Reticle/Turret Dial.....how bout both

[Railroader82]

It's been a while since I have made a post. Lately, I've been occupied with savings for rifle scopes. Here's the thought; the leupold vx-2 with the custom dial and the custom reticle. Both seem like the best option on this budget. But, I have since been learning about moa and dialing for the longer (hopeful) shots. I'm also loving the looks of the vortex viper hs long range with the exposed dials. I don't know what would be better. I'm constantly trying to remember practica application and not day dreams. My area comprised of close range shots mainly. 300 yards would be a stretch. Opinions please. Oh yea , this will be going on a browning bar 300 wm or 308.

 

[dragman]

I see no problem with picking either one that your comfortable with and going with it. I am a turret dialer doesn't matter if it's 200 yards or 1500 yards I dial. But I learned a long time ago you can't serve two masters.

 

[gohring3006]

I think having both is a great idea, for things like varmints. Quick shots are common and you don't have time to dial the retical comes into play then on the range or big game you might have time to dial....

 

[bigngreen]

I've shot the HS LR a lot and ran and hunted three methods with it, using the turret for MOA dial, using the BDC reticle and then having a turret tape made and running a ballistic turret.
Using the reticle became just a pain in the hind end, the idea is great but in practical use you have to still remember where each hash is at then adjust for never being at just the right range.
Dialing MOA works perfectly for long ranges where you have time to bring up a solution and dial it in but the reality of using it in closer ranges where you really only have time to range and shoot it's just slow but the best for straight up long range shooting.
The ideal solution I think is the ballistic turret but I get mine made with the MOA marks at the bottom so I retain the usability for long range precision dialing while adding a very good fast solution for shooting out to 600 or so yards. I found I can range dial and shoot very, very fast with a ballistic turret but then revert to dialing a precision solution when the time is available or range dictate it. This works very well the HS LR because you have 24 MOA in one rev which make is super fast with the ballistic turret!!

 

[Railroader82]

Thanks Guys! This is what I'm talking about! Real experience with these same set ups. This is all helpful to me. Please elaborate on the ballistic turrets. More comparisons too. I'm gonna use the 300wm on elk. Hopefully I can make it to Colorado next year. I'd love to go back to Wyoming and antelope hunt again. Best time hunting I ever had. I use a 25-06 for the goats.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

I'm not sure what the custom reticle for leupold looks like, but I have several Vortex Vipers and like them very much. Mostly I dial for range, and hold for wind, but one of the advantages of the MOA reticle in my FFP is spotting the impact when I miss (I know no one else ever does, but I do occasionally). The reticle grid gives me the correction either way: I can measure and dial the correct dope, or simply hold using the spotted impact point if in a real hurry. That's surely the best of both worlds.

 

[mountainman56]

I'm not sure what the custom reticle for leupold looks like, but I have several Vortex Vipers and like them very much. Mostly I dial for range, and hold for wind, but one of the advantages of the MOA reticle in my FFP is spotting the impact when I miss (I know no one else ever does, but I do occasionally). The reticle grid gives me the correction either way: I can measure and dial the correct dope, or simply hold using the spotted impact point if in a real hurry. That's surely the best of both worlds.

I agree......I've been know to miss occasionally myself and the Vortex reticle helps take a lot of the guess work out for a follow up.

 

[Railroader82]

Man that's a killer set up the moa reticle and dial. Of course that reticle in ffp makes a huge difference.

 

[dig]

I have been shooting the Horus reticle a for several years. The more I shoot the less I dial and more I use the reticle. It's a great option to have both and practice with both. Last year I had a quick shot on an elk at 506, no time to dial. Held at the correct mark which was tapped to my stock and bam I am eating elk.

 

[davkrat]

I'm not sure what the custom reticle for leupold looks like, but I have several Vortex Vipers and like them very much. Mostly I dial for range, and hold for wind, but one of the advantages of the MOA reticle in my FFP is spotting the impact when I miss (I know no one else ever does, but I do occasionally). The reticle grid gives me the correction either way: I can measure and dial the correct dope, or simply hold using the spotted impact point if in a real hurry. That's surely the best of both worlds.

Sounds like the old John Burns "Best of the West" method. Dial range and MOA hash marks for wind is perfect. I wish more scopes were offered with MOA horizontal hash marks. Wind calls are a lot easier to botch and having the ability to instantly measure and adjust is great. Also no chance of you dialing the wrong direction with a reticle. I had a turret tape made with wind age marks in one color to the left and another on the right to avoid confusion.

 

[Railroader82]

I've always been curious about the Horus reticle. I heard or read something about leupold putting that reticle in their scopes. I wonder how true this is? Anyway sounds like another good set up for speed and accuracy. I'd like to try the Huskemaw but it's out of my price range.

 

[brentc]

I've always been curious about the Horus reticle. I heard or read something about leupold putting that reticle in their scopes. I wonder how true this is? Anyway sounds like another good set up for speed and accuracy. I'd like to try the Huskemaw but it's out of my price range.

The Leupold reticle is similar to a Horus, but they've made their own design with a few tweaks. Leupold is installing them in their SFP 30mm 4.5-14s and 6.5-20s. I have two 4.5-14x50s one in a Mark 4 LR/T, one in a VX-3 LR, and one 6.5-20x50 LR/T Mark 4 with the new reticle. This reticle and the Vortex EBR-2B are the most useful reticles I've used. I'm experimenting with a new lighter weight/lower profile setup with my 300 WSM using only the Leupold MOA reticle for compensation. The gun will wear a VX-3 4.5-14x50 LR with this reticle. I've used the reticle long enough and have developed enough confidence with it that I think it will work great for my intended purpose for this rifle. I figure the less I dial the turrets the less I worry about mechanical failure at the worst possible moment.

Here is the Leupold TS-32x and the Vortex EBR-2B MOA :