hold over reticle or dial?

[RidgeRebel]

Hey fellas, I am trying to decide on a scope for a hunting rifle. I have used a Vortex Viper PST and always dialed corrections. But, I would like a little faster system. I was considering a Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10x44 with the rapid Z800 reticle. Are the rapid Z reticles accurate? or I was considering a Leupold VX3 same power with the CDS. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks
Bob

[JackinSD]

Just throwing another possibility out there, a custom turret?

[Sourdough]

I use a Night Force 3.5-15X50 for long range, and have always dialed it for shots past 450 yards. The retacle has several lines under the cross, and I had noted where they were in relation to before I dialed then after I dialed.

Last year I was scoping a meadow and saw a Grizzly crossing it. I knew from experience that the first line down was 600 yards with the scope set to zero (400 yard zero). I took the shot using the first line, worked perfectly. Of course this came from experience with this scope.

I also use a Nikon scope with Ballistic Plex reticle. I have it on a 30-06. The users manual with the scope said to use with a velocity of X, (can't remember off the top of my head) and a bullet weight of 165gr with a Coefficient of X (again can't remember the value) the lines will correspond with 100 yard increments. Works when I have time to use a range finder.

Now I also have a Range Finding scope I got from Cabela's. Circles getting smaller each is 18" at the corresponding yardage. I find this to be very effective. But the scope is calibrated for bullets at 3200 ft p s.

I have found the holdover type is much faster to use, but you have to do your homework. The load has to match the calibration on the scope.

As someone else said earlier, you can work up your load with a good scope like Leupold then once you have the load you want to shoot send the scope and the information to Leupold and they will do a set of custom turrets. Then the turrets are calibrated, and I have found these to work well also.

I honestly can not make a suggestion since I use many myself. I guess I like the Nikon.Cabela's hold over the best, they seem to see more use.

[cummins cowboy]

I think it depends on how far you want to shoot, out to 400-500 yards I think the run of the mill ballistic reticles will work, beyond that you need to dial or although I haven't used one a nightforce velocity reticle might work great since its more matched to your load.

[kcebcj]

Originally Posted by RidgeRebel

Hey fellas, I am trying to decide on a scope for a hunting rifle. I have used a Vortex Viper PST and always dialed corrections. But, I would like a little faster system. I was considering a Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10x44 with the rapid Z800 reticle. Are the rapid Z reticles accurate? or I was considering a Leupold VX3 same power with the CDS. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks
Bob

The PST has the best of everything you need to hold over or dial. I assume you were using the EBR-1 reticle as that is what the PST comes with. Simply look at the drop chart dial or hold over. With practice you can do a hold over very quickly after ranging and a glance at the chart. A proven drop chart for the conditions you hunt in is the way to go if you hike a lot and don't want to carry all the "stuff" to dope a shot.

You can have a custom turret dial built for a lot of different scopes but then you are locked into one load or a pocket full of turret dials.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Why not consider the horus system and get the best of both worlds.

[bruce_ventura]

I agree with others here that the bullet drop compensated (BDC) reticles are useful out to about 500 yds. Beyond that range, you should dial elevation.

You should calibrate the reticle for your load and elevation. Calibration is done by first zeroing the rifle, then using the lowest holdoff line to fire at a long range target (that is, use the 500 yd line to fire at a 500 yd target). If the elevation is off, rotate the zoom ring a bit to get the point of aim to coincide with the point of impact. Then check the accuracy at an intermediate range. Finally, mark the zoom ring with tape or paint.

I use a boresight collimator to rough in the magnification setting. I like the Bushnell Professional Boresighter, but others will work too. The collimator has grid lines separated by 4 inches at 100 yds. Ultimately, you still have to confirm with a live fire test.