Nikon BDC

Sniper66

Sniper66

New member
I'm going to purchase a Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x42 for my new RRA Coyote Carbine and was wondering if anyone has had experience with their BDC reticle? Never thought I needed a BDC before, but I had a yote hangup at 420 yds the other day and although I've made a successful 285 yd shot with the Nikon 4.5-14x Nikoplex mounted on a Dtech/RRA NM, I wasn't comfortable making the longer shot, that and I didn't want to wound or risk a miss and educate a future target. I'll try different factory loads, but am hoping to use the same BlackHills 52gr MHP my Dtech likes. This round is rated at 3300 fps out of a 20" bbl, but the carbine will be 16" and I'll lose a little velocity. It would have been nice to have a solid 400 yd dot on my scope at the time.
 
I have it and like it. Some will tell you the circles mess with your target vision, but I don't have a problem with that. The thing that is a bit of a pain is calculating the actual circle to use at what distances. They don't line up in a true MOA, so you have to calculate things out a bit. Once that's all done, your good to go...unless you change your load that is.
 
I've got two. I'd rather have dots, or crosshatches, instead of circles. The circles are mighty big out past 250. But other than that, I like it.
 
I have a Monarch with the BDC on a .204 and after getting used to it, it works well with that caliber.. I had always stayed away from the Nikon BDC scopes but I have to say that after shooting them at the range to get an idea of impact I like it more now.. Still like the burris b-plex better though.. Some guys hate the BDC some guys swear by them..

On a side note, I bought another Nikon today and skipped the BDC for the Nikoplex so I could have a thinner crosshair..BDC's are .25 @ 100yds I think..
 
I have scopes with the BDC, Leupold VH reticle, Leupold B&C reticle, and the Burris Ballistiplex reticle.

I would rank the BDC as the worst of the four reticles. I would rank the Leupold VH as first, and the B&C as second.

The BDC has circles. I never understood circles in a scope. Too much confusion, too large, and too much to focus on. And absolutely no wind compensation.

I consider the BDC as a pure gimmick(junk). Especially when compared to the Leupold system's. I find the Leupold system is very advantageous on a varmint rifle. Tom.
 
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I've got two. I'd rather have dots, or crosshatches, instead of circles. The circles are mighty big out past 250. But other than that, I like it.



I have several and I have to agree with this statement. I'd go for a mil-dot in the future. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I don't see how a generic internal hold over can be accurate for so many different caliber trajectories.
 
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I don't see how a generic internal hold over can be accurate for so many different caliber trajectories.



It doesn't - in fact the Nikon BDC doesn't match any caliber at any power.

You have to try it and make notes on what range each circle works. I sent my Nikon BDC back the same day I received it.

It's as thick as a fence post.

.
 
I have one of the BDC scopes, neat concept, or so I thought, but I will stick with the mil dot. I like a finer aiming point than the circles will allow.
 
I have a 3-9x40 BDC on my LVSF 204 and I really like it. Could it be better? YES! The reticle could be spaced more closely to actual ballistics and there could be some windage marks on the horizontal line. But, for a scope under $200 with good light transmission, clear optics, positive click resettable turrets, AND a some form of hold over, it works well. And I don't cry when I get a new scratch or ding on it from hunting it hard.

Burris offers a better reticle, but I have had horrible luck with their scopes and customer service

You really can't compare the Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle or the B&C to the BDC as they are an etched glass reticle (I believe) and only appear on vx-111 or higher scopes. I like the Leupold B&C reticle better, but on most of the B&C reticles that i have seen on lower power (3-9 or under) are just as thick as the BDC.
I like the mil-dot reticle on a tactical or long range gun where you have time to range and dial, but if you are using the mil-dots as holdovers, they cover quite a bit of target themselves. Leupold TMR or Nightforce NP-R1, NP-R2, MLR all have thinner lines, but come at a cost.

You can't have it all unless you pay for it.

Here is my 40 Grain NBT @ 3780 out of my 204 applied to Patagonia Ballistics reticle calculator
Reticle-BDC.jpg
 
I have one and like it. It colud be better but serves its purpose >my 11 and 12 year old sons can shoot well with it
 
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