B&C/varmint reticle vs. dialing in

[drvrage]

Hi Folks,

I am just about to drop some pretty serious coin on a new scope. I'm looking at a Leupold 4.5-14X40 LR with either a Boon and Crockett reticle or the Varmint reticle. I like the idea of just changing my hold point for longer range shots.

Then it just dawned on me, why am I paying so much for a scope with great resettable, repeatable dial in capabilities if I'm just going to use the reticle anyways. With the new reticles, wouldn't you just zero at 200 yrds then leave it there and let the reticle adjust for drop?

If this is true, then I think I should get a scope with either the reticle, OR great 1/4 MOA finger adjustable, repeatable scope. Would i be better off getting a cheaper scope with a reticle, or get the leupold stated above with the duplex?

Asking for folks opinions. Reticle or dials or both? Why?

 

[heiko]

I'm only new to this type of thing but I dial elevation and use reticle hold-off for wind. Have you considered the mildot reticle, sure is nice to have it as a back-up in the event your battery dies on your rangefinder. For me, I really don't see the point in the various different reticles that claim to come "close" to your range holdover, when I can just use the mildot for the same thing and also use it for range estimating.

That scope is available in the mildot reticle as well (LR/T) which replaced the PR scope.

 

[drvrage]

In the end I decided to get a Burris Fullfield II with the balistic plex reticle. The varmint reticle on the leupold are too thin for my likes. The Burris had a nice price and it had everything I wanted. Nice scope for the money. I figure my primary purpose is hunting so I'm going to use the reticle after all, and save dialing in for benchtime.

 

[Glock4ever]

Reticle and dials together don't make a whole lot of sense. I have the Varmint reticle 4.5-14 scope you were talking about and once you zero it is good to go. Keeping in mind that the reticle only works at a specific magnification (as it isn't Front Focal Plane) If you want dials and the reticle you need to ensure that your are matching the reticle type to the dial (i.e. Millling Reticle to Mil adjustment dial or MOA reticle ot MOA adjustment) You can use the Milling reticle for holdovers too but it is primarily good for measuring distance to tgt. I would say that you really have only two good choices (all the other ones are not that great).

1.) Get a holdover type reticle (B&C/Varmint) but get it from the Custom shop at Leupold in a FFP and then your holdovers are good for all magnifications.

2.) Get a holdover type reticle but in a fixed magnification (i.e. ACOG type scope)

OR

3.) Say hell with it and get a VXIII in 4.5-14x40mm Varmint reticle and don't bother using the holdovers (they are in the high end of the mag and I don't really ever use them).