Recommendations Please: Hold Over Scopes

[cowboyarcher]

Hi Guys,

I've come to the determination that if I zero my current rifles (223, 270 Win, 338WM) at 260 yards, they all share very similar ballistics to 400 yards. That is, approx 2" drop at 300 yards and 12" drop at 400 yards. With these numbers in mind, I will be very effective mule deer, antelope and elk as out to this range I will never be holding off body. It should provide a quick and repeatable system out to that range.

For ranges beyond 400 yards though I have determined that I need to be using some sort of measured hold over. I've been using the Nikon BDC with some success, but would welcome a reticle that has more usability in terms of windage markings. I'm thinking holdovers will serve me fine to about 700 yards, which becomes the limit of my range in terms of energy at those ranges.

I do not want to dial up as I've had issues with that system before. It is training based, but at this time I'd like to stick with using a holdover method.

So my question is this, for the described system, whose reticle would you recommend? I like scopes in the 4-16x range for my hunting scenarios if that makes a difference. Looking to stay in the $300-$400 range as well.

Thanks for your help fellas!

Adam

 

[BigDMT]

Vortex PST's and Razors have very nice milling and MOA reticles with windage markings. Glass etched and illuminated too. You can check them out at the Vortex Optics website.

The Viper PST glass is comparable to Nikon Monarch and Leupold VXIII glass.

The Razor HD glass is comparable to Nightforce and Swarovski.

Then of course Nightforce makes a bunch of different reticles.

 

[fredhorace77]

could the leupold varmint hunter reticle be what your looking for?

 

[K22]

For that price range you may want to consider a Bushnell Elite with a mil dot reticle. I believe with their guarnatee you can return the scope if you don't like it.

I agree with the your reluctance to dial in the elevation - it works but you need a very high quality scope that has repeatable clicks.

 

[MQ1]

Adam,

For the price range that you are looking in, I've had some good success with Burris scopes.

My preference is for their Ballistic mil dot reticle, not so much for the range finding, as for holding for the wind.

Their 30mm scopes are incredibly bright, and for awhile you could find the 4.5x14 TAC30 for around $350 from Natchez. I have 3 of those scopes, because they are dependable, bright, and work.

The Burris 1inch scopes are fine too, I just am spoiled with good glass, and anything less than 30mm seems mighty dark these days.

MQ1

 

[M14AMU]

"Looking to stay in the $300-$400 range as well."

Hmmmm....you might oughta take up golf!!

 

[MrMajestic]

"Looking to stay in the $300-$400 range as well."

Hmmmm....you might oughta take up golf!!

LMAO! That's a tough one however including the previous posted you may want to look at Sightron. I own 2 of the 20X SIII models and the glass is pretty darn good , hence owning 2! I know they are over your imposed limit but perhaps you could win a couple $ shoots with it to offset! :

 

[MNFinn]

in that price range you might want to check out the Nikon Buckmasters scopes...they have one that is mil-dot reticle and one that is BDC reticle

 

[FergusBailey]

These ballistic reticles sound good, but does anyone have experience changing the power settings and what this does to holdover values in actual field use? Since most of the scopes discussed above are second focal plane scopes, any change in scope power will mean the reticle changes size, and therefore the drop values move from one power setting to another.

I guess for shots within 200 - 300, you could use the primary crosshair at whatever magnification worked, since that mark will have a constant zero. Then for longer shots, you would use one magnification that you were zeroed to for all holdover lines?

Or is there some other way to workout holdover "dope" across different settings on a SFP scope with different holdover markings that I am missing?

 

[BigDMT]

My father shot a straight 6 power weaver wide field scope for over 25 years. No such thing as ballistic reticles or target knobs on sportsmens hunting rifle scopes back in the early 80s. He had that 6x weaver on a Ruger M77 tang 300 win mag that he bought back when nobody had really even heard of that cartridge (1982). It was the only high power rifle he used for hunting and he knew that gun like the back of his hand.

He has records of many shots made on game from 400-600 yards by just "knowing where to hold". And the one longest shot was made on a mule deer buck. First shot went about 1.5- 2 ft over the bedded buck's back. When he stood up from the noise of the bullet flying overhead, we noticed he was right in the path of the first shot. My father fired again using the same exact hold, and down the buck went. We paced it off because nobody had range finders back then. It was 690 paces to the edge of the small ravine that was in front of the buck. Then we figured it was about another 80 to 90 yards accross the ravin where he was lying dead on the ground I swear on my life he made that 770-780 yrd shot with a straight 6x scope. I was there.

