Spent some time this weekend on an uncultivaed field. I stepped off, 200, 300 and 400 yard marks. I shot prone from the bed of my truck, using a bipod and rear bag. The photo is rotated 90 left. The one in the orange is 200 yards. Loaded up and drove to 300 yrd and made impact left 2-1/2". Drove to 400 and impacted 2" high, 2" left. I never held for wind, which was 9mph. All my data to Leupold for the CDS was in effect for this outing. My range distances are not 100%, but pretty close since there were some mild elevation changes as I steped it off across the field. There's prolly about thirty minutes of time form first shot (200) to next (300) shot. Wind definitely picked up. I only use this set up for hunting, and know my ranges at most of my set ups. My zero is 100 yards. I'll dial the CDS to 200 and call it good. Should I see that monster at 300 or 400, I'll have time to dial it and let it go.

That's not bad at all, especially if you had a full value wind. I am going to do the exact same thing (same settings) with my Swarovski Z5 Ballistic Turret.

This was with my Remington 700, 5R Milspec, factory Hornady ammo.

Mine is a Sako .270 Win. with factory ammo also. I'll take those results and be very happy.

Nice shooting. I've had great luck with my CDS equipped rifles as well.

It'll probably do a decent job for you, as long as you stay within 400 yards.

Two facts about 400 yards, and less, based on my observations.

1. From a 100 yard zero, there is a long list of cartridges that have identical, or very close corrections. For example, it is not difficult to make a .300 Win Mag and a .243 have identical, or almost identical corrections 400 yards, and less.

2. I track how all my ammo, in each rifle behave in all weather. From cold winter days, to hot summer days. 400 yards, and less they just don't vary much at all. Some don't vary any what-so-ever. Of course I'm using hand loads which produce more consistency. If you make a drastic change in elevation above sea level, your turrets will drift from being correct. Colorado, for instance. But if you stay near the same elevation above sea level, you'll be in good shape.

Wind will be your biggest enemy. It is everyone's biggest enemy. The reason I miss, is that I was wrong on my wind call. But I keep working on it week in and week out.

Kudos to you, for actually getting out in the field and testing your equipment.

JG you mention a factor that will come into play on my upcoming sheep hunt - elevation change. As near as my research can figure, my .300 WSM will shoot about 1" higher at 100 at 7000' than at the 500' where I am located. As my ranges will be limited to 400 and under, should not be a big issue, but it definitely will be a factor.

I am accounting for it in my sight-in.

I don't need much of an excuse to go shoot. This was a an hour or so after a good varmint hunt. I won't have many shot opportunities beyond 400 with this set up. I've never chrono'd, just went with published velocity, even though I thought I was getting more out of this barrel. Also, my stepped off distance wasn't precise. I always do a pace count at the 100 yard range and I'm always right at 100 on flat ground. Given the variables I'm pretty confident with a 400 yard shot based on these results.

What the OP did was what I had planned with two of my FFP scoped rifles. I had round hay bales (aka backstops) at various ranges, out to 500 yards, but the guy I sold the hay to came and got them before I could shoot em up. Dang.

I like the CDS system for what it is.

FWIW, I zero all of my CDS rigs at 200 yds.

I know on a hunt it is often impossible to check zero, but I do when I can.

Yes you might be 1" high at 100. More importantly, 200, 300, and 400 yard correction will not be as much of a correction at that altitude. Everything gets thrown off from 100 yard zero, and beyond. I've also seen POI windage shift from changing location, and that was staying in Texas. North Texas to Central Texas POI moved up .2 Mil (.72"), and right .2 Mil on my rifle and my friend's rifle.

Food for thought.

Yes thanks for that reminder. I can check zero at 100, but probably not beyond. Which is typical.

That CDS is probably an MOA turret, relabeled. With a ballistic calculator, taking into account environmental conditions you can learn what you need to take off your dial, for a distance.

In other words, go to your 300 yard dial, and back it down 3/4 MOA (three clicks)

I did this at a 100 yard (Quail Creek) range to test it.

Three shot zero, dialed it to 2 (200 yrd), then 3 and finally at 4. Only one I wasn't sure about was the 4, which turned out to be ok.

If you were in Mils an often set of corrections are (.308 Win)

200 yards .5 Mil which equals 1.715 MOA, and if those are 1" squares that's exactly where they printed.

300 yards 1.1 Mil which equals 3.773 MOA, yours printed a little lower than that.

400 yards 2.0 Mil which equals 6.86 MOA, yours printed a little over 7 MOA above zero. Looks like the turret is working pretty well.

As long as its repeatable, and returns to zero you'll have elevation in pretty good shape. But again, the up and down is the easy part, the left to right is the hard part (wind).

Cool stuff!

I love a good BDC set up.

The second shot is 3/8" off. You must start over.

That looks pretty dang shiny, sir.

Thanks. Post up how it goes with your Swarovski.