BDC reticles????

btomlin

btomlin

New member
I have always shot my guns with a 1-1.5" high setting at 100yrds depending on gun.

My new scope has a BDC reticle and I was reading the "instructions"....probably a big mistake.

Do these scopes have to be shot set at highest magnification for the BDC properties of the reticle to work consistently??? That's what I'm gathering from the literature that come with scope.

I realize a person is going to have to sit at a bench to figure out exact yardage for ea. crosshair, but it sounds like a waste fo time if I have to walk around with scope on 12x. ha ha.
 
Originally Posted By: btomlinI have always shot my guns with a 1-1.5" high setting at 100yrds depending on gun.

My new scope has a BDC reticle and I was reading the "instructions"....probably a big mistake.

Do these scopes have to be shot set at highest magnification for the BDC properties of the reticle to work consistently??? That's what I'm gathering from the literature that come with scope.

I realize a person is going to have to sit at a bench to figure out exact yardage for ea. crosshair, but it sounds like a waste fo time if I have to walk around with scope on 12x. ha ha.

What scope? Some BDC/Mil-Dot scopes are calibrated to be the same "drop" at all ranges but this is a FFP scope. Most "lower end" scopes are SFP scopes and will be calibrated for a certain specified range whether it be 10X or 12X or....
 
Originally Posted By: btomlinI have always shot my guns with a 1-1.5" high setting at 100yrds depending on gun.

My new scope has a BDC reticle and I was reading the "instructions"....probably a big mistake.

Do these scopes have to be shot set at highest magnification for the BDC properties of the reticle to work consistently??? That's what I'm gathering from the literature that come with scope.

I realize a person is going to have to sit at a bench to figure out exact yardage for ea. crosshair, but it sounds like a waste fo time if I have to walk around with scope on 12x. ha ha.


I was messing with the Spot-On at Nikon and thought it was nice tool. Adjust the available magnification based on the scope you selected and it will display the new POI, plus you can print it
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It has a lot of features that I did not mention.

http://www.nikonhunting.com/SpotOn/

.

 
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Originally Posted By: btomlinPentax Gameseeker II. Originally Posted By: btomlinI have always shot my guns with a 1-1.5" high setting at 100yrds depending on gun.

My new scope has a BDC reticle and I was reading the "instructions"....probably a big mistake.

Do these scopes have to be shot set at highest magnification for the BDC properties of the reticle to work consistently??? That's what I'm gathering from the literature that come with scope.

I realize a person is going to have to sit at a bench to figure out exact yardage for ea. crosshair, but it sounds like a waste fo time if I have to walk around with scope on 12x. ha ha. I`ve got a Monarch 5.5x20x44 on a 25/06 and with the load I`m shooting with a 200 yd zero the accuracy circles are right on at 3,4,5 and 600 yds, they are a little too bold for me, but they work on 20 power.
 
Yes, you probably have to have the highest magnification set and will need to have a 100 yard zero.

Are you really going to need to snap shoot at a running animal at 300 yards anyway? Probably not. Just keep it where you want it, and when a long shot presents itself, you are likely going to take the time to find a good rest, settle in and get ready for the shot. When you are settling in, just crank up the power and you are ready to go.
 
If you learned using holdover then thats probably the fastest way for you to go.

I have tryed a lot of bdc scopes and don't own any now. They simply clutter up the reticle to me. Just learn the rifle and what it likes and go hunting.

I do take the time to dail up each rifle i own at the range and then make a note of what it takes to change from 1-2-300yds, etc. I put a little yard sale sticker on the stock and if i know i'm going to be shooting a certain distance i will dail it up.

However most of the time it's just holdover and shoot. blue
 
There is an easy answer for your question.
Go to nikonhunting.com

click on the Spot On link
This will take you to the spot on web site.

There you can input all your data including scope and then get yardage that corresponds to the BDC circles. You can get it for a specific power setting on the scope or you can get it for all the settings under Generate Ballistics Report then Field Reference Chart. That is what I take into the field with me.
Let me know if this works for you.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staff
 
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Originally Posted By: Barton HegeThere is an easy answer for your question.
Go to nikonhunting.com

click on the Spot On link
This will take you to the spot on web site.

There you can input all your data including scope and then get yardage that corresponds to the BDC circles. You can get it for a specific power setting ont he scope or you can get it for all the settings under Generate Ballistics Report then Field Reference Chart. That is what I take into the field with me.
Let me know if this works for you.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staff

How does Nikon's Spot ON software correlate to the BDC reticle in the OP's aforementioned Pentax Gameseeker II?
 
I have no idea how it correlates to the Pentax scope.
You can down load your ballistic data and it will still tell you what your bullet is doing after it leaves the gun.
The scopes available are obviuosly Nikon BDC scopes since it shows how the circles and power settings relate to distance.
I hope you find this helpful Knock. ?
bart
Nikon Pro Staff
 
Originally Posted By: Barton HegeI have no idea how it correlates to the Pentax scope.


Me neither. That's why I asked.
The original poster was asking for help with his Pentax Gameseeker's BDC reticle. Hence the confusion about your link to Nikon.

To help out with the Pentax reticle, their BDC version has each of the 100yd stadia drops below the main crosshair subtending:
1.5 MOA ----------
4.5 MOA --------
7.5 MOA ------
11.0 MOA ---

And the horizontal stadia lines subtend 36" at each 100yd interval. That's why they appear smaller as you go down the BDC 'tree'.
Given the fact that this is a SFP scope, that information will only be accurate on the noted ranging power of that particular scope.

good luck!
 
At least you can get the ballistic data you need from Nikon's Spot On web site, you can then use it to correlate to the above MOA numbers.
Obviously the only factor not accounted for in this equation would be any cross wind.
 


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