Tell me about "dialing"

[idcuda]

I'm an old school 3-9x kind of guy and I haven't paid any attention to newer styles of scopes that allow you to dial, point, and shoot.

What's a basic dial-able scope setup for standard rifle calibers? I'm looking for a hunting-specific setup that will cover ranges from 0-500 yards.

I know there are many factors and it's a black hole, so I'm trying to avoid all the technical details. I'm just looking for a relatively low cost scope that'll get me, and my kids, started.

As a starting point, does this Leupold fit the bill? VX-3HD 4.5-14X40 CDS-ZL

 

[SuperDUECE22]

yeah a leupold with CDS will fit your requirements perfectly. Not all guys will agree but i have had zero problems with either of mine. Ranged a bull at 610 last week, dialed my vx5 to 610, shot and killed the bull with one shot. Did the same a couple years back with my vx3 on a muley buck at 425 (ranged, dialed, & heart shot). Just make sure you give all the correct info to Leupold when filling out the CDS coupon and of course make sure you already have a certain load picked out that shoots well out of your gun before you have turret built. Last of all when you receive your turret and get it installed - practice, practice, practice so you are confident with it

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have fun playing around with the SWFA 6x scopes.

 

[Centralcoastca]

3 of my buddies use leupold cds scopes and all used them this year to shoot their deer out to 350 with clean one shot kills. I’ve been thinking about trying one out myself.

 

[ZMT588]

I've got a cds this year. So much easier than using a bdc scope imo. Less room for error. Zoom doesn't effect dialing like it does on BDC scopes. I've used it confidently out to 300. I could probably shoot further too.

 

[mmac]

It really comes down to what you are practicing with and truly practicing. If you use a BDC reticle and practice to the distance you are shooting, it is fast and accurate. If you want to dial, you still have to practice and ensure you can make the adjustments.

 

[sndmn11]

I have fun playing around with the SWFA 6x scopes.

This is probably the best answer followed by SWFA 3-9, or 10x for the least expensive of the bunch.
I have a 10x for sale, but the 6x is a better all around hunting optic due to field of view.

Beyond those you are at $600+ for SWFA 3-15 Bushnell LRTS/LRHS, bit all mentioned are lifetime purchases.

 

[JPeters218]

I had never dialed until this year. I bought 2 4.5-14x50 VX3-HD’s to go on my rifles. They’re great. Nothing bad to say about them

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You need to know your actual velocities of the bullets coming out of your rifle. The fact that guys buy and set these turrets on Leupolds based on the box velocities, and then take long shots on animals with almost no field verification is absolutely baffling to me.

Read and learn. It’s easy.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

You need to know your actual velocities of the bullets coming out of your rifle. The fact that guys buy and set these turrets on Leupolds based on the box velocities, and then take long shots on animals with almost no field verification is absolutely baffling to me.

Read and learn. It’s easy.

you are absolutely correct, I should have noted that in my original response. If the people want their CDS to be accurate you need to CHRONO your setup to verify velocities.

 

[Gila]

For years I used a 3x9 for pronghorn hunting. I used the same ammunition in the same rifle. I knew exactly where my rifle was shooting. I have never missed with that setup. My longest shot was 460 yds with a perfect shot. Back in the days before range finders, sending a round was an experienced guess for distance...throw up a handful of dirt and grass for wind hold...when it looks about right send the round. I don’t remember ever needing to take the turret caps off since mounting the scope. I have a difficult time trusting a scope to figure out holdover for me. Good confidence builder I suppose.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

You need to know your actual velocities of the bullets coming out of your rifle. The fact that guys buy and set these turrets on Leupolds based on the box velocities, and then take long shots on animals with almost no field verification is absolutely baffling to me.

Read and learn. It’s easy.

Not a Leupold-only issue. Folks do the same with cheat sheets taped to their rifles, ballistic apps, other custom turret makers, BDC reticles, etc.

Garbage in, garbage out.

