Rifle Scopes did i get the wrong scope

[sneaton]

hello all this is my first post...i have a stock remington 700 sps tac and i just put a vortex viper 6.5-20x50 dead hold bdc scope on it. i am now seeing that most of you have a mildot reticle. is it worth taking a loss selling my bdc and purchasing a mildot instead. the only shooting ive done with it was zeroing at 100 (.5 moa) and a few shots at 200 using the first bdc dot and it was right on and .5 moa also. Im wanting to shoot 800 yards max. What would you do? Does anyone like the bdc?

thanks for any help

 

[sneaton]

rifle is a 308

 

[springer01]

If the BDC is on they are great .. if not they are not so great. Shoot it out at some distance and see if its on. They are super fast for shooting known distance if your reticle matches your load correctly!

 

[arbogb06]

I do not prefer BDC scopes for the main reason of having the assistance of a ballistic calculator on my phone. I have never owned a BDC scope and never really wnated one just because the lines, circles, etc in the reticle may not work for the ballistics of the round I am using. I like to use a chrony and input my load data into a ballistic calculator, I shoot specified ranges to ensure the elevations and windage are correct. Also, if this is a rifle I use for hunting I will print of or write down these elevation adjustments on a card for when I am in the field and do not have time to input the data in a ballistic calculator.

 

[arbogb06]

Like springer stated if the reticles are on then that is good. And I lied saying I do not use a BDC scope. My crossbow has a BDC scope on it and I will say it helps but sometimes I get confused which circle is for which range so I made up a card. I know I should not get confused but I rarely hunt with the crossbow and memory is not a strong suit for me.

 

[sneaton]

im going this weekend to stretch it out a little. ill try every 100yds out to 500 to see if they are on at those distances. im using the rifle for target/fun right now but also want it to be my long range shtf gun. is the vortex ballistic calculator accurate?

 

[arbogb06]

Not sure on the Vortex ballistic calculator, but the optic I have sitting on my Savage .338 Lapua is a Vortex. They make good glass and the Viper PST I have on my Lapua has been decent thus far, especially for glass under $1k. I did have a hiccup with a piece of dust or something on the lense a few weeks back but vortex fixed it and shipped it within 24 hours of receiving the scope.

 

[roggom]

Before you get out to the field take a look at this link http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/lrbc_tutorials Learn how to use the LRBC program. Then go out an validate your drops with the program. Once you have trued your dope, then you can click on the reticle tab and it will give you the actual drops for the deadhold at given magnifications.

BDC's can work, but you have to remember that they are designed for a general group of cartridges at general velocities.

So shooting a deer at 300 or 500, your point of impact may be off my 1 or 2 inches, but as long as you are in the zone, you will be fine

Trying to hit a 6" gong at 800 yards and you may be off target.

So, in short, you will have to read the manual, learn your scope and it will perform.

Even if you go midot, you will have to read that manual, learn that reticle and work your dope. This is a hobby that is as productive as the time you put into it.

Have fun and be safe

 

[sneaton]

thanks all for the quick reponses. i feel better about my choice now. ill just remember the distances at a few mag settings and see how it works.

 

[FedCop]

Download the strelok app. Its a really good balistic calculator for your phone and the vortex optics are in it. Its a really good tool.

 

[pinkhair]

I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. If the glass on it is satisfactory then just use it for a while until you're ready to upgrade. No point in taking a loss on it already.

 

[Graham]

You don't need a mil dot or MOA reticle unless you are using it to measure things, or for hold-overs/hold-unders or wind holds.

 

[HD1911]

It pays to do thorough research before you buy. Chalk it up as a learning experience and get into a Mil-Based reticle with matching Mil Turrets and don't look back. Trust me, you'll be glad u did. The small loss if any u will have by selling your scope will most likely be offset by the wasted ammo n head scratching u will experience with a BDC reticle in use out to 800 yards

Just my honest Opinion

 

[HD1911]

You don't need a mil dot or MOA reticle unless you are using it to measure things, or for hold-overs/hold-unders or wind holds.

What about spotting your own hits and making corrections yourself, that alone is invaluable to me as I do a lot of shooting by myself....

 

[Graham]

What about spotting your own hits and making corrections yourself, that alone is invaluable to me as I do a lot of shooting by myself....

You can do that regardless of reticle type.

...But don't tell that to people who spent big bucks on Horus reticles.

 

[HD1911]

You can do that regardless of reticle type.

Oh come on Meow.... So a fine duplex or BDC hold reticle is as good as say a G2DMR?

 

[Graham]

...So a fine duplex or BDC hold reticle is as good as say a G2DMR?

That's not what I said or what I implied. 'As good' for all purposes? No. But as good for spotting your hit, making a correction and placing a quick follow-up shot on target? Why not. I hold in outer-space all the time with my G2.

For spotting hits, and making corrections for a follow-up shot, you don't need a Mil dot reticle.
For calling corrections to another person, that's a different story.

 

[roggom]

Oh come on Meow.... So a fine duplex or BDC hold reticle is as good as say a G2DMR?

Worked for Chuck Mawhinney, Just sayin'

 

[scatterbrains]

I think you will be fine with the BDC reticle, I use one exclusively on my groundhog AR. I shot a known distance match and was able to compensate for wind as there are hash marks for holdover and windage. I was also able to figure out my windage miss by using the reticle. Just remember the hash marks are a set value for a certain magnification, usually the max .

To combat that i have "cheat sheets" with the reticle values at full and half magnification.

If you use strelok on your phone you can bring up a picture with the reticle and get approx yardage for each holdover hash.
Here is the reticle breakdown

http://www.vortexoptics.com/uploads/sub_vpr_s_65-20x44_bdc_moa.jpg

I have had good luck ranging a groundhog at little over 300yds and making a first round hit.

I have 2 BDC reticles one in a viper HS 3.5-10x44 and one in the 4-16x44 HS LR

My PST will have a ebr-1 in moa though.

 

[Zebra644]

Some BDC's are calibrated for specific bullet weight/velocity types such as Burris' version. The mil-dots and the likes are used in measuring for unknown distance. If you are new to this, keep the scope, learn the fundamental's especially if you are at known distances such as on a range or using a range finder. Play with it a little bit as previously suggested, use the link that was given to you and your owners manual. If you are still having issues, call Vortex and ask, they are customer service based people and can answer your questions or help clarify. When you feel you are ready to update then research before you buy and save money, buy once cry once.The search function on here is a good tool also. There are plenty of companies here that are Hide supporters and will show a little love on the price of the optic you want to buy.