Magnification Effect on Elevation

[the blur]

My Z6 2nd focal plane scope is dead on zero 3x min mag, and 18x max at 200 yards.
Anything beyond 200 yards, I need to be zoomed all the way in. Is there a way to get elevations at different zoom levels, or just use the scope at max zoom beyond 200 yards?

 

[Tiny Tim]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you wish to use the reticle subtentions on your second focal plane scope at other than max power, correct? Probably a better place to ask would be in the optics sub-forum. I believe the ratio is inversely proportional. If you set your power to half the power, the subtentions will double in value i.e.... at 9 power (1/2 of 18) a one minute subtention would become a value of two minutes. There are far better people to answer this and I'm certain they will chime in shortly.

 

[DJ Fergus]

I had a rifle & scope combo where the holdovers matched up near perfectly at 18x. I had a really nice buck come out one morning & the sun was just breaking over the horizon & the lense flare was so bad I couldn't see anything. So I backed it down to 12x and I could see but I had no idea how much to hold over at that time so I had to let the buck walk. That's when I realized that I needed to start dialing my elevation turrets for long shots. If you have an moa reticle, I'm sure you can get it figured out way ahead of a situation like that.

 

[338 dude]

On the magnification ring on my Leupold hunting scopes there is a pointed mark indicating the sub tensions are correct at that point of magnification

 

[ShtrRdy]

I had a rifle & scope combo where the holdovers matched up near perfectly at 18x. I had a really nice buck come out one morning & the sun was just breaking over the horizon & the lense flare was so bad I couldn't see anything. So I backed it down to 12x and I could see but I had no idea how much to hold over at that time so I had to let the buck walk. That's when I realized that I needed to start dialing my elevation turrets for long shots. If you have an moa reticle, I'm sure you can get it figured out way ahead of a situation like that.

One easy way to deal with a SFP scope at less than calibrated magnification power is to set the magnification at half of that power and then double to graduations on the reticle.

Let's use your situation for example. You have your scope set to 18 power so you can use the vertical for hold-over and hold-off. The shot you had required 4.5 moa hold-over. You could dial the magnification down to 9x power, (1/2 of 18), and then use the reticle marks as if they were double the amount. In other words, hold at 2.25 moa.

 

[the blur]

Let's use your situation for example. You have your scope set to 18 power so you can use the vertical for hold-over and hold-off. The shot you had required 4.5 moa hold-over. You could dial the magnification down to 9x power, (1/2 of 18), and then use the reticle marks as if they were double the amount. In other words, hold at 2.25 moa.

Are you saying, if I magnify at 9, rather than 18x; then I reduce the hold over by half ?
Assuming the hash lines are spaced evenly, I hold over at 2 subtensions, rather than 4 ?
Is that correct ?

 

[ShtrRdy]

Yes, that's correct. Basically when the magnification power is half, then the subtentions are worth twice as much.

 

[Ga6570]

I know you don't have a nikon scope but you can play with what they are describing above in a controlled setting by using the Nikon SpotOn App. Or go to the webpage here.

http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spoton/spoton.html#:4

then you can select a scope of similar magnification and see how the adjustments change the reticle distances. There are a lot of variables involved.

hope that helps some.

 

[javman]

Ever see how much more elevation you get when you use the lower settings on a scope?

 

[JAYgs8163]

Have you used the ZEISS Hunting Ballistics app? It should have everything you need and it's a FREE app from ZEISS. I've used STRELOK PRO with great results when working up loads for friends rigs with SFP scopes. STRELOK PRO is $12 on the App Store.

 

[73driver]

Have you used the ZEISS Hunting Ballistics app? It should have everything you need and it's a FREE app from ZEISS. I've used STRELOK PRO with great results when working up loads for friends rigs with SFP scopes. STRELOK PRO is $12 on the App Store.

###### What jgs said###### Strelok PRO the way to go

 

[cohunt]

check out the strelok app for your reticle

 

[DJ Fergus]

There's also an app called strelok. It has many different reticles listed and will give you detailed information on calculated values for your particular reticle & yardages according to what magnification you set your scope to.

 

[JustMe2]

Yup, Strelok is the easy way on your phone. Strelok is free, StrelokPro does more and is a cheap $12. It has probably a thousand reticles so you'll be able to find your exact reticle. After entering your ballistics data, select a sliding scope magnification bar for 2nd Focal Plane scopes. Then the reticle picture will tell you what each line represents in range for every magnification you choose. Have the reticle screen open on your phone while hunting so it is rapidly available.