Hunting & Fishing Hunting Reticle Advantages for mid-long range rifle shots

[TangoSierra916]

Curious on the group's thoughts and experiences on hold-over style reticles vs more traditional crosshairs / floating dot reticles for hunting shots. Have you found value in having a tree style reticle (something from the Horus family, SKMR3, MIL-XT, etc) for hunting or do you prefer the clean style reticles (ebr-1c, mil-c, duplex, etc.) ? I know this questions really applies to shots with a bit of distance between the shooter and animal but I'm debating if its adds value to have a grid style reticle to spot misses with. I prefer to dial for all my shots to ensure top precision from the turrets but I know quite a few people who hunt with the Tremor 2/3 style reticles and love them, I currently use the MIL-C but are there advantages I'm missing by not having the grid style for the hunting application?

Part of the reasoning is I use my rifle scope (7-35 ATACR) as a spotting scope as well and am contemplating going to a reticle that allows me to measure misses, should they happen, quicker with the grid while im in the spotter role. Im comfortable with both style reticles and done really prefer one over the other just curious on the groups thoughts. Thank you!

 

[Vamike9]

I can only tell you one man's POV, but I prefer grid reticles that are thin enough to still see your environment effectively. Some places vegetation makes it hard to spot misses even with grid reticles, but in dry dirt or very open places you'll have an instant wind correction for a fast follow up shot.
Although, if you're dialing and have enough elevation well then something like the Mil C would work well.
Really it's all about what works for you, and gets humane shots on game at distances you're capable of doping wind most days.
Take care

 

[TangoSierra916]

I can only tell you one man's POV, but I prefer grid reticles that are thin enough to still see your environment effectively. Some places vegetation makes it hard to spot misses even with grid reticles, but in dry dirt or very open places you'll have an instant wind correction for a fast follow up shot.
Although, if you're dialing and have enough elevation well then something like the Mil C would work well.
Really it's all about what works for you, and gets humane shots on game at distances you're capable of doping wind most days.
Take care

I appreciate the response and agree with your thoughts. I do prefer to dial for every hunting shot, and really enjoy the milc currently, but as you mentioned being able to see a precise spot on a grid showing the miss location and correction, were a miss to happen, would be very nice.

Which grid reticle do you prefer?

 

[Vamike9]

I appreciate the response and agree with your thoughts. I do prefer to dial for every hunting shot, and really enjoy the milc currently, but as you mentioned being able to see a precise spot on a grid showing the miss location and correction, were a miss to happen, would be very nice.

Which grid reticle do you prefer?

I like the H-59 but the Ebr2-C from Vortex is nice as well. If you want a good simple grid then the Bushnell g3 is another good option, probably what would be my choice if hunting.

 

[TangoSierra916]

I like the H-59 but the Ebr2-C from Vortex is nice as well. If you want a good simple grid then the Bushnell g3 is another good option, probably what would be my choice if hunting.

Solid choices for sure, do you ever hold for hunting shots or only dial?

 

[Vamike9]

Dial for elevation and hold for wind that's usually what I do.

 

[45.308]

Not to be that guy but just why would you want to see and measure your misses hunting animals? That would be a wide miss to see bullet splash in the ground on an average sized game animal and to keep shifting the lever sending bullets down range? I can understand for p dogs. Maybe I miss understood.

For me #1 hunting meat getter topped with a fixed 3 power with duplex ret never failed in a hunting application. I want the lightest and tightest rig. I understand the paradigm shift from hunting to shooting with kit and techniques that allow very long shots with big high magnification scopes twisting the turrets on top of long heavy one-off rifles but in my world, toting a long precision rifle is way too heavy with large profile.

good luck

 

[TangoSierra916]

@45.308 - First off, I think your comments are great, maybe I could have asked the question clearer but what you said is what I was looking for. I for sure dont plan to miss a shot or take a shot at an animal that I dont feel confident in or isnt needed, if I can get closer thats the first option. Basically I am just curious in the knowledgeable people on the forum, with more experience than me and I mean that, is holding vs dialing a more preferred approach for hunting. I'm assuming dialing with a lighter weight setup and perhaps a low mag scope more curious to shooters thoughts.

Maybe a long range shot will never occur for me in hunting and thats cool. I just know quite a few people who hunt with Tremor 3 and similar reticles, various animal up to elk size and hold elevation and wind for the shot, personally I dont know if i could hold for an animal shot, If you/someone does more power to you. I was more looking for responses and experiences on the topic, so you were spot on. I like the sound of your hunting setup, probably more ideal for most in the case of long hunts/hikes, I just really enjoy the AXMC hunting and shooting in general.

I appreciate the response!

 

[TanktheFrank]

300 yards and in, I'm comfortable and confident in holding over. Further than 300 I would like to think I would dial, but have not shot at an animal beyond 305 or so, and it was a drt pig.

ETA: I dont really like to use grid reticles, preferred reticles would be mil dots with mil turrets, or the ebr reticle in my MOA PST, that will hopefully be replaced by a mil razor gen 1 before this fall.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I like a simpler reticle myself. Something with no Christmas tree, but still has .5 MIL (or even better, .2 MIL) subtensions for wind holds and elevation. Something like H2CMR, SKMR, Gen 2XR, SCR, etc.

I dial for elevation on longer shots as much as possible, but every once in a while, we all have that fast hold over for quick shots out to 300-400 on pesky coyotes. Plus, if you are shooting really long, with a scope like the TT315M with "only" 12MIL elevation, and you need 15.5MIL.....you can dial 12, and still hold 3.5MIL in the reticle to make that long shot...….

 

[Leatherlunger]

Im a cheapo because i have to be. For my best of both worlds setup i am using a sfp 3-9x40 bushnell engage with Deploy moa reticle. It has 1 MOA subtensions for elevation and windage. The reticle is very fine and highly functional. Definately not too busy and very simple. There are 30 moa worth elevation subtensions and more windage subtension than you will ever need. It has capped elevation and windage turrets which i prefer for field use as using the reticle for me is as fast and accurate as i need. I target shoot with confidence to 800yds using nothing but the reticle, moa ranging chart and my FDAC solver. This in turn gives me the confidence to make ethical shots on game to 500-600yds which is inside the terminal performance perameters of my hunting load/bullet. Oh by the way the scope is like $150 bucks. The deploy moa reticle is surprisingly nice even if you have high standards on the subject IMHO.

 

[Leatherlunger]

Oh yeah and dont need a 20+ moa scope base because the 30 moa of elevation subtensions will take my 180sgk@2600fps to about 850 yards. I love my dual dovetail rings/bases.