reticle selection questions

[John H]

New to the site. I'm very impressed with the knowledge base here.

I'm thinking of upgrading the scope on my .300 winnie (model 70 classic stainless.) It's wearing a Leupold VX II 3-9 x 40 plex now. I'm considering something in a 4.5-14 x 50. The reticle choices are confusing at best. The rifle is mostly used for elk hunting in western Montana. I'd like to get the rifle dialed in to where a 500 to 600 yd shot is doable. Might do some longer distance paper punching.

I like the look of the tactical milling reticle - but we are getting into the $1000 + range for a scope, I'd like to get closer to $750 - $800. I don't know how I feel about the B&C type reticles - Are they really any improvement over just using the top of the plex? ( I have a range card for my plex scope based on 4 power drop using the cross hairs and drop using the lower plex, and again for 8 power - it assumes that the scope really is 4 power and 8 power when the power ring is set there)

I have a range finder, so I'm not sure I really need any better range finding capability on the scope than what you can do with a plex reticle. I figure if its under 300 -350 yds I'm pretty much point blank - If its over that, I hope there is time enough to use the rangefinder and think the shot through.

John

[tjonh2001]

jonh if you are going be doing long shots over 300 yards almost all of the guys here use turrits. is still not a bad idea to have a retical that you are familiar with for shots out to 500 yards. you will soon realize that shots to 600 become easy once you get used to turrits. just to let you know i hav a vxs 6.5x20 with m1 turrirs and a tmr retical that were installed at leupods custom shop this would fit your needs. i am thinking of selling it to go to another nightforce...

[royinidaho]

I'm going through the same process and have been playing with different reticles.

I've pretty much decided that the turrets have to be target/tactical turrets with the reticle in MOA and the clicks in MOA. Solves a bunch of problems when its time to "think the shot through".

However, the choices keep coming back to the Nightforce with the NPR reticle. Some times ya just gotta spend the $ if you want to make the shot. But I still find it hard to let loose of all that change for a piece of glass. But, I've learned that at certain things are critical and all else being considered the glass is the final link to a successful shot.

FWIW

I see that tjonh2001 is in the same boat. Hmmmmm.......

[John H]

We spend a lot of time in doghair lodgepole. I don't think I want to boost the low end too much. the FOV of a 6.5 is pretty tight. The last 2 elk I've taken home with me weren't more than 30 to 40 yd shots. I had an opportunity to take a nice bull at near 500 yds last year too - if I didn't have a cow tag in my pocket for that area it would have been an even better opportunity:eek:.

I see on optics planet you can order a VX III long range thru the Leupy custom shop with a TMR reticle for right at $800. Not sure what they clip you to add target turrets.

How repeatable or stable is the VXIII in respects to using the turrets? Does they generally pass the test?

John

[sscoyote]

Man, i'd go straight to the Zeiss Conquest with the RR600 reticle. The windage stadia r excellent in that reticle, and it can easily be adapted to reticle-rangefinding.

[Catfish]

Personally I prefer to dial in the drop and use mil dots for wind drift and lead on running targets. I`m a Leupold fan and have an 8 1/2 to 25 on my long range coyote rifle. I carry my drop chart and a wind meter. Once ranged and the wind speed taken is just dial in the distance and hold off useing mil dots. All of those fancy raticals are good for only 1 bullet BC and then at only 1 velosity. Get a 4.5 to 14 VX111 with target knobs and mil dots.

[woods]

Hey John, take a look at the Zeiss Conquests with the RapidZ 800

Welcome to Carl Zeiss Optical, Inc.

With this system it is not true that the reticle is only good for a certain bullet at a certain velocity. Use the RapidZ calculator on their website to calculate the power to set the scope on to match whatever load you are shooting.

For example the calculator says that for my 300 win mag load shooting a 200 gr Accubond at 2900 fps the power would need to be set on 11.37 power for the reticle to be correct as follows:

crosshairs - 200 yd zero
1st bar - 294 yards
2nd bar - 395 yards
3rd bar - 496 yards
4th bar - 600 yards
5th bar - 705 yards
6th bar - 812 yards

Or for a 180 gr Accubond at 3100 fps set the power on 12.46 for

crosshairs - 200 yd zero
1st bar - 296 yards
2nd bar - 398 yards
3rd bar - 499 yards
4th bar - 600 yards
5th bar - 702 yards
6th bar - 804 yards

That's pretty close and you will have a Zeiss. My 4.5x14x44 RapidZ 800 costs me $659.00.