Reticles on Leupold

[Ray]

I'm sometimes a gear whore so I figured I would ask what you guys think about all the reticle options on the Leupold Scopes? Feel free to discuss other scope reticles too...

I just picked up another scope and had thought about picking up the  Varmint reticle. For monetary reasons I decided against it and just went with the plane jane duplex.

Do any of you prefer any of these in some situations and or get a lot of use from some of them?

[PolarBear]

I sent one of my scopes (4.5x14 VXIII) to Leupold and had them put heavy duplexes in it.  I found that in bright light on high power the regular duplexes would dissappear.  It only cost around $40 or so but it was worth it.  I also like the B&C but dont have one yet.

[Fletch]

Ive always use the regular duplex...never had any problems but dont have any experience with the others. 

[Ridgerunner]

I thought it was just my eyes, lol.  I'm sending a scope into Leupold to have them put in the heavy duplex as well.  Hopefully I'll mail it in a few days.  Thanks for reminding me to do that.

[PolarBear]

Hey ridge, I noticed that the heavy duplexes draw my eye towards the center and make me focus more on the target and not looking around as much.  I really like em!

[pacyew]

Depends on what you're using it for. 

For tiny varmints or prairie dogs way out on the horizon, I find the fine duplex or the Varmint recticle to be the favorite. You've usually got good light and other than afternoon heat waves, optimum sighting conditions. You need to take the finest "bead" you can and I find that fine duplex helps. Add the windage and range references of the Varmint recticle and you're all set.

For big game, dim light and fast decisions in the field, the heavy duplex is the ticket!

[littletoes]

Well guys, guess I'm a bit more "prejudiced" than most.

I like MillDots, or the newer Leupold TMR Reticle.
An illuminated version would be superb in low-light conditions. I don't own one of these, but have used them from friends rifles. 
For hunting big-game, either of those would work great, and I've had success out to 600 yards. 

If you practice, and know your come-ups, they work beyond great.

Like pacyew said above, for tiny varmints or small targets at extended rages I too like the fine duplex reticle.

Picked up a Boone & Crocket for the Wife, but as of yet I haven't had any time to figure come-ups yet. We shall see.

[Ridgerunner]

Got my heavy duplex back last week, I love how it turned out, thumbs up on the custom shop.

[bcrawford]

I just bought a 4.5x14 vxIII  B&C I like I so far. I guess the jury is still out until it spends some realtime in the field.

[GoldTip]

I have the VX-III in 3.5-10 with a B&C reticle on it and used it on 3 different animals last year, using the correct cross bar for the range and it worked perfectly, one shot kills on all from 325-430 yards.  I love that scope and cross hair combo.

[littletoes]

I have the VX-III in 3.5-10 with a B&C reticle on it and used it on 3 different animals last year, using the correct cross bar for the range and it worked perfectly, one shot kills on all from 325-430 yards.  I love that scope and cross hair combo.

SWEET!

I like the B&C too. Feel its kinda a modified Mill-Dot, or was pulled from that idea, mills just take it a bit further, and are there for windage too.

[GoldTip]

I was shooting mine in a cross wind this past weekend and they had wind flags at the range, and the wind compensation of the B&C reticle worked well at 500 yards on a 18" steel gong.  Wish I could afford the B&C reticle for all my guns.

[littletoes]

Yea, I shoot clay pidgeons from 600 to 850 yards, talk about a blast.
When you get two or more guys together, each gets 10, and you race to see who gets done first....you get to laughing so hard when you make the call....its just great! Got to try it sometime!

[Intruder]

I tend to think that most of the new compensation reticles are more marketing hype than true value to the big game hunter.  Not saying that they don't work but I just question the real need.  With the heavy duplex, which is kinda the standard, you essentially get a 2nd sight point for longer range shooting.  It is the point on the vertical post where it goes from thin to thick below the horizontal crosshair.  Sight your gun in to the proper number of inches high at 100 to achieve max point blank range.  Then take a shot using the sight point I described above and see how high it shoots.  You can plug all this into a ballistics calc and have a very accurate reference for longer shots (beyond your max point blank range)... as opposed a bunch of potentially confusing clutter in the scope view that only gives you estimates.  Absolutely no need to do anything under the max point blank range other than just hold on the animal and shoot.  My 2 cents....... 

[littletoes]

Intruder, ya know, I think it may just depend on the shooter.

For example, my Son and Wife both have identical .243's, shooting identical bullets, but one has the Boone & Crocket, while the other has the heavy duples reticle. Both the lower crosshair on the B&C and where the lighter reticle to heavy reticle meet ARE the same firing point at 300 yards.

I would say that any shooter should be able to use both examples fairly easily. All it takes is a bit of shooting, and load/field work.

 

[Intruder]

I think it may just depend on the shooter

You're absolutely correct.  A guy or gal should shoot what they have confidence in.  My point wasn't intended to present a right or wrong way of doing things but more to illustrate that the manufactures out there are creating a market for their products by trying to convince people that they are some how at a disadvantage by not using said products.... or that they are at an advantage by using their product.   

