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Etched Reticles |
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ti-force
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/28/2008 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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Posted: September/23/2010 at 21:58 |
I've searched for info on this, but I couldn't really find much.
I've read that etched reticles are more visible in low lighting than wire reticles, but how much more visible are they? For example: If I had two scopes with the same reticle dimensions (just say a plex reticle), but one was a wire reticle and the other was an etched reticle, how much more visible would the etched reticle be over the wire reticle? And while we're on the topic, do the Vortex Viper scopes have an etched reticle or a wire reticle? Specifically the 3-9x40 and the 2-7x32? Thanks!
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Given 2 reticles of the same design and thickness, I don't think it makes a difference in low light visibility whether the reticle is metal or glass etched. A typical wire reticle sometimes has more of a tendency to display a metallic copper or silver color under certain lighting conditions, specifically when a strong light source enters the scope from the eyepiece end. Some etched reticles tend to remain "blacker" and therefore may contrast better for this reason, but this applies to good light, not low light. An etched reticle will sometimes appear metallic as well under the same light conditions because the etched reticle pattern is filled with chromium based materials. I have several etched reticle scopes from different manufacturers that display just as much metallic reflection as my wire reticle scopes under the same light conditions. The advantages of etched reticles is twofold: they are probably more durable, and they offer more freedom of reticle design, with finer details and separated features like floating dots, circles, and lines, etc that can't be done with wire reticles.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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ti-force
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/28/2008 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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Okay, thanks for the info. It's appreciated.
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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The advantages of etched reticles is twofold: they are probably more durable, and they offer more freedom of reticle design, with finer details and separated features like floating dots, circles, and lines, etc that can't be done with wire reticles.
don't forget numbers
Edited by Dale Clifford - September/24/2010 at 09:01 |
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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I beleive the Viper I own 6.5-20 is a wire ret.not an etched.
+1 Good info & good explanation RD.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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tman1965
Optics Master Joined: July/20/2010 Location: South Georgia Status: Offline Points: 1456 |
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Excellent explanation, and as usual, good info Ted!
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