Leopold varmint reticle VS Target turrets

[SNOW JW]

Looking for a better scope for my 22-250 right now I have a monarch 12 power it does great but I am looking for more for gopher hunting.

So I have been looking at the varmint reticle or maybe just getting target turrets??? Not a big fan of mill dots.

I have been told some scopes will not track right after a wile and will not return back to zero.

Was looking at Leopold but I would not be past any of the other good brands and maybe save a little.

[alf]

All my varmint guns now have Leupold's Varmint Hunters reticle.
I used to be a knob turner. No more.

Al

[Rick in Oregon]

After many years of sniping PD's and ground squirrels, I've come to order my Leupold scopes with both their VHR and their tactical M1 elevation turret on my dedicated rat rifles (as found on their Mark 4 scopes. I use the VHR reticle for the wind hash marks even when dialing.)

This gives me quick-shot ability using the VHR, and precise long range first-shot hit probability using caliber/rifle specific come-up charts inside my ocular flip cover.

Not everyone will agree with this system, but it has proven to me that with the ability to both "dial-a-rat", and use the VHR when no dial time is available for those rodents darting for cover, it's the best system I've used in the 41 years I've been having fun with rodents.

My Sako M75 Varmint in 204 with the M1 elevation, standard windage adjustment. Dialing for wind is not the hot setup, at least to me.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/P4081628.jpg

The come-up chart for both the 32 and 39 SBK's I shoot in this rifle:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/P4061558.jpg

Notice the drop for the 39gr bullet is less at 600 due to the increased BC it offers. Anyway, just another way to skin that cat..... :)

[SNOW JW]

Sounds like the varmint reticle is the way to go.

so my second question what is a mint Nikon Monarch 4-20x40 worth???

Thanks I will keep my eye out for a good new used or a good deal on a Leupold

[papapaul]

Your load shoots 8" low at 600 yds with a 200 yd zero!!! Does that include using a different reticle/aiming point? I'm used to drops of around 24 inches at 500 yds, with a 300 yd zero. If that 204 ruger shoots that flat I gotta get me one of them!!

[sscoyote]

I also use the VH reticle in a 4.5-14X VX-III. This is on a coyote/deer/antelope long-range handgun 243 WSSM Savage Striker. I also only have a target elevation turret and apply windage compensation with the reticle similar to Rick's above. I also use the BC ocular cover for all my dope, but i use reticle for trajectory compensation (both vertical and horizontal) to the limit of the lower post tip. Then onto turret from that zero.

Once the load's worked up i calculate reticle zeros from a ballistics program (usually at the range at the same time load development is done). I don't worry about how close the reticle stadia match an intuitive even hundred yd. interval system. I simply calculate the stadia zeros from the ballistics program using the advertised stadia subtensions in the catalog always at the optics highest power, set portable steel at those zero ranges (to the limit of our 425 yd. range), and quickly test the system making sure that i get 2 range points. Then if i need to troubleshoot the ballistics program calcs, i adjust mv and/or bullet BC to get a better reticle to true trajectory fit. Then i calculate long-range zeros, and put that info into the BC ocular cover also in a very sismilar format as Rick's above, but i also include windage in tenths of each stadia's total subtension. Here's what a hypothtetical dope sticker entry may look like--

450-3.4-0.8

...obviously range, elevation (3rd stadia down, and 4 tenths to the 4th stadia), and 8 tenths of the above stadia for windage. This system has allowed me to take 2 coyotes beyond 500 yds. with this handgun, 1 in a 10 mph x-wind, and 4 antelope does between 330, and 425 yds. now.

IMO the Leupold VH reticle is the best of the big factory reticles (besides the new Rapid Z's from Zeiss), but only up to the 4.5-14X as the 6.5-20X and higher all have the reticle designed to be used at a power less than the highest (a mistake, IMO). I especially like the 3 1.77 MOA windage stadia along the horizontal axis either side of vertical. That's a nice windage system for the elevation turret twister that uses reticle windage.

[Catfish]

I`m a knob turner. I figure that an Leupold scope I buy I will have for ever and it will be on several different guns and the varmint raticals are only good for 1 bullet BC at 1 velosity. I like to dial in the evevation and use mil dots for windage.

[Charlie g]

I shoot wildcats at 600 & 700yds 22-3030ak Imp 22-303 varmint-r 55gr zero 100 41in drop at 600 Friend shoots 204 zero 200yd digs dirt at 600yds I will tell him about your scope

[HEAD0001]

I have a VH reticle on my AR 223 Varmint rifle. I have the B&C reticle on my Knight Long Range Hunter.

I realize Leupold says to use certain drop charts, specific power ring settings, and specific cartridges. IMO you can use any of the three above. You just have to get to the range, shoot your rifle, and learn how your rig shoots. On my 223 Remington(VH Reticle) the crosshair is dead on at 200 yards, 2 inches high at 300, and 2 inches high at 400 and back on at 500 yards(1 inch low). The scope is a 6.5X20X40-and these number's are at 20X. I know it says to use 16X, but I use 20X. Now that I know the scope and rifle it has made shooting GH's a breeze, as long as you know the distance-and hasn't that always been the case?? I do not even need to touch the dials. IMO this works great for the 223 Remington, because I consider 400 yards to be max distance to shoot ground Hogf's with. I think the 223 runs out of steam after 400 yards on GH's. This is just my opinion, but I have seen too many crawl off over the years.

On the Knight ML the B&C reticle works better than my VH. I can hold dead on all the way to 250 yards with the reticle. It works great. The scope is a 4.5X14. Tom.

[Rick in Oregon]

and charlie g: Those figures on my ocular cover are in MOA, and not inches. This is the same system shown to me by some folks in the sniper community (USMC & USN-SEAL) that is used in theater operations and has proven itself over time.

Virtually every one of my varmint or long range rifles is set up using this method using a chronograph to gather the data, then a zero is calculated from a ballistics program for every range using come-ups in MOA from a 100 yard starting point, meaning if the rifle is zero'd at 100 yards, how much elevation in MOA will be required to be dead-on at say, 600 yards? That figure in MOA is what you see on my scope cover based on the elevation I shoot at, along with temperature, baro pressure, and velocity/BC. Simple and highly effective.

[papapaul]

Thanks, I realized I was ignorant of some special system just after I posted. Ignorance is everywgere, you know, but I seem to have more than my share.

[Charlie g]

Well You Can Count Me In To.