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.