Point is, if you know you're equipment well enough, you should be very deadly out to 500-600 yards with any scope that holds zero. Ballistic reticle or not, target turrets or not, range finder or not.

That's why they have the old saying "Beware the man with one rifle"

 

[Bangs OH]

"Looking to stay in the $300-$400 range as well."

Hmmmm....you might oughta take up golf!!

LMAO! That's a tough one however including the previous posted you may want to look at Sightron. I own 2 of the 20X SIII models and the glass is pretty darn good , hence owning 2! I know they are over your imposed limit but perhaps you could win a couple $ shoots with it to offset! :

Not so fast....those 20X Sightron SIIIs were still on sale for $399 at www.swfa.com last time I looked. I have one and, although the glass doesn't seem quite as good as the variable-power SIIIs, the dead-nuts tracking makes up for it. 1/2 mil-dot reticle looks/works great, too.
:-[ Duh, this just in: swfa only has the 16X left in that model, and they're now $379. That magnification would work well for the original poster's intentions, also, maybe better.

 

[jonbearman]

Why not buy a good used high quality scope and save some money.I check here,benchrest central,and snipers hide when shopping and have saved tons of money and ended up with some relly nice scopes for half price in some instances.

 

[Lapua40X]

Whether you decide to buy a new or used scope I too would suggest you consider the Sightron on your list of possibilities. The 20X Sightron SIIIs may not have the best glass in the world but it's still very good glass and you're not trying to pick out 6mm holes in a target at 300 yards, you want to know if the game has antlers and if the scope can hold a zero. I'm very sorry I sold the only Sightron I had a few years ago. It was a very good scope at a very reasonable price.

 

[wlsnmike]

Nikon buckmaster 6-18-40 with mil dot on sale at midway 325 with free shipping. I have two of them on Cz rimfires and I like them. Side focus and target turrets 1/8 clicks. I don't have the mil dot reticle though.

 

[CaptainMal]

I have multiple Burris Ballistic Plex reticles in different scopes. I do just what you want with them also. Couple months ago I used a 4.5 - 14X Fullfield II on one of my 257 Roberts rifles to make a perfect 540 yard shot on a nice 8 pt. Lasered the range, had drop practice to 600 yards and a reticle chart/model taped "upside down" on the stock to look at. Picked the appropriate mark on the reticle and made a perfect shot.

Just look at that small chart taped behind the ammo carrier on the stock. That's the Ballistic Plex marked with yardages to pick the appropriate mark to shoot. I never even think of adjusting scipes while I hunt at long ranges.

I also have done the same thing with a 4-16 Burris Black Diamond on my 7MM mag, a 2.5-10 Signature on my 270, a 3-9 on my 338 and numerous 2-7 Burris with Ballistic Ples on '06, 30-30 and 44 mag rifles. It works.

For the money you want to spend the Fullfield II models will be the ticket with Ballistic Plex reticles. That's all you need to know.

 

[XTR]

"Looking to stay in the $300-$400 range as well."

Hmmmm....you might oughta take up golf!!

I was about half way down the original post thinking "yea, I'll recommend one of the Swarovskis that I use..." then I got to that part.

 

[treeman]

I have sucssesfully used burris balistic plex reticle out to 6oo yards. I shoot a group at 500 yrds and center a marker (a paper plate makes a good marker it is easy to see) over the group then go back to the fireing point and see at what power setting the 500 yrd mark on the reticle lines up with the marker when the cross hair is lined up on the aiming point. mark that position on your power dial with nail polish or paint. then shoot groups for your 400 and 600 yrd reticle marks and make a chart to tape on your stock. the only way to use hold over reticles is with practice and experimentation. beats the hell out of kentucky elevation. you also need a wind chart and wind meter if you plan on takeing shots in the wind. a 5mph cross will make you miss vitals at 300 yrds and beyond if you don't take it into account. good luck and get out there and shoot.
Darrell

 

[Lapua40X]

I realize that it's not quite the 4x16 you might be looking for but I'd suggest you look at the Redfield Revenge 4-12x42 with a reticle in either ABS Hunter, ABS Sabot or ABS Varmint.
It's in your price range and is now a part of the Leupold line so I think it might work. :-\

 

[Trapper243]

Another option , to stay within your price range. if you already have a Leopold scope, would be to send it in to the custom shop and have them build a reticle for your particular rifle.

 

[GrocMax]

I'm saving my pennies up for a Burris Eliminator III. Out of the quoted price range, but sometimes technology wins over cost.