OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Scopes > Rifle Scopes
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Whats all the hype
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Whats all the hype

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
hunterwingler View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: April/03/2009
Location: Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 1420
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunterwingler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Whats all the hype
    Posted: February/19/2010 at 16:36

can some tell me whats all the hype with BDC scopes, just something about them I'm not sure about. something about the center of your cross hair not being on target is like shoot @ air. i feel if your going to shoot long range learn the formula and dial your scope 2 it. Anyways Have Great Weekend Everybody. I know I will Tomorrow My B-Day.

I wasn't upset about the black cat crossing my path this morning but mouthing "your fu@#ed" as he passed was just rude.

If Guns kill people mine are all defective
Back to Top
Tip69 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar
Tip Stick

Joined: September/27/2005
Location: Nebraska
Status: Offline
Points: 4155
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 16:51
i think they are meant for "quick" shooting..... sometimes you don't have time to "dial-it-in"
take em!
Back to Top
hunterwingler View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: April/03/2009
Location: Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 1420
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunterwingler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 17:00
well if that close u  dont need a BDC
I wasn't upset about the black cat crossing my path this morning but mouthing "your fu@#ed" as he passed was just rude.

If Guns kill people mine are all defective
Back to Top
Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Resident Redneck

Joined: June/20/2005
Location: Iowa
Status: Offline
Points: 14964
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 17:17
Well there is a good side to balistic reticles and a bad side to them.  The majority of scopes that have them are second focal plane scopes which means that the reticle only accurately represents the known distances at the maximum power of the scope.  Zeiss has figured out that some cartridges are more accurately represented by a power slightly less than the maximum and their balistic calculator will explain how best to use their scope for your caliber.  One of the bigest problems wiht higher power scopes having balistic reticles is that as it grows dark you need to dial down the power to brighten the image.   6x42 is bright or 7x50 is bright or 8x56 is bright. Take a fixed 20x42 scope and look through it at sunset and it looks grey but that is not the fault of the scope it is just the physics of how much light is transmitted to your eye.  Leupold 6x42 FX3 with long range duplex is one of the few scopes that is always bright and the balistic reticle always represents the same distance.  Now we all know that different bullets in different calibers have a different trajectory so no one reticle is perfect for every caliber and one would need to test their scope at known distances to see how closely it matched the balistic reticle.  Lets say you had a 30-06 180gr Nosler Partition that you zeroed at 200 yds and had marks on the reticle that should in theory represent the 200 at the center of the crosshairs and next mark down in theory 300 and next mark down in theory 400 and next mark down in theory 500 yds.  However when you got to the range you shot it and found 300 was 3 inches high and 400 was 4 inches low and 500 was 7 inches low.  So long as you keep notes and I make notes inside the lens cap.  You can hunt an elk at 500 yds with that rifle knowing that the mark that represents 500 actually requires you to hold 7 inches over where you want to hit at that distance.  It is merely a point of refrence.  Also worth mention it the fact that both minute of angle and milradian are measurements of an angle which starts at your eye and the lines grow farther apart as they get further away.  So one can make up a balistic chart wiht the drop in 1/10 mil and use a mildot reticle for holdover just like a balistic reticle.
I hunt deer with a 50 cal musket that has a Nikon Omega wiht a balistic reticle. Large slow buletts have a really radical trajectory - like a rock so I find the balistic reticle quite handy since I usually set up my shots to be about 200 yds.
As for dialing in correction that is by far the most accurate method to correct for trajectory however tall tactical knobs are not ideal for hunting in the brush.  Leupold CDS custom dial system has made dialing in correction very easy as they custom engrave the knob   1 for 100yds  2 for 200 yds 3 for 300 yds  etc.  The really smart thing they did is make it a knob that could bemore hunting friendly.

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger
Back to Top
Tulie View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: August/31/2007
Location: New Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 87
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tulie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 17:38

I guess I am a bit different than most but if I'm hunting big game, I still rather have the plex sighted in 3.5 inches high at 100.  If the game is out of my range, it's too far and I need to be a better hunter and get closer.  If I'm at the range, I love a mil dot.  Small game, the mil dot or ballistic plex type of reticle is great.  All of that said, my latest scope is a Zeiss with the Z800 so I may change my mind on it all but right now I'll stick with what works for me.

My heartburn is with the guys who are out there shooting deer, elk or whatever at 500+ yards when they have no reason to be shooting past 200.  They have no idea what their bullet is doing once it's out the end of the barrel, let alone that far out.  I hate hearing stories about shooting at 500 yards becuase most of the time it's probably 250 to begin with and half the time they start talking about wounding the animal and needing many shots to finish it off if they even do finish it off.  I'll get off my soap box now, well not yet.  The TV show that takes Joe off the street corner and shows him shooting some deer at 800 yards just perpetuates this kind of action which is completely irresponsible in my view.
Back to Top
lucytuma View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
Optics Jedi Knight
Avatar

Joined: November/25/2007
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline
Points: 5389
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 17:55

In my opinion these reticles are more of a marketing tool.  Sure they can be useful to some one willing to take the time to learn the functions, but I believe most people who buy these scopes just arbitrarily guess the range and use the next circle, dot or line that they think coincides with that range.

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
Back to Top
helo18 View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
Optics Jedi Knight
Avatar

Joined: December/02/2006
Location: Montana
Status: Offline
Points: 5620
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote helo18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 18:35
If used properly, BDCs can be great tool.  Makes for fast aiming, but you have to do your work and shoot with the scope at those ranges to make sure.  I like dialing it in, but some of my scopes don't have target knobs so adjusting dialing in would be a pain.  The BDCs in that case really help out.  As mentioned the downside is that they only work on one power, so if you have to use a lower power, the holdover won't work.
To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

GEORGE WASHINGTON
Back to Top
hunterwingler View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: April/03/2009
Location: Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 1420
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunterwingler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 19:58
like my grandpa use to say aim @ air u hit air. they still don't impress me. i guess it's just me oh well.
I wasn't upset about the black cat crossing my path this morning but mouthing "your fu@#ed" as he passed was just rude.

If Guns kill people mine are all defective
Back to Top
martin3175 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/19/2005
Location: Maryland
Status: Offline
Points: 3773
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/19/2010 at 20:27
It's all just in what you become accustomed to and are willing to make the time commitment to learn  the BDC's and where the points of inpact are in relation to the reticle...It can be time intensive, but worth it in those situations where a long range shot may be needed ..
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.422 seconds.