What sort of Reticle are you using?

[Gearhead1940]

Hi guys, been lurking for a while and it's time to post.....

I am building an AR for Varmint hunting and have everything on its way (can't believe the lead times thanks to the election!!!) except for the scope.  I have an idea for what power to use, but was just wondering what sort of recticle you have on the scopes you use? Normal cross hairs, mil-dot or something like Nikon's BDC?  Was leaning towards the BDC, but it looks like it's a love-it or hate-it sort of recticle that doesn't fit everybody's ballistics, and for the money I'm not sure if I want to take that sort of gamble.

Thanks in advance! I look forward to being an active member of the site.

[Intruder]

Pesonally, I'm not a BDC fan.  Unless you can get one specifically calibrated for your load they require a lot of shooting to get em dialed in.  Having said that, the application where they probably make the most sense is varmit hunting. Similarly with Mil Dot too... I'd probably lean a litte more that direction rather than BDC.

Would suggest getting something that goes at least to 16 power and has an AO.  You probably don't need to spend top dollar to get the performance you need.  If you got the budget no problem getting a high end scope... but it is an area you can probably spend 250 or less and get one that'll do everything you need. 

[AWS]

Most of my varmint hunting is coyotes and cat and I call almost everything so most of my shots are 100yds or less.  I like low power variables in the 1x4 to 2x7 with duplex or #4 reticles.  I value FOV (fast target acquisition) way over power.  I have many more shots at coyotes that pop up at 20yds than that hang up beyond 300.  I'm comfortable with my guns out to 300yds and most are flat enough shooting that I don't need any of the busy reticles out to 300 and can just hold on fur.



Here are some of my rigs.  The two scopes with large bells are a 1.5x6x42 Sightron (very bright , my favorite) and a straight 4x on my backup/loaner rig.

AWS

[HawkenBob]

BDC ret's are something that must be practiced with. Its not an out of the box, find my caliber and shoot away. It will not be on.

No way are two guns even the same in the same caliber. You must first sight it in at zero. Then shoot and shoot untill you know what yardage your actuall bullet hits at at the different increments. It dosent even matter if your gun's caliber isnt listed. You still can find what yardages you hit at at each cross of the BDC ret.

My VX-L is a Boone and Crocket style BDC. Its set up for a 270 or the like. Im shooting a 300wsm. For example, what might hit at 400 with a .270 is maybe 380 for my gun. So my cross hair points mean different yardages to me than the published yardage.

Once you get it, it's very nice for long range accurate shooting. I hear the Nikon BDC is kind of too big of a dot for long range. The Leup is awesome...

From 250 on in, its just like a regular fine duplex.

[mossback91]

I just like it nice and clean inside my scopes..........a regular duplex works awesome!

[addicted]

Family really likes Nikon's new line and their BDC. The glass is clear and there are a lot of options for choice of power.  Ive seen the BDC drop a whitetail  at 394 yards.

A #4 reticle(left, right, and lower crosshair start out fat then become fine at intersection) is really popular over here because it works well with night hunting. The wide crosshairs are easy to pick up in the dark.

[addicted]

#4

[tlbradford]

Unless you are shooting prarie dogs, I agree with most everyone else.  The less busy the better.  I love my illuminated reticle in my Leupy, but it adds expense.

[furbearer365]

I love simplicity. Coyotes are always on the move and too many numbers and lines means too much thought.  I use nothing but a Target dot on all my guns. Just put the dot on his chest and BANG.  Partiularly Nikon Monarch 6.5 X 24 X 50.  I have 2 of these.

[Skyvalhunter]

Welcome to the site. Somewhere on here there was a thread about how you could send you Leupold back and they would change the reticle for you if that is an avenue you wanted to try. Don't know what the cost was or the specifics.

[ebusa]

I use Leupold/Zeiss Standard Duplex, Z-plex and Wide-Duplex. 

Wide Duplex is my favorite for deer hunting.  The wider center gate helps me see more when counting the points on the antlers and is great for running shots.

I use a Zeiss Conquest 3x9 with Z-Plex for coyotes.  Clear scope, good FOV and simple reticle.

[Gearhead1940]

Thanks for the great info guys, appreciate it! I still have plenty of time before the upper gets here so if anybody has any other info, please chime in.