'll be well pleased with this scope . I have a few of these scopes , without the CDS . I really like mine . I use the B&C reticle , it works well out to 500 or 600 yards . I just sent one back to leupold today to get a varmint hunter reticle changed to a boone & crocket . I just can't see the fine varmint reticle anymore .my eyes are getting old .

 

[jmad_81]

I run several of these scopes. I find them to be a very nice compromise in magnification and weight for the hunting that I do. I run a VX-III 4.5-14x40 LR that I had target turrets installed on my 280 AI. I love that scope.

I recently got into the CDS thing. I have two other 4.5-14x40 LR on my light 6.5 SAUM and my wife's 284 Win. These both have the wind plex in them. This was my first year hunting with them and I have mixed feelings about them. I like everything about them except the turrets turn then coming in or out of a case, rubbing on your pack, or anything else they get caught on. A guy can get them with a zero stop (I'm going to do this for my wife's rifle), but then you are limited to only 15 MOA of elevation. If you need more than that you can't have the zero stop and you run the risk of loosing track of where you are and not being able to find it again without shooting.

They are very clear and function well. I just wish that there was some sort of a lock on the turrets so they wouldn't turn unless you wanted them to.


Wife's first bull taken with a single shot @ 680 yards.

My buck taken with a single shot @ 452 yards.
I can't complain to much, we had a pretty good year.

 

[35 Whelen]

Jmad,
That is exactly the sorta info I am looking for! So I gotta ask you this, is the turret turning thing percuilar to the Leupold scopes only or do the Huskamaws and others have this same attribute????
E

 

[jmad_81]

I'm not that familiar with the Huskamaws. I think the turret moving could be an issue for any exposed turret type scope. I know it is an issue on my Mark 4, but it is much harder to turn than the CDS so if it ever gets off it's not much. The easy fix would be to have a zero stop but that won't limit the upward travel to one revolution. Or to even install some sort of lock on the CDS so that it can't move unless it is unlocked ie pushed down to lock, or move. Or maybe some sort of a release near the top of the turret around the outer edge that would have to be pushed in to turn.

 

[Wyo7200]

The huskemaw has a lock ring that you set when you get your zero. It lets you dial down a little, but not a full revolution. I was considering getting the first free custom turret they offer, but if you change your load, it'll be another $75 or so to get another turret. Of course $0 if you revert back to the standard turret.... As for them moving on you while hunting, huskemaw recommends using a scope coat. Haven't tried that as my turrets are capped and I use a drop card that is taped to the stock with double sided carpet tape.

 

[Elkman]

I have only been using a external turret on my scope for about 10 years or so. One has to work really hard to move a turret accidently. I have seen that mine has moved a couple of clicks a few times, but that is not an issue at most ranges where you would not, be dialing for distance. I sometimes carry the rifle muzzle forward over my shoulder while hiking which places the turret down near my shoulder. If you are shooting longer range you would automatically correct this because you start at zero.

 

[35 Whelen]

Ok so as long as you check it, same as you would the power, if it is set back to Zero, than everything is good to go? I have a Zeiss scope on my 270 that has the Z600 reticule and that works well enough to hit milk jugs at 400 yds, that is zeroed at 200.
I do think in the heat of the moment, if the animal was getting away , and you knew you only had a few seconds to shoot, it would be extreamely likely, one could get messed up and get the wrong bar on the animal and miss......... the Z600 is probably the poorest choice you could ever use in low light situations,when it has completely disapeared, if I pick up my 30 Whelen with. The heavy German reticule you can continue to hunt for another 5 mins......... also on a running deer for us the Z600 is ackward at best , however for target shooting its fine, or if your not rushed to shoot its fine.
I just thought on this new 25 Whelen it would be fun to try the turret system, and since we are mostly hunting coyotes over bait,
Right here on the lake in front of the house, that when I see them sneaking along up against the woods on the other side of the lake, (550yds) to be able to go from a 250yd zero, to 550 with a quick twist and know the hold over was correct, would be a nice
Option to see if you could "dust one up" at those distances!
When we hunt with the Fox Pro off fresh tracks from the snowmoble, I normally just use my 270 with 110 gr HPBT. That absolutly devistates them even poorly hit ones, though the 243 that has now been replaced by the 25/06, is free to take as well, and since 99% of the shots on called ones , is under 200 yds, we really dont need a scope with the abilty to shoot long distance for those hunts. I cant help but think about all the Dahl Sheep we could have taken with these sorta scopes, years ago. It was very common to get to 400 yds without much trouble, and though the hunters always claimed to be able to "shoot em back home" @ 400 no problem, in real life I found a very few could actually do it.............. I realize that many of you guys on this website are most likely far above the avg hunter in ability to know your rifle and where it shoots, but the fact is the "average joe" is usually no where near as good as he thinks he is........... if I wrote on here how many guys ,we had miss a 350lb Bull Caribou, standing broadside, with all the time in the world to shoot @ 200 yards you would most certainly think It was an aggregation!!!
E

 

[SJB358]

Should be a perfect scope for you to twist on and see if you like it E. Good warranty if it goes wonky and you can stretch it out a little. You shouldn't have to dial too much with 85's at 3500 till they are a fair piece across the lake.

 

[35 Whelen]

We will certainly see Scotty! (Like that word wonky)
Here is some interedting garb on yhese new Vx3s!
Xtended Twilight Lens System ,Now your hunt can reach further into the twilight than ever before possible, with our exclusive new Xtended Twilight Lens System™. It goes a step further than even the Index Matched Lens System®, using Leupold’s® index matched glass with wavelength specific lens coatings designed to optimize the transmission of low-light wavelengths. When most scope manufacturers quote percentage of light transmission, they usually mean at 550 nm, the green wavelength where the human eye is most sensitive. The challenge is that in twilight conditions, green light disappears and blue/violet light takes over. Your eye is already handicapped when it comes to seeing the blue/violet spectrum, and if your scope is cutting too much of it out, soon you won’t be seeing anything. The Xtended Twilight Lens System places extra emphasis on matching coatings to glass indexing to achieve the best possible transmission of the blue/violet spectrum, without sacrificing the color balanced light transmission across the visual spectrum of the Index Matched Lens System. When we combine that with superior computer-generated optical design, lead-free lenses of unsurpassed clarity and quality, and 100 years of manufacturing excellence, you have a scope that gives you the details of low-light scenes in greater definition and luminance than any other scope in the world. 
Fact or hype??? Never heard it explained like that before?

 

[SJB358]

Me neither but I've never lost out on game using a VX3. Still the scope I look to most of the time when I wanna keep stuff simple.

 

[35 Whelen]

I was totally impressed when I bought my new VX2, so will be real curious to check out this 3! And probably could have lived without the CDS, but watching to much "Best of the West" lol
E