Anyone have experience with the Nikon Monarch BDC reticle at long range?

jiffx2781 said:
My scope I used was a Monarch 4-16. I tried shooting paper out to max 500 and using the bdc reticle I thought it totally sucked. However hitting steel plates at that range where precise accuracy wasn't as important was doable. (never tried shooting that scope any farther)

It currently sits on a coyote rifle but I wouldn't even attempt to shoot at a coyote using anything past the first bdc circle (which was fairly close to 300yrds). The next circle down was hitting about 425yrds and at that range the coyote would almost get lost in the circle.

If you're sitting at a bench shooting targets I guess one could use the top and bottom of the circles for a more precise aiming point. But when using it in the field, when you don't have much time to mentally process things, more aiming points equals more yardages to remember, more clutter, and more points of aim that your eyes don't naturally attract to.
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Thanks for this. I really wanted to go with Nikon, but now I'm not sure.
 
While not my first choice in a bdc reticle i have a few of them and they do work. The circles are smaller than most here seem to think they are. They are less than 2 moa across. They simply give you more aiming points for longer shots and they work well. But I do prefer a hash mark reticle like the burris ballistic plex. the original. Still the best of you ask me
 
prairie lover said:
While not my first choice in a bdc reticle i have a few of them and they do work. The circles are smaller than most here seem to think they are. They are less than 2 moa across. They simply give you more aiming points for longer shots and they work well. But I do prefer a hash mark reticle like the burris ballistic plex. the original. Still the best of you ask me
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2 moa circles will work for a moose, even up to 500 yards, so yes there are usages where the reticle is perfectly capable.

But most people aren't shooting at targets that large at those distances.

I'll keep my numbers here rounded off to simplify things:

For example, if the main crosshair is zeroed at 200yrds that would mean that the first bdc circle would be 2 moa @ 300yrds or 6 inches.

The second bdc circle would be 2 moa @ 400yrds or 8 inches.

The third bdc circle would be 2 moa @ 500yrds or 10 inches.

And so on...

If using the circles you end up with a 6" space at 300yrds where there is NO definitive aiming point. That allows for a 6" margin for error. That's plenty small enough for a moose, just about right for a coyote and essentially useless for precision shooting.

Bring that out to 500yrds and that margin for error increases to 10". Still useable for a moose albeit just barely, and totally useless for anything smaller.

My point is that my gripe with this reticle is that it's NOT a good reticle for precision shooting, whether it be on paper or in the field.

If you were to use the top and bottom lines of the circles for aiming points you would be much farther ahead to get a scope with a very simple MOA (or MIL) reticle. Every intersection on the reticle is the same distance apart making quick mental calculations EASY. Know your bullet drop in moa at various distances, hold over at the appropriate moa hashmarks and shoot. Much easier to process.

This is the MOA reticle on my Vortex Razor HD Light Hunter and I find it VERY quick to use, simple, accurate and effective.

vt-rzr-1558_6.jpg


I guess it all depends on what you're doing with it and what you can get used to. But I guarantee you that if you choose to go with the bdc reticle your eyes will naturally attract to the circles which provide you with the least accurate point of aim.

I've came to prefer reticles that are clean and precise. Aim small, hit small.

Once again, just my .02
 
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I do have a Nikon Monarch And I also own a Leupold VX-R.
In my opinion, the clarity of the VX-R is so much clearer than the Monarch. Regardless of what range you'd wanna shoot at, go for the scope that gives you the best definition.
Cheers
J
 
Yeah it's a tough one. All the convo is helping. I generally will use this for shooting larger targets like I said, nothing precise over 200 yards... but I'd definitely like to be able to accurately and humanely put a coyote down at 400 yards without having to struggle with the reticle.
 
Here's a real life picture for you through my Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 with the bdc reticle.

View attachment 255493

I don't know if you've physically looked through one or not so I thought I'd show you just how big those circles are. I don't care what anyone says, they're huge. Once you get out to 3, 4, 5 hundred yards you'd be surprised what could get lost within those circles.

And do you notice when you look at the picture that the first thing your eyes focus on is those circles. You actually focus on them BEFORE you even see the intersecting point of the main crosshair. There's nothing on this reticle that naturally draws your focus to a definitive point of aim.

In my opinion the circles are nothing more than a distraction.

I don't think you'd be happy with it. Stick to something simpler.

Just another .02c worth
 
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Thanks a lot, jiffx2781.

I got a screaming deal on a Burris Veracity so I'm going to try that. Their E1 Ballistic Plex reticle seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. I'm still going to go with Nikon Monarch 5 Binos for the glass quality (I've looked through them several times in stores) unless the Burris scope turns out to be so phenomenal I go with their binoculars as well.

Cheers
 
Where did you pick up the Burris? What model?

I'm a fan of the Nikon binos for glass but not a fan of the limited 42 vs normal 50mm lens.
 
J_Impact said:
Where did you pick up the Burris? What model?

I'm a fan of the Nikon binos for glass but not a fan of the limited 42 vs normal 50mm lens.
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I got it from Dante Sports in Montreal. Veracity 3-15 x 50. It is also coming with a free Fullfield E1 4.5-15x42 MOA which is like a $600 scope after taxes. I paid $1047 for everything so I'm pretty pumped about that.

I try to support my local fin shop but they couldn't compete this time. They wanted like $1500 just for the scope which ain't even close.
 
My experience with the Nikon BDC is that it doesn't perfectly match any particular cartridge. But if you use the calculator, it's rather amazing how accurate the calculations are, and how easy it is to use. Fun for targets, however I found for hunting, once you figure out your range, it was a little bit of a trick for me to remember, for example, to aim at the bottom of the second circle... For me personally, making a long shot on a deer and trying to remember exactly the seemingly random aiming point during a nervous moment wasn't ideal. I need to practice more....
 
I never could figure out what some DW (delusional wannabe) at Nikon was thinking when they decided to use that reticle! Just my 2 cents worth on the subject though.
 
I own a Buckmaster 1 4-12, with the reticle. Someone above said it well, practice. Lots of scopes have over busy reticles, imo it isnt a reason not to buy. Nikon has plex reticles. My Monarch is a Monarch 3 1-4x20 german #4 post reticle. Sits on my 416 rigby. Great little optic, if the reticle doesnt work, im out of range for the Rigby.

IMO, since production of Bushnell elite moved from Japan》》》》Nikon monarch has become very close to the best value in scopes. Precision optics, and Dante often have them on sale.
 
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