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Leatherwood ART "Camputer" review

4K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  danthman114 
#1 ·
I picked up an 80's Leatherwood "Camputer" scope and thought I'd report my findings. These were produced after the ART/MPC versions, but before HiLux took over production. These were made in China, and the optics clarity is as expected with Chinese "budget" scopes. The scope is 3x9x40mm with 1/4" click adjustment.
 
#2 ·
The cam ring acts as the bullet drop compensator, adjusting from 200yd to 600yd. This cam ring can be calibrated for various calibers. The instruction manual has a chart for the approximate setting and requires owner fine tune as to how much drop.
 
#3 ·
For an unknown distance, the shooter locks the distance and zoom ring together. As you zoom in you fit a known object into the size chart or between line on the reticule which are 18" and 36". The Distance ring shows the yardage and the cam raises the scope to compensate for drop.
 
#5 ·
Over all the system works. The scope clarity was lacking. As I said it is a budget scope. The Auto Ranging was correct. 36" plates and gongs at 300 and 600 yards fit between the lines. The weak link in the operation I believe is the mount. The mount stayed tight, but the entire scope pivots on the leaf spring. At 200yds my shots were staying within the black, but in a 10" circle. I normally stay within 4"(2 MOA). At 300yd same result, 15" about 5 MOA. 600yds I was occasionally hitting the 36" gong, but that's because I didn't have a spotter and I can't read the wind well enough to correct my "Kentucky windage". My groups appeared to be a flat oval, so I'm assuming the mount was flexing under recoil and moving side to side. The leaf spring is pretty strong, but there is play in the side to side.
 
#8 · (Edited)
This is a little unfair. The Model reviewed has been out of the Leatherwood lineup for a long time now, and is not completely representative of current Leatherwood production.

Note that this 3X9/40MM is an older, discontinued model from several years ago, made before the current company owner, Mr. Wu, (Jim Leatherwood's former partner) took the step to actually Purchase an Optics Factory in China so he could exercise control on overall quality from the beginning.

Current Leatherwood/HiLux production offerings have been recieving much better reviews, particularly their new AR scope, as well as the newer line of Auto-Ranging Models. The Leatherwood/Malcom/Unertl style USMC WWII reproduction scope is becoming quite popular, and a new USMC Vietnam Era Redfield repro has a few people already excited about it. I would not toss out the baby with the bathwater - Leatherwood has improved from the sample being discussed here. I see them as a company just getting it's feet under it, and the majority of their products are an excellent value for those who cannot afford the "high priced spread". Don't just dismiss them out of hand. The Jim Leatherwood "Camputer" design is still the best thing out there, and I hope they will quite soon perfect their manufacturing and inovation to be fully equal to Mr. Leatherwood's superior Ranging Scope Design. CC
 
#10 ·
the new ones are junk. my m1000 scope was held in place by locktite. the chinese guy or child who assembled my scope stripped the cheap aluminum rings and instead of replacing it he glued it together with loctite. the cam is wrong for bullet drop. maybe its right for what ever round they designed it for in whatever environment they tested in but it was all off for me. also expect to over rotate the cam so it drops off the end if you shoot anything with a velocity under 2650fps. tools will be required to pry up and rotate back. just get something else. if you want a bdc buy a leupold scope with a cds turret made for your round.
 
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