Ballistic, Milldot, or Plex Reticle on a .223

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dhayes

New member
I've been wanting to try my hand at shooting 300+ yds with my .223 There is 500yd range not too far away.

I also will use this setup (RRA Predator Pursuit) for coyotes which will likely get most of its use under a 100 yds but maybe out to 300yds.

I can't decide which reticle to get. The ballistic reticles all seem to be setup for rifles that are a little flatter like the 22-250 or .243 and up. But maybe I could make these work with some range time and experimentation.. what do you think?

Or maybe I go with a mil-dot and get the calculator out and make myself a chart for my rifle..

Anyone else out there try this or know much about it? If so which reticle would you choose and what advice do you have to offer?

Thanks in advance
 
I've grown to become a HUGE fan of Burris' Ballisticplex. It's simple and effective. You've got to spend the trigger time to "learn" how the holdovers correlate to the specific load you're shooting.
 
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The ballistic reticles all seem to be setup for rifles that are a little flatter like the 22-250 or .243 and up.



I think out to 500 yards you could find a .223 load that matches a .308 Win. quite closely.
 
Ever think about sending a scope to T.K.Lee?They will install dots wherever you want them.I have a 10 x Lyman calibrated for .22 LR subsonic.Sight in at 50,with dots for 100,150 and 200 yards.
 
I personally like the MilDot BUT you need to do your homework and understand their use.

I do not like the ballistic reticles because their dots are not evenly spaced so you need to use their charts.

I have a scope with the dots set by TK Lee at my trajectory and love it BUT the scope is married to that rifle, caliber and bullet weight.
 
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How about some target turrets so you can dial windage and elevation?



There ya go. I'll take a regular crosshair with turrets and a simple chart. I have those other recticles like the NPR-2 in my nightforce, its sitting on my bench gun now not being used. I have Balistic plex scopes, mostly those 3x9's they work but they are on rifles like the hornets and my Mach2, they work but with the limited range on those rifles they are not needed. I have another one in 4.5x14on my 223, dont use it. I just sold my only mildot and wont be buying any more of those, The scope was great but I hated the math.

Hold over for a 300 yard shot with a 223 isnt that bad, much further than that and I cant see them anyways.

Edited to add,
Long range shooting for groups, coyotes or braggin rights with any rifle requires more than a fancy crosshair, you need to know the drop to adjust for it. Just thought I needed to mention that.
 
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I always worry with target turrets that you won't have time to make the click adjustments before the shot. It seems like everything happens so fast and you only have a small window to kill a coyote. What have you guys found?
 
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I always worry with target turrets that you won't have time to make the click adjustments before the shot. It seems like everything happens so fast and you only have a small window to kill a coyote. What have you guys found?



I found if they are that far away, I prolly shouldnt pull the trigger anyways, just miss.
 
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I've grown to become a HUGE fan of Burris' Ballisticplex. It's simple and effective. You've got to spend the trigger time to "learn" how the holdovers correlate to the specific load you're shooting.



+1 that is what I have put on my AR and love it. Stormkings advice is sound. Time spent behind the trigger will give you al the info you need with your particualr load. I have my AR zeroed at 200 yards and at around 275 yards the first balistics plex line is dead on. 300 yards would be a sinch to shoot with the burris system.
 
Not much difference to match the trajectory to the reticle really, regardless of whether the spacing (subtension) is evenly spaced at 3.6 inch per hundred yds. (mil-dot at calibrated power), or 1.5,4.5,7.5,11 IPHY for the Burris Ballistic Plex, whatever reticle (subtension) u're using. That bullet has to cross the stadia somewhere downrange. Many plex reticles work well too, especially for the guy that appreciates simplicity in his "tactical system". I had 1 on a 17 Mach IV XP-100 handgun that subtended 2.7 MOA x-hair to lower post tip @ 12X on a 4-12X optic. It was just SWEET for ranges out to 340. Killed a coyote @ 300 once with that rig in a 10 mph x-wind. According to the "dope" i had to aim .6 down to the lower post tip, and 1.3 "plex units" into the wind @ the scopes highest power. Plex reticles are the simplest of ballistic and rangefinding reticles, and really the best system to learn the subtension system with, IMO.

Here's the reticle i use (and love) for my AR-15 load that doesn't even come close to intuitively matching (even 50 or 100 yd. intervals) the load's trajectory, as it's based on the trajectory of a 22 Long Rifle--

http://www.rapidreticle.com/22lr3-9x32.htm
 
I'm leaning towards the Zeiss Conquest 3.5x10x50 with a mil-dot reticle.

I'm not too familiar with how those target turrets work... I will study up before I decide.
 
Good question,

Leupold also has a custom shop. They can do a ton of cosmetic stuff, and also put cross hairs or dots out to however far you want. They calibrate the scope with your rifle, specific load, and how far the scope is above the bore. I am sure this is much like the other companys mentioned, but since I am a Leupold fan I will just have them do it. A buddy of mine has one on his 22-250 and can ring a gong at 500 yards all day long. Granted he is a very good shot and practices alot, but he swears by the accurate aiming points that Leupold put in his scope.

I will probably rarely use mine, but its nice to have it when the time comes. Be it braggin rights on a rock, or getting even with that long range "sit and watch" coyote.

Nice gun by the way! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif This is the gun I will be putting the custom Leupold on myself.

Take care,

Todd
 
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I've got both the Zeiss conquest 3.5-10X 44mm and the new Nikon 2.5-10X 42mm both with Mildot and have to say that for the $320 dollars I paid for the nikon shipped that is the way to go. The ziess has better turrets and has a nice black reticle compared to the nikon that appears more bronze color depending on the lighting but they are nearly equivalent in clarity and contrast with the FOV advantage with the Nikon because it starts at 2.5X, this makes a big difference.
 
Lots of great advice and that Leupold custom scope sounds tempting but I've only had my rifle for a short time and it will take a lot of time to experiment with different ammo and dial it in. On top of that I plan to start reloading some time soon, so my favorite load will likely keep changing and improving over the next year or so. So I'm not ready to choose a custom fixed reticle right now. Maybe next year?

I just watched the video on the target turrets and that looks like a great system. I know some scopes come with those turrets but can they be added to a scope that doesn't come with them from the factory?
 
I really wanted a Zeiss; was ready to spend up to $700. Now to get into a Zeiss with turrets it looks like I would have to get the 4.5x14 for $875 unless I could add them to their 3.5x10 model; anyone know if that's possible?

Can turrets be added to any Leupold?
 
Becareful of relying on turrets, they are inconsistent, not true to the manufacturer's specs, and wear out if used a lot even on Leupolds. If I was going to go the turret route I would only buy a Nite Force.
 
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