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Etched Reticles

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ti-force View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ti-force Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Etched Reticles
    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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2010 at 07:37
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.
Ted


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ti-force View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ti-force Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2010 at 07:42
 Okay, thanks for the info. It's appreciated.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2010 at 09:01
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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Edited by Dale Clifford - September/24/2010 at 09:01
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2010 at 19:26
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tman1965 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/24/2010 at 19:35
Excellent explanation, and as usual, good info Ted!
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