OK, I may be  but here's another example....
Take a .270 w/ a 130 grn.  It has a +/- 3" point blank range of around 280-300 depending on the actual bullet and actual load.  So for all practical purposes (big game hunting) you really need no kind of compensation in sighting on an animal to 300 yards.  So right off the bat the 200 and 300 yard sight points are superfluous.  The 400 may be useful but much past that you're shooting beyond the cartridge's capacity to perform adequately.  I know different companies build different capabilities in their compensation mechanism.  Also, I can see if a person was really into varmint shooting where a mildot type setup would be practical.  But I just think that for the most part these scopes are an example of marketing efforts that try to convince people they need something that in reality isn't all that beneficial to the hunter.

Again.... no disrespect to anyone who owns one of these scopes.  I have friends that shoot them and they seem to work just fine for em. 

     

 

[littletoes]

Oh sure, Scope Manufactures are in business to make money....arn't we all?

Butttt....there are those that can take advantage of those tiney little marks...

I think possibly a rethink may be in order to the thought process that beyond 300 to 400 yards is beyond a calibers capacity, but for all purposes, I would say as far as the general public is concerned, you are very right.

So many think that because they WANT to shoot far, and they have read a book, or played a video game (Lord help us), they can or even should.

Most absolutely should NOT.

The theater of Long Range should only be practiced by those that PRACTICE at said ranges. What we seem to forget, there are many many very capable.
Ever hear of a little sport called "Highpower"? Iron sight to 1000 yards, and thousands of rounds fired yearly. That indeed says enough, I should think. So as I have always said, limitations are not uniform across the board, nor are Horizons.

Good Luck!   Good Shootin.

[Dudeluv]

If the reticals work for you then get it.
I have a couple VXIII 6.5x20x40's
I just bought a VXII 6X18X40 tonight for my new 204
but Sportsmans warehouse gave me the high rings instead of the medium so I have to go back and exchange them

[scoyoc5]

Im very happy  with the leupold 4.5x14 vxIII  B&C 

[Red Dawg]

i put a 4.5-14 vxlll on my 300 rum. very good scope. took a little getting used to but i have decided that i did the right thing.

[T-ROY]

What about the lrd reticle on the vx2's. looked at one last night, the b&c was a little busy for my liking.  does any one now the inches of drop they have set up for the lrd. can't get to the leupold sight from work. wish they would put a decent retecle in that ziess conquest.

[T-ROY]

Intruder, ya know, I think it may just depend on the shooter.

For example, my Son and Wife both have identical .243's, shooting identical bullets, but one has the Boone & Crocket, while the other has the heavy duples reticle. Both the lower crosshair on the B&C and where the lighter reticle to heavy reticle meet ARE the same firing point at 300 yards.

I would say that any shooter should be able to use both examples fairly easily. All it takes is a bit of shooting, and load/field work.

 

 so what are you looking at for a  zero point of impact in yards using the junction of the duplex.  is it close to 500??? it must matter what power the scope is on also,

[Skyvalhunter]

I just contacted Leupold about changing the reticle on my 3 x 9 50mm from the light reticle to the long range duplex and it will cost $70. If I wanted the Heavy Duplex reticle it is $60 to change over.

[addicted]

"German #4" is very popular for all around scopes as well as i have come to like it a lot.

3 fat posts that come together in a fine crosshair.


I liked the nikon BDC as it has it's place. low light is not it's place though. thin crosshairs dissapear.

[high country]

I have sent 2 lupy's back for broken wires. for my money on a leupold, I choose the mildot. it is a very effective ranging and aiming device, it is an etched reticle so brekage is a non issue and it is very bold and quick to acquire and stands out against a poorly lit target. the industry is full of fluffy and fancy reticles that do a bunch of math for you, but sadly, it only does 1/2 of the math......the windage is still up to the shooter and I feel like 80% of the shooters that I meet will not even consider wind as a variable.

[PolarBear]

Hell, a lot of hunters feel that 6" groups at 200 yards wll still get them in the ball park at 400-500 yards, forget about a cross wind.   

[addicted]

Hell, a lot of hunters feel that 6" groups at 200 yards wll still get them in the ball park at 400-500 yards, forget about a cross wind.   

paper plate at 50 yards  .......

last time i said that some guy thought i was serious. 

[Ratdog68]

Hell, a lot of hunters feel that 6" groups at 200 yards wll still get them in the ball park at 400-500 yards, forget about a cross wind.   

paper plate at 50 yards  .......

I had a Savage 24V once (in .223) that couldn't group that at 25 yds. !!!     That thing was a turd !  But, that was also before I knew about checking the crown... so, I cashed it in (without losing any money on it) and bought me a .22-250   

[Jamieb]

I grew up useing a leupold with a duplex and thats what looks natural to me.
When I was trying diffrent scopes, I bought and used a bunch of diffrent reticles, I could get by just fine with almost any of them but I'm back to the standard duplex in most of the scopes I own. I do have a couple of .224's that wear scopes with a fine duplex but the rifles are built for ground squirl shooting and one scope with a heavy duplex(4.5-14) that I like but everything else wears a leupold with a standard duplex.

[2506]

I also have a Leupold 4.5x14 and i have never had any problems with the reticles.

[tlbradford]

I like the heavy duplex as well.  On my coyote rifle I have the illuminated reticle, and love it.