Just wondering about the new VX 3HD scopes and others with the ZL (zero lock) knob on top turret. Being exposed like that to the elements when it gets wet from rain/snow its bound to freeze up and be useless. Seems like a bad idea when hunting in bad weather.
Leupold: new vs old
- Thread starter goodbadugly
- Start date
ben-o
Silver $$ Contributor
In conditions miserable enough to make the turret freeze up, most folks wouldn’t be taking shots at ranges that would require dialing the scope.
So you been hunting all day in moderate wet snow with a little freezing rain. Carrying your rifle in the "port Arms" position. Temp has been in the 20's all day. Starting to get late and the sun peeks out as you head back to the truck. You round a corner and behold. There a booner in the next field over. Say 425yds. You know you are zeroed at 200. Leupolds custom dial system says you gotta turn the turrett to 1 click past 4. You look down and theres a layer of ice covering the turrett and the white knob. How do you click it in? Now what? As the sun is starting to set. You cant pass up a shot at a booner so the only thing you can do is fiqure how much you have to hold over his back. Hes been shot at before so hes not gonna stand there forever. Seconds count now. Dam, maybe I should have zerod it at 300. All depends on the calibre of course. So much for leupolds CDS. Just saying. RLTW Rob
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ben-o
Silver $$ Contributor
Honestly I think the whole cds thing is sort of a gimmick. I wish I could get a new Leupold with a regular capped elevation dial. But I also think this scenario is somewhat far fetched. To the extent it’s not, the easy answer is a scope cover or some kind of ballistic reticle.
Thats exactly what happened to me 3 years ago ben-o. Lucky my 300Win mag was zeroed for 300 yrds. Showed just a little daylight above his backbone. Dropped that 180gr Bt @ 3275fps just above center. Dropped him like a rock. Have an old Vari-X 3 4.5x14x50mm from the 90's on it. Snow/ice didnt matter. Nice 12 pt measured 160". If I had a new one with the ZL on top couldnt have made that shot. I like the military "battle zero" method. RLTW Rob
cb186
Gold $$ Contributor
What if he was at 575 yards? How far over his back do you hold?
You can have your "zero" on a cds set @300, if you request it.
Your situation sounds very extreme. You could have just as easily had the front of the scope iced up.
Good question: 1. We never gets shots that far around here. Unusual to get one over 400 yrds. 2. At that time of day u would never see the deer at over 1/3 mile anyway. 3. I know that at 575 yrds it would drop 34". I would pass that shot anyway. 425 was a long poke for me. But I knew the bullet drop at that range. 4. I use leupold Alumina lens covers so the front of the scope would not be ice up. 5. Sun was at my back. Slight wind in my face. He had his nose in the air looking for the girls. Almost perfect situation. I took it. RLTW Rob
ben-o
Silver $$ Contributor
I’m not really sure what the question is at this point, but the bottom line is that if you are prepared to make a shot at whatever given range without dialing the elevation, having the zero lock/cds turret isn’t going to change anything. If you find yourself hunting in a ice storm and still expect to shoot at extreme long range, be careful to keep ice off your scope.
I have one newer VX3 with the new CDS dial (that I don’t really use). So far I’ve found it to be a very good scope in all respects. Adjusting the elevation zero is a mild inconvenience because you need a tiny Allen wrench.
1raggedhole
Silver $$ Contributor
Dialing on big game is a fantasy in many situations. Boone and crocket reticle is much faster, like the varmint reticle is. I have a 3.5-10 vx3 with B&C and can’t think of a better deer hunting scope/solution for extended ranges. The ranging feature for deer is really slick.
And to the original question, I have old and new leupolds. As others mentioned, quality and glass has only improved.
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Lone Hunter
Silver $$ Contributor
I like to know how you get a .300 Winchester Magnum with a 180 gr bullet to 3275 FPS? I can’t get mine no where near that. What powder are you using and barrel length? Thanks
Lone Hunter: I use 74.5. grs. IMR 4831..Win mag primers...Nosler 180gr. Bt... Neck-sized only Win cases...Bullet touches the rifling in a 24" barrel. 1/10 twist. I found that I gained almost 100 FPS when the bullet touches the rifling. No jump. Headspace is .000/.002.. .000/.0015 TIR runout. Compressed load. Shoots 1.375" groups at 200 yrds. Primers a little flat but no other pressure signs. Hits like a hammer. I know its a little hotter than any of the loading manuals but it works for me. Rob
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k80skeet
Silver $$ Contributor
Well I don't know about 3275. But with a Berger 185gr VLD sitting on top of 72.0gr of IMR 4831 with a Remington brass I am getting 3325-3250fps out of a 27" 3 groove Lilja barrel. If that helps.
k80skeet
Silver $$ Contributor
I think the older Leupolds are far better scopes than the newer ones. The glass might be a littler better in the newer ones (The older one's glass is really clear) But I am really pleased with the older Vari-x-11 &111 and the VX-2 & VX-3's I believe the quality is far better or maybe a better word is simpler and the prices are reasonable I refuse to pay Nightforce & March prices for a leupold. But one of the older ones and you will never be sorry. I can't say the same for the new stuff.
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