Leupold VX-3 4.5 x 14 x 40 CDS Dial Help

[jkononen]

Do you still have the original MOA dial? I'd put that on, re zero your dial to your loads. Take 100fps off your dope to account for the box fps is always high. Then download strelok on your phone to get a drop chart and just use MOA for this year.

[Pathfinder101]

Headshot is correct with his math.  HOWEVER... as was also said, you never know what your actual "clicks" are on YOUR rifle until you start shooting.  The guys who are super good at math can probably get everything correct mathematically before they start shooting.  I never can.  I even use a ballistics app, and my "clicks" are never exactly the same as the app.  I start with my fuzzy-math as a starting point, but then make adjustments to my dope at each yardage.  For instance, my ballistics app tells me that I should be 12 clicks up at 300 yards.  I put on 12 clicks and shoot.  Nope, shooting high.  Click down 2 clicks.  Dead on.  I make a note that my rifle shoots 10 clicks at 300 yards.  Now I move on to the 400...

[highside74]

Not to thread jack from his original questions but for hunting scenarios 200 all day.

With a 200-yard zero the .300 Winchester’s bullet will be about 3 inches below the line of sight at 250 yards. So from zero to 250 yards the bullet is never more than 1.86 inches above or 3 inches below the line of sight. On big game this means you can hold on the center of the chest and you will hit the kill zone if you do your job. Even at 300 yards the bullet is only 7.3 inches below the line of sight. If you hold slightly high, but still on the critter—on hair not air—you will hit vitals.

[Pathfinder101]

Also, I have the 50mm version of this same scope on one of my 7mm's.  My ballistics turret "starts" with a 200 yard zero (I think...this may be me not totally understanding the numbers on the dial...).  You may have better luck with a 200 yard zero than with a 100 yard zero 

[jkononen]

I'd like to put a disclaimer and say I wouldn't go past 4-500 yards with what I just recommended

[Stein]

Not to thread jack from his original questions but for hunting scenarios 200 all day.

With a 200-yard zero the .300 Winchester’s bullet will be about 3 inches below the line of sight at 250 yards. So from zero to 250 yards the bullet is never more than 1.86 inches above or 3 inches below the line of sight. On big game this means you can hold on the center of the chest and you will hit the kill zone if you do your job. Even at 300 yards the bullet is only 7.3 inches below the line of sight. If you hold slightly high, but still on the critter—on hair not air—you will hit vitals.

That is a proven method for sure, find the yardage you are comfortable with "missing" at and not touch the dials.  It isn't completely accurate the way many think though.   At 300 yards in the example, the point of aim is 7.3 inches off, the point of impact is 7.3 plus whatever deviation is due to the shooter and bullet consistency.  So, if you and your gun/bullet are capable of 1 MOA, at 300 yards in the scenario you mentioned, you might be 10.3 inches off.  Essentially, whatever group you shoot is offset 7.3 inches but there is still the group which means the actual impact might be high or low of that.

I virtually always dial because it's one less thing for my mind to process.  At X yards, is my actual impact high or low?  Under the scope's zero it isn't always common sense depending on the load and zero.  I want to be 100% at ease when I pull the trigger and not worrying about whether I need to aim high or low or it doesn't matter.  I want to be totally focused on making my shot fall within as small of an MOA group as I can.

That said, tons of animals are killed by guys who never touch the turret or don't have field adjustable turrets.  Either way can work, it just makes sense to understand the system and it's strengths and weaknesses.

[headshot5]

Headshot is correct with his math.  HOWEVER... as was also said, you never know what your actual "clicks" are on YOUR rifle until you start shooting.  The guys who are super good at math can probably get everything correct mathematically before they start shooting.  I never can.  I even use a ballistics app, and my "clicks" are never exactly the same as the app.  I start with my fuzzy-math as a starting point, but then make adjustments to my dope at each yardage.  For instance, my ballistics app tells me that I should be 12 clicks up at 300 yards.  I put on 12 clicks and shoot.  Nope, shooting high.  Click down 2 clicks.  Dead on.  I make a note that my rifle shoots 10 clicks at 300 yards.  Now I move on to the 400...

