I shot about 23 different targets yesterday - different shapes, sizes and thicknesses of lines. Bottom line - my ideas where no good. Got two samples to try from members, both rated higher than any of mine on the test we did. Essentially I evaluated every design with the crosshairs and top circle in the reticle design at 100 yards, then the five that got the highest ratings were moved to 200 and repeat the test.
Now here is where I have a BIG problem. Dog Caller sent in a great design and one other fellow was good enough to send me his. Unfortunately my e-mail is barely operating, and I lost the second fellows e-mail (along with about 160 others). The target is a blue circle, interupted with vertical and horizontal breaks. Both the crosshair and circles in the BDC reticle worked well with these two.
Anyhow, I regret that I lost the e-mail with the good target - if the generous individual who sent it to me reads this could you send it again. I think I saved it in a folder, but damned if I know how to re-open the place I saved it. Plus, I shot the only copy I printed, so I don't gots no more.
Back to the drawing board, but getting closer.
We shot the T/C Benchmark at 100 and 200 yards yesterday with some very old .22 LR ammo. Had one group at 100 yards that had 7 out of 10 shots in about one inch. The Nikon BDC reticle worked well with the rimfires, plus I could see the bullets flying through the air easily with the 2.5-10 Monarch Gold scope I was using.