Rifle Scopes The Right Reticle For Me

[r5308]

I am a beginner to purposeful precision long range shooting and have a new rifle that I need to put a scope on with a $1k budget. I'm more confused about the reticle style than scope brand. My uses are target-steel-bench and even some hunting out to 800, any potential hunting is purely a secondary thought though. I can see myself using holdover more than dialing due to time constraint. Are the grid/Christmas tree style better for hold over than the mil/moa only on the cross hairs? I have never used a grid style but am concerned about making the right choice the first time.

 

[MATADOR]

The only person that can answer that is you. Some people like grid styles, some don't. Each opinion you get is going to be just that, what that person prefers. Both are equally effective. Get behind others glass to see what you like before you drop your own dough.

 

[dms416]

Might as well ask us if your a "tits man" or an "ass man".

 

[kansas]

Most shooters go through several scopes before they figure out what reticle they like. I know I have. Vortex and Bushnell both make good Christmas tree type reticles in the price range you are looking. The Vortex PST is a great scope and the both the Gen I and the new Gen II will have EBR-2C reticle and the Bushnells have the G2/G3 reticle that allows for quick holds. Only way you are going to find out if you like them is to spend some time behind them using the reticle instead of dialing. Myself I have found the EBR-2C reticle to fine to actually use the reticle for holding both wind and elevation however the G2 from Bushnell has bolder lines and is much easier for me to see. Most of the time I dial elevation and hold wind so a standard reticle works fine and is less cluttered. To each their own and only to know for sure which you like is to spend some time behind each. For resale you'll find any scope with a Christmas tree type reticle easier to sell. Most people want it whether or not they ever use it.

 

[Shootlong]

I'm in the same boat per say, I'm thinking that to dial elevation and hold for wind would be best for the hunting situations. But this 1000 yard shooting is new to me and has its own science. With scopes running at 3200.00 to 4000.00 you'd like to make the perfect decision from the start. I'm learning that is a lot easier said than done. Learn as much as we can from those that have been doing awhile , ask questions is all we can do. Best of luck on your pursuit of the perfect reticle.

 

[Dag34]

It is a personal preference. Buy a decent used scope and try that reticle for 6 months. If you do not like it, sell and buy another. If you loose some money consider it a rental fee.

You just might find that you like many styles of reticles and have preferences for certain situations. I prefer different reticles for hunting vs competition shooting.

The Vortex and Bushnell suggestions are sound advice.

 

[PBWalsh]

This is why I want to buy something like an Athlos Talos 4-14 for a .22. Its about $3-350 to try out a reticle style to see if I like it. If not, I can sell it for $2-250 and just proceed with a mornal Mil reticle.

 

[lkluemper00]

Mil dot or duplex

 

[ckmcmuso308]

My first high end optic was a USO 3.2-17x44 with an MPR reticle. I chose the reticle because that's what they recommended, I didn't really know what I was doing.
my second optics purchase was a Tangent Theta 5-25x56 with Gen2xr reticle. Every time I stare through the USO I wish the reticle was thinner. I don't think I'd ever get rid of the USO because of the reticle though, I'm kind of attached to it! It's not a TT though.
I guess my point is once you get two different reticles,
you will then figure out what you prefer.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I am a beginner to purposeful precision long range shooting and have a new rifle that I need to put a scope on with a $1k budget. I'm more confused about the reticle style than scope brand. My uses are target-steel-bench and even some hunting out to 800, any potential hunting is purely a secondary thought though. I can see myself using holdover more than dialing due to time constraint. Are the grid/Christmas tree style better for hold over than the mil/moa only on the cross hairs? I have never used a grid style but am concerned about making the right choice the first time.

Best thing to do is get to know guys that will allow you to shoot theirs so you can see what You like. Everyone makes their choice in what to use for Their style of shooting. I have changed all my reticals to one style save one USO it's not offered in. When that scope/gun sells everything I own from 22lr -300wm will have the same retical, as it allows/does everything I need or may want to do.

 

[steve123]

This is why I want to buy something like an Athlos Talos 4-14 for a .22. Its about $3-350 to try out a reticle style to see if I like it. If not, I can sell it for $2-250 and just proceed with a mornal Mil reticle.

It's possibly the best reticle around regardless of price, my favorite besides the H59! Half the time my bud's and I aren't even dialing due to the .2 holdovers/holdoffs throughout. I like that the .2 mil lines transition onto the other side of the crosshair at the half mil and the + crosshair has really grown on me vs a dot. The glass for this price range is truly great. We have them on AR's, 22's and PCP air rifles and except for a slightly hard to turn side focus they have worked well with not one failure.

Anyone that hasn't tried one is missing out.

 

[PBWalsh]

Yeah that why I recommended that Athlon in particular. I and the OP might buy this scope and find we dislike the tree reticles. I have no clue how my eye and brain will take to the style. Glad Athlon gives us this option.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

seems like a rednecky and a ridiculous way to figure out what reticle you like, BUT....

pick a few reticles you think you may like for your purposes.

save image / of the reticle(s) -you may have to do some cleaning up of the image to get the background removed, like photoshopping- hopefully you'll have a newer version of powerpoint.

how to:
http://www.free-power-point-templates.com/articles/how-to-remove-background-in-powerpoint-2010/

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/...nt-design-ht#sm.001t13ty217k1fnwuby12j2t8462r

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnF1WpxMsBs

get some clear or transparent paper
http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Pr...t-Paper/Clear-Sticker-Project-Paper_04383.htm

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apollo-Inkjet-Printer-Transparency-Film/27677414

http://www.grafixarts.com/products/computer-grafix-film/

http://www.staples.com/clear+transparencies/directory_clear+transparencies

load the paper and print your reticle

what it looks like (just an example) don't think family photos and ornaments (Christmas tree reticle pun), but reticles....forward to 1:14. with the background removed from before, all you'll have is the reticle / crosshairs printed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFFssToSg-k&list=PL_i4kuQz7Td6lwrEoaaP2fw79T3Qv6Sr8

look through the paper using the reticle printed on it (along with instructions on what the marks mean) on a target to get a feel for what you may like, or what you thought you may like but is too "busy" or confusing.

better than dropping a few hundred bucks here and there on scopes to figure it out.

 

[sheepdog697]

hopefully this can help. if you plan on using holdovers, do you want to hold in thin air for your wind call? If so, then skip a Christmas tree style reticle and get a normal mil or moa. If you are like me, i dont like to hold my wind call without specific points on the reticle. In my opinion, that is when the christmas tree or grid style makes sense. If you dial your elevation though, a christmas tree or grid reticle would be essentially useless...

hope that helps.

 

[IanHusaberg]

I'm going to suggest something that isn't that popular around these here parts. Get a Nikon with BDC. Since your new, thats Bullet Drop Compensation reticle. It should get you out to 600 wish yards. Thats where I started with a .223. Like the other posters have said it take 3 or 4 different scopes to figure out what you like, don't like. Just go shoot!!!!

 

[flyright]

I would go with standard mil dot or a very simple reticle with graduated points. I would not go full out Christmas tree and no BDC. Start simple and shoot short, 300-600 yards. Learn elevation and wind correction, holdovers, hold offs and dialing - for both - until you figure out what you like to do. Absolutely get mil - mil or moa - moa turret matched to reticle. You will figure out which system (mil or moa) you like best. When I shot benchrest I used moa and I thought transitioning to mils was gonna be difficult. It was actually very simple and and that's the only way I roll now. Good luck and welcome to a new can of worms - sometimes very expensive worms.