 

[Rock-o]

No CDS. CDS binds the turret to a specific rifle, specific load, specific environmental. Change any one of those and your CDS is wrong. My standard turret (and standard reticle, not BDC) will always be right no matter what I change once I gather DOPE again.

Sometimes I feel a part of why people choose CDS is because they haven't educated themselves. Dialing a standard turret is no harder than dialing with CDS. And you had to gather all the same data to have your CDS made as anybody without it. It saved you nothing but cost you more. And what if the CDS was made wrong?

It's just not worth a single penny to me. But I'm usually odd man out.

 

[robtattoo]

SWFA 6X, a decent chrono & a ballistic app will cover you for everything. You don't need to blow 600 on a Labradar chrono, an $80 magnetospeed will do you just as well.

Yes, I have my drops taped to my rifle, but that's purely because I shoot in Tennessee, hunt in Wyoming. I have no need to dial at home (I set my zero at 200 here & leave well alone) but out in the Sage, 500+yd shots are not uncommon. I have my western drops fixed to the stock.

 

[ZMT588]

No CDS. CDS binds the turret to a specific rifle, specific load, specific environmental. Change any one of those and your CDS is wrong. My standard turret (and standard reticle, not BDC) will always be right no matter what I change once I gather DOPE again.

Sometimes I feel a part of why people choose CDS is because they haven't educated themselves. Dialing a standard turret is no harder than dialing with CDS. And you had to gather all the same data to have your CDS made as anybody without it. It saved you nothing but cost you more. And what if the CDS was made wrong?

It's just not worth a single penny to me. But I'm usually odd man out.

This is true. I have the cds scope but I haven't had my turret made yet. Just using the regular dial. It's all the same. Just put together a dope chart and make some marks on your dial.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

No CDS. CDS binds the turret to a specific rifle, specific load, specific environmental. Change any one of those and your CDS is wrong. My standard turret (and standard reticle, not BDC) will always be right no matter what I change once I gather DOPE again.

Sometimes I feel a part of why people choose CDS is because they haven't educated themselves. Dialing a standard turret is no harder than dialing with CDS. And you had to gather all the same data to have your CDS made as anybody without it. It saved you nothing but cost you more. And what if the CDS was made wrong?

It's just not worth a single penny to me. But I'm usually odd man out.

With the exception of the Uber hardcore elite hunters on Rokslide, most hunters hunt the same species, in the same location, with similar shooting distances, in similar weather year after year after year. A verified CDS/cheat sheet/etc is a perfectly valid solution for them.

And most Uber hardcore elite hunters on Rokslide are not validating their ballistics on-site when hunting animals across the globe at all elevations under all conditions. These same elite of the elite hunters are making an educated guess based upon what their ballistic app/weather station/wind meter tell them.

At the end of the day, a hunter should use what makes the most sense for them.

 

[idcuda]

Great info, everyone - that's exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to start some research based on the Leupold CDS scopes and go from there. I agree that being tied to one load isn't great, but I could get away with that on my 7mm. I'll have a few other rifles that'll need flexibility.

Are the Leupold turrets easily swapped?

 

[Formidilosus]

What's a basic dial-able scope setup for standard rifle calibers? I'm looking for a hunting-specific setup that will cover ranges from 0-500 yards.

SWFA 6x and 3-9x are the only sub $1,000 scopes suitable for general hunting that are remotely reliable enough. They are very, very good

I know there are many factors and it's a black hole, so I'm trying to avoid all the technical details. I'm just looking for a relatively low cost scope that'll get me, and my kids, started.

Shooting at distance requires some level of knowledge and education. Going too far into dorkdom is just as bad as going to far into ignorance.

As a starting point, does this Leupold fit the bill? VX-3HD 4.5-14X40 CDS-ZL

No. Those scope have an extremely high failure rate.

 

[HighUintas]

@idcuda , there is currently an swfa 3-9 for sale in the classifieds here for $500. I recommend you get it now. They've been on backorder a long long time

 

[wapitibob]

Or buy a 3-15 on eBay for $320.