A Bullet Drop Compensator or Compensation is a carp shoot in the majority of instances, IMO. Compensator and compensation are arguably quite different to begin with. The first implies an automated accurate means and the second is a function of making educated guesstimates and applying an adjustment accordingly. The first is totally wrong unless strict X* conditions are valid and the second, compensation, is only valid IF to start with the manufacturer going beyond capitalist hype.
To answer the question, can you use a BDC reticle for range finding? NO, not usually, all bets are off...Even with advanced designed reticles you still have some investigation and homework to do. Ive one of these type scopes. With all its bells and whistles its still not an accurate BDC reticle, its not magical on its own. I find a best match ammo for it and it gets closer to accurate. Its darn good at range guesstimating though at any magnification: PA ACSS-HUD
And as it has been said, a simple 30-30 aka Duplex reticle can be a BDC to the extent of your abilities. Read the associated manual to get a grip on its use. Including, at what power it serves as a usable BDC, (4x). Some mid range $$ scopes incorporate the Duplex Reticle that invalidates its original intent as a result of the range of the scope magnification. Another carp shoot.
