Re: ziess scopes
Matching means a reticule like a mildot and adjustments marked in mils, or a reticule in MOA and turrets marked in MOA. Another feature tactical shooters like is first focal plane, meaning the reticule always stays the same size in relation to the target.
The advantage of a FFP, MIL-MIL type scope is that if you are using the reticule to dial corrections you never have to worry about the magnification power or doing math. If you need two mils, you dial two. A SFP, MIL-MOA scope like the zeiss conquest means that 1) to know how much you need to dial the reticule has to be at whatever power it is calibrated for and 2) you will have to multiply by 3.43 to get the proper amount of MOA adjustment needed to coincide with the mil reticule.
Another topic is shooting style. Some like to dial, others like to hold and reticule choices reflect this.
Example, I was shooting at 600 yards and needed 4.5 mils to get on target. I dialed that much elevation and then half a mil for wind and shot for score. Second string, I used the reticule markings to hold 4.5mils above and half to the right and did my second string.
Some reticules you'll see will look 'complicated,' ie like a christmas tree. Those reticules are designed for holding. Reticules that are more traditional like a simple mildot are more for dialing. Now there's nothing about a 'christmas tree' reticule that says you can't dial your shots with it and you can certainly hold over with a plain jane mildot. But if you're going to hold over the christmas tree comes in handy as it more elevation and windage holds while the regular mildot doesn't have all the 'confusing' stuff.
If you hold your shots a first focal plane reticule is a must have. You don't want to hold what you think is 4.5 mils and overshoot or undershoot because your scope is on the 'wrong' power.
If I had 1k to spend on optics for a rem 5r 308 I would buy a super sniper HD 10X or a weaver 3-15 first focal plane tactical w/new reticule. Both of those are made in Japan, have simple mildot reticules, mil knobs and can be bought right now. The Vortex PST lineup is another good one but I don't know how available they are at the moment.
I would avoid single focal plane scopes with knobs that don't match the reticule. So the Conquest would be out for me. I like them for purely hunting though, as in a 3-9 zeroed at 200 etc.
