Suggestions on settings for a BDC reticle scope

[David Milisock]

First, how old is your son? I only ask this in reference to his ability to remember trajectories and settings. If young, you may want to keep is simple like you mentioned. I would probably just set the zero where you want and then give them one or two hash mark yardages. If he's full gun nut like the rest of us, go hog wild with dope charts!

One thing to mention, you can map out those hash marks/subtensions at any magnification. However, as you know, since it's SFP those subtensions (except the center dot) will change at each magnification. I mention this because, you will want your son to practice with the scope in the applications he wants to use it. Then he may have a preference for what magnification he is most comfortable with.

For example, on my SFP hunting rifles with BDC scopes, I never chart my subtensions at max magnification, because that I not what I am comfortable with when hunting deer. 12x or 14x is just too much magnification.

Since the rifle is 5.56, I would personally use the scope on 1x 90% of the time. 4x 9.9% of the time. and 8x 0.1% of the time. So I would make my dope card using the 4x magnification. Which also will work better with the 5.56 round. The only time I would use 8x is if I was plinking steel at long range. And at that point you don't really need to know the distances for your 1st shot.

I guess I'm saying, find out what the preferred magnification is, and use that for the dope chart. I have the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x and my chart is for 4x.

Middle age!

You have plenty of information to think about. Are you scopes first or second focal plane devices?

 

[David Milisock]

I still have Strelok plus on my phone. So I mocked up some results for you...

I'm using a 55gr Hornady BTSP at 3050fps for this. Zero distance is at 150 yards. To me, the 150 yard zero makes sense. You will have 0.5" high at 100 yards, which in the grand scheme of AR15s is pretty close to zero anyway.

The scope they had in the database was the 1-6x version, but with the same BDC6 reticle. So I altered the max magnification and left the subtension settings to be calculated at 6x.

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Thanks, that's the kind of information I need to develop also. My son will need do pick an ammo for his 5.56, my 6MM ARC will be shooting 103 grain Hornady XLDX reloads.

 

[David Milisock]

OP has a 6 ARC, but this is for his son who has a 5.56, at least that's how I read the request... as setting up the scope for his son's present

You are correct. My son has a 16" Stag Arms in 5.56 and I have a 16" Aero Precision in 6MM ARC, I also have a 5.56, 20" Colt A2 in Delta configuration and the gang here has now inspired me to develop a table for it.

 

[Dimner]

Middle age!

You have plenty of information to think about. Are you scopes first or second focal plane devices?

I only have SFP for hunting. I have come to the point where I find field of view to be one of the most important features in a hunting scope. Probably because a shot past 250 is very rare. So I generally just stick to 4x or 6x magnification depending on my blind location. For example 6x, it's as easy as this for a thought process:

Is that deer under 250 yards? If yes, use center x on reticle.
If no, drop one hash down.

So when I get all excited after I start counting antler tines, I just use my 250 yards yes/no question to keep it really easy for me.

Dropping two hashes is pretty much useless as I never have shots that long for hunting.

 

[CharlieNC]

I still have Strelok plus on my phone. So I mocked up some results for you...

I'm using a 55gr Hornady BTSP at 3050fps for this. Zero distance is at 150 yards. To me, the 150 yard zero makes sense. You will have 0.5" high at 100 yards, which in the grand scheme of AR15s is pretty close to zero anyway.

The scope they had in the database was the 1-6x version, but with the same BDC6 reticle. So I altered the max magnification and left the subtension settings to be calculated at 6x.

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Showing yardages on the reticle is a great Strelok feature!

 

[Dimner]

Showing yardages on the reticle is a great Strelok feature!

If someone knows how to get a hold of the guy who created strelok, it might be worthwhile to let him know there are other ways of distribution of the app than the two main app stores. I imagine it would be pretty easy to setup a pay system and then let people 'sideload' the app manually.

I miss having strelok updates. One of the few apps I would pay a yearly fee for.