Straight-wall scope question - 350 Legend

[Timmis2]

The Vortex Crossfire 2 straight wall BDC 3-9 x 50mm scope has hold-over marks in the reticle for straight wall ammo ballistics. Each mark below the crosshair is for 50 yard distance increases. The reticle's hold-over marks were put in place from data and testing of a 450 Bushmaster with a 250 grain projectile, 18" barrel, at 2200 FPS, zeroed at 100 yards.

My question is, are these hold-over marks anymore accurate than a non straight-wall scopes reticle hold-over marks if you are using a 350 Legend with different ammo? If no, then would there be very little to no benefit using a straight-wall scope unless you are using the same rifle and ammo as used in the design of the scope?

 

[David Milisock]

The Vortex Crossfire 2 straight wall BDC 3-9 x 50mm scope has hold-over marks in the reticle for straight wall ammo ballistics. Each mark below the crosshair is for 50 yard distance increases. The reticle's hold-over marks were put in place from data and testing of a 450 Bushmaster with a 250 grain projectile, 18" barrel, at 2200 FPS, zeroed at 100 yards.

My question is, are these hold-over marks anymore accurate than a non straight-wall scopes reticle hold-over marks if you are using a 350 Legend with different ammo? If no, then would there be very little to no benefit using a straight-wall scope unless you are using the same rifle and ammo as used in the design of the scope?

Hold over marks mean very little unless you calibrate them yourself. If you shoot factory buy several boxes of your favorite ammunition and shoot 3 shots at 3 different measured distances at the same aim point of a target and measure the distance from the aim point to the center of the group. Figure 50 yards, 100 and 150 yards, if you're adventurous shoot 200. You'll know where your zero-point hits at those yards.

You can visit here https://www.caldwellshooting.com/ballistic-calculator/ and run the calculations if you can get the data needed on your ammo, but the shooting in my opinion works better.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Hold over marks mean very little unless you calibrate them yourself. If you shoot factory buy several boxes of your favorite ammunition and shoot 3 shots at 3 different measured distances at the same aim point of a target and measure the distance from the aim point to the center of the group. Figure 50 yards, 100 and 150 yards, if you're adventurous shoot 200. You'll know where your zero-point hits at those yards.

You can visit here https://www.caldwellshooting.com/ballistic-calculator/ and run the calculations if you can get the data needed on your ammo, but the shooting in my opinion works better.

Great reply. The fact that many people need to be told to try it themselves....troubling .

 

[Timmis2]

Hold over marks mean very little unless you calibrate them yourself. If you shoot factory buy several boxes of your favorite ammunition and shoot 3 shots at 3 different measured distances at the same aim point of a target and measure the distance from the aim point to the center of the group. Figure 50 yards, 100 and 150 yards, if you're adventurous shoot 200. You'll know where your zero-point hits at those yards.

You can visit here https://www.caldwellshooting.com/ballistic-calculator/ and run the calculations if you can get the data needed on your ammo, but the shooting in my opinion works better.

I don't shoot factory and of course I would not rely on a scope's holdovers as accurate interpretations of bullet drop until they were tested. I was just wondering how the holdovers differ in a straight wall scope vs a normal BDC scope, but I think it's safe to say that straight wall scope's holdovers account for greater bullet drop than other BDC holdovers. The advantages of a straight wall scope seem to go out the window unless you are using the same rifle and ammo, zeroed at the same distance, as utilized in the holdover placement of the scope's design, and even then it may still be a bit off. Therefore a straight wall scope may be no more useful than another scope. What might be a fun challenge though, would be to work up a handload whose ballistics match that of the factory load used in the scope's holdover design, especially if said handload was for a different caliber straight wall rifle. It would be kinda like reverse engineering. Instead of aiming the holdovers how your factory ammo performs, design your handloads ballistics to match the holdovers in a scope at the distances they are placed for in the reticle.

 

[David Milisock]

In my opinion practice and range to the target estimation is far more important that any difference in scope type.

When utilizing short ranges and ballistically limited cartridgesespecially with medium sized game I find practice to be the deciding factor. I have only 3 straight walled cartridges and none of them should be used past 200 yards. One inside 100 yards on deer the other 100 or less on big bear or 200 on elk, the other can handle deer or elk at 200.

With distances from the end of the muzzle being that short with practice hitting deer sized game can be muscle memory.