Scopes with mechanical drop compensators like Leupold's CDS

Hunting
1

I currently have a Leupold VarX III CDS and I do like it. But Jim has sold me on the value of a first focal plane scope for wind compensation (mine is second focal plane).
I was wondering what else is out there in a true bullet drop compensating scope that is mechanical (and therefore legal to hunt with in Idaho) beyond Leupold’s CDS. When I say true-bullet-drop-compensating-scope, I mean one that knows your bullet drop at any range out to 500 and compensates for it when you put in the range you are shooting at. Per idaho rules, the scope cannot have any electronics in it beyond a lighted reticle.
I am curious to see what else is out there. I have looked and have not found any.

2

By true compensating do you mean you dial a yardage and not a specific moa/mil?

Hmm

I recently saw a video on the Vortex Channel on YouTube and they mentioned that they were creating custom turrets but I didn’t watch the video so I don’t know anything about the specifics.

Can’t you get CDS on the Leupold Mk4 and Mk5 FFP scopes?

Also check out Tract.

There’s also turret tags.

3

Have you considered adding Turret Tags to a regular dialing scope? Such a cheap, simple solution.

4

I’m going to give you an unbiased opinion of the turret tags:

Best $10 you can spend on a rifle. If your dope is on, its about as easy as it can get and since they’re just $10, if you have to pull them off for some reason it won’t make you cry to lose them. Additionally, your original turret is still there.

I have them on my Element Titan 3-18x50 and a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44. My Dope is dead on with both and I can go from 400 yards to 800 to 300 to 600 in seconds. Honestly it takes longer to move the rifle than it does to move the turret.

That’s the pros. The con is singular: While the stickers are fine, the tape that comes with the Turret Tags to lock them down is worthless. I just cut packing tape to width and roughly 125% of the circumference of the turret and that works so much better.

But for $10, I have zero complaints.

5

Thanks all. Good suggestions. Yes, I could go with another Leupold in FFP but at 1K or more a pop, it is difficult to do. That is why I was inquiring about other options.
I like the suggestion of Turret tags. I think I’ll try that. I just have to pick a scope with enough exposed turret to make it work easily.
At the time I bought the CDS scope I lived in Wa and I didn’t have access to shoot more than 100 yards (until hunting season; I hunted in ID) so a CDS made sense for me then. Now I have can regularly shoot out to 500 so dialing in isn’t a problem.
Thanks again.