So, i've been using my 308 with my Vortex HS-T 4x16x44 scope and dialing up with my target turrets for target shooting. So far, i've successfully shot out to 703 yards using 168 grain Hornady Amax and H4895 powder (41 Grains) and Lapua brass. Now i'm doing some research on reading the MOA reticle and i'm finding it confusing. Can someone give me some help on how to read the reticle? what does each hash mark represent in MOA as far as elevation and windage is concerned? Thanks in advance. Cheers, hvychev77
MOA Reticle Reading
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FearNoWind
Well-Known Member
Your Vortex second focal plane (SFP) reticle with MOA subtensions has a cross hair that centers the sights on target. According to the manual, each of the hashmarks along the verticle and horizontal crosshairs of your scope represents 2 MOA (roughly two inches *) at 100 yards using the 16x setting. So the distance between the centers of adjacent hashmark represent 2 inches at 100 yards, 4 inches at 200 yards, six inches at 300 yards, etc. Hashmakrs on the horizontal crosshair line provide windage information and those of the vertical line provide information on elevation. If your scope is sighted with a 100 yard zero (point of impact on target matching the placement of the center of cross hairs) and, using the same cross hair centered sight picture, at 200 yards the bullet hits the target at a point corresponding with the hashmark directly above the horizontal line of the reticle, you can judge that to be 4 inches high at that 200 yards distance.
(*) The actual measurement for 1 MOA is 1.05 inches (2 MOA 2.10 inches) but you can't begin to maintain a hold on target within that level of tolerance so don't worry about the .05 inch ....
A pronghorn antelope will measure approximately 15 inches from the top of the back to the bottom of the chest. If you put the center cross hair of your scope on the back of that antelope and the second hashmark below the horizontal cross hair aligns with the chest you know that the anetlope is approximately 375 yards away. (15/4 = 3.75 )
(*) The actual measurement for 1 MOA is 1.05 inches (2 MOA 2.10 inches) but you can't begin to maintain a hold on target within that level of tolerance so don't worry about the .05 inch ....
A pronghorn antelope will measure approximately 15 inches from the top of the back to the bottom of the chest. If you put the center cross hair of your scope on the back of that antelope and the second hashmark below the horizontal cross hair aligns with the chest you know that the anetlope is approximately 375 yards away. (15/4 = 3.75 )
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406precision
Well-Known Member
The hst elevation and windage marks are 2 moa spacing @16 power.
if you wish to use the moa hash marks for wind or elevation all one needs to do is hold the appropriate mark for your correction on target and your good to go.
For instance let's say the target is 450 yards and your dope calls for 6 moa than simply hold the third mark below crosshairs on your target and send it.
Hope this helps if you need more help pm me I'll walk you through it
Jordan@406
if you wish to use the moa hash marks for wind or elevation all one needs to do is hold the appropriate mark for your correction on target and your good to go.
For instance let's say the target is 450 yards and your dope calls for 6 moa than simply hold the third mark below crosshairs on your target and send it.
Hope this helps if you need more help pm me I'll walk you through it
Jordan@406
jmitchell135
Well-Known Member
FearNoWind
Well-Known Member
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hvychev77 - I stand corrected. As far as I knew, Zeiss was the only scope that didn't use max. power to establlish its minimum subtension. Jordan has shown me where your Vortex actually applies 2 MOA subtension at 16 power. Therefore, my examples are wrong. You can still use them but you'll need to replace any reference to 1 MOA with 2 MOA.
Sorry about that.
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Gents, thank you kindly for your informative answers. I did some more reading after posting the question and was able to obtain some information from Vortex's website. I understand it now, but of course i have to practice it now!! I wanted to be able to use the hash marks in a hunting situation when having to set up quick. Plus, i wanted to be able to use the scope to it's full potential as well.
thanks again guys, hvychev77
thanks again guys, hvychev77
