Originally Posted By: alfI called Leupold a while back, and got these figures.
The fine duplex subtends .565" at 100 yards on 3 power, and .094" on 18.
The fire dot duplex subtends 1.474" at 100 on 3 power, and .245" on 18.
They couldn't make the fire dot any smaller due to the logistics of the illumination.
I'm still in a pickle.....
Alf;
I'm curious if you've made any decisions yet, as I've got the same dilemma wanting a reticle that works well for a variety of hunting applications but is not a huge liability for long range plinking at paper. I've got my 6.5 CM in hand now, and am playing with a few of my existing scopes to do some interim swapping so I can chase coyotes and wolves this winter with my new toy while deciding what scope to buy long term for it. Played around with my scopes in mixed light conditions yesterday afternoon and early this AM against varying hunting backdrops, and drew a few conclusions:
(1) Leupold's Target Dot (6x42 Competition Hunter that came on the rifle) isn't going to work for me for anything other than punching paper or shooting against a snowy backdrop. Very, very fine cross-hairs that are difficult to see under the best circumstances. Not ever having picked one up, I was hoping this reticle would be heavy enough to get me thru this winter, but that's not the case -- those cross-hairs disappear when the background begins to vary. This scope is probably going up for sale.
(2) The reticle on Zeiss' 6.5-20x50 Varmint Z is as fine as I'm willing to go for a hunting application. Measuring 0.375" at 100 yds on 6.5x, it's 0.125" on 20x. The latter would work great for me for punching paper, but on 6.5x (simulating what I'm likely to be using in the timber or brush with this scope in marginal light) that 0.375" thickness is probably the bare minimum (and 0.5" would be better). Currently on my varmint rifle, this is the scope I'm going to swap onto the 6.5 CM until the squirrels and rockchucks wake up from their winter nap.
(3) I think Leupold's "Fine Duplex" on the VX6 3-18x44 would work for me as a scope doing double-duty for both hunting and paper-punching. At 0.565" on 3x, and 0.094" on 18x, the cross-hairs should appear bolder than my Zeiss while on 3x (and will probably stand out pretty well in marginal light and lousy backdrops), as well as appear finer for paper punching at the higher magnifications. Given the glass quality in the VX6, I think Leupold's Fine Duplex is probably a pretty good reticle for this application. (That recommendation goes out the window however if your eyes are marginal...)
(4) I'm probably deciding between the Zeiss HD5 3-15x42 w/ Rapid Z 800 reticle, and the Leupold VX6 3-18x44 w/ Fine Duplex reticle. The latter has the better cross-hair dimensions of the two for my wants/needs, but would also require that I become a turret twister for long range stuff. The former matches my rifle/caliber ballistics very well out to 800 yds, and I think Zeiss lens coatings offer an advantage for the weather I'll be using this in. I don't think I can go very far wrong with either, but need some time playing with this rifle to figure out how I really want to use it...