Yeah I always do the math and then verify by shooting to tweak my drop charts.   I would always recommend doing all of that before having a custom dial built.   The math is a just a quick way to get in the ball park.

Personally in the OP's situation.  I would run the math for his load out to 600 yards or whatever the 15 MOA on the dial will get him too (Personally I would use a 200 yard  zero).  Put the MOA dial back on the scope.  Make a drop chart that gets you out to one revolution.   Shoot to verify it's correct and make any changes as needed to the drop chart. 

Add a zero stop to your MOA dial doing something similar to this https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7925259/re-leupold-cds-moa-zero-stop-how-to      

Call it a day.  Note you will have to keep a copy of your drop chart with you.  Or taped to your gun.

Or spend the money to get a new dial built once you verify your drop chart.   

[SeatoSummit88]

What does Leupold charge to have another dial made?  Nice they include a complimentary one with your scope purchase at first haha (but there I went making one with potentially the wrong info, lol).

I think this is what I'm going to do (per Brett's suggestions): Work with what I have right now, close to home, get some answers first: Kenmore Gun Range 100 Yards. Sand bag and Secure my rifle as best as possible. Have my dial lined up on the 1 Hash Mark and hold steady on the bullseye. Put a couple rounds down range and see where i'm at. If I am on at 100, bring out a blank paper target and mark center of the paper about 1 inch above the bottom, this would be my makeshift bullseye for 100. Next click the dial to the 3 Hash, and shoot. How far up am I from my "bullseye" mark? So on and so forth.

I think the easiest way to solve my problem this hunting season is to call the buck under 100 yards and take him. 

[headshot5]

According to the website https://www.leupold.com/dials.   It is $80 for additional CDS dials.  It'll just depend on if that price is worth it to you. 

[7mmfan]

Realistically bud, the chances of taking a 300+ yard shot are pretty minimal on blacktail. Most clearcuts in this area offer about 200 yards max in any direction. With a 300 win mag, you're only dropping about 10" at 300 yards so you're still shooting center of mass and hitting the animal. Just make sure you're on at 100 and make 300 your max. Don't worry about the dial until after the season when you have time to get everything figured out. Thats my 

[SeatoSummit88]

Appreciate it!

$80 to me is not a problem; if it means I have a dial that is accurate and true to specs, I'll have the right tool in the field!

7MM, I also agree. Not planning on shooting an animal over 300 yards...Although my gun is capable, I am not comfortable with that distance yet. This year 300 yards would be the max I need to sight out to.

[HntnFsh]

Wouldnt you be looking at only about an inch or inch and a half going from 200 to 100 yards. Seems like almost a dead hold with no need to dial down to me.

[SeatoSummit88]

I'd like to thank everyone for their opinions and thoughts! I took an hour and some minutes to head over to Kenmore Range this morning. I put 10 rounds down range...Splitting up 5 and 5 on each cease fire to let barrel cool between shots. First few flinched and were off bullseye by about 2 inches.  Settled down and parked 3 within 1/2 inch of each other just on the bottom corner of the bullseye.  Next segment was almost the same... Feeling good with 100 dialed in! Scope CDS was at Hash Mark #1....   I'm contemplating going to Ravensdale and shooting on Cascade Shooting Facilities 200 yard range for their open to public Halloween Opener. I'd like to reach out to 200 and 300 before the opener.  May have to find a forest service road or somewhere that has some distance.  Anyone shot at CSF before?

[h20hunter]

In a perfect world find a member here that can get you on the line down by Everson.....I'm blanking on the range.  Dope your rig out to 550ish and can shoot bench or prone.

Worked for me.

[SeatoSummit88]

H20, appreciate that!  Would love to connect with anyone on here that could have me tag along. May post elsewhere if this thread becomes a quiet corner.