What style of reticle do you prefer on a scope for big game? I myself is partial to the German #1 and #4

I also like the low-powered scopes and my latest buy is a Leupold 1-4x20. But I've seen that others, our host Saeed for one, favors the larger magnifications.

For heavy rifles low magnification - Leupold Heavy Duplex followed closely by German #1

Long Range high magnification: MilDot

Todd E

Wachtel,

I recently tried a Kahles low-power variable with their #7A heavy plex reticle. I thought it was effective. Generally I think I have more experience with plex reticles than any other style.

I have been using two Trijicon AccuPoint scopes with an illuminated triangle on a post for a reticle. No crosshair at all. They are effective.

I tried a reticle that was a small circle at the center of the scope, no other wires. I didn't like that because you could not tell if the rifle was canted.

I have also tested Jeff Cooper's scout style rifle with the forward monnted scope, aound it has design and implementation problems.

I believe that low-power variables are the best solution for a hunting telescope, say in the 1.5 to 6 range (1 to 4 or 1 to 5 or whatever).The factories are spending their development money on variables, and have left the fixed power scope behind.

I also expect that illuminated reticles might turn out to be the next thing we "need" in our rifle scopes.

As we age, sooner or later each hunter is going to need a scope on the rifle. Unless the medical types find a way to reverse the effects of aging on the human eye.

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

[This message has been edited by HunterJim (edited 01-19-2002).]

I have had all my Leupolds converted to the German #4 by Premier Reticles. I even had them add another crosshair to be 3" high at 100 yards on my VariXIII 3.5-10X40mm scope. Now I can hit a dime at 100 yards with no holdover. The regular crosshairs are zeroed at 240 yards with my load and the bottom thick duplex section is zero'd for 400 yards.

I did not pick the bottom Duplex that way, it's just the way it worked out. This scope is on a 30/06. It's a magical rifle for all my regular shooting and hunting. Super light weight 7.5 pounds and 22" barrel RimRock stock. Deadly accurate with the reticle spacing and my Leica rangefinder. Hitting foot ball sized rocks at 400 yards is nearly a guarantee using a solid rest and that bottom duplex. Even 300 yard shots are 100% by putting the crosshairs on the top of the intended target. No holdover a 100 yards with the additonal cross hair.

All that with the ability to see the big thick duplex section of the crosshairs all night long with a full moon. I have also used this on Swarovski scopes but I detest the retical in the last plane. It gives me the feeling that I'm looking through a tunnel. The German#4 is perfect for hunting but the scope design is bad IMO. combining the leupold with the German #4 is the trick!

Don't have Leupold do the conversion they use a very thick intersecting crosshair. Premier reticles uses the correct hair thin crosshair.

[This message has been edited by JJHACK (edited 01-19-2002).]

I am heavy duplex kinda guy...

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MED

The sole purpose of a rifle is to please its owner

I like the Leupold Vari X III 2,5-8x36 with the mildot reticle. I use it on my 30-06 and 416 Rem...

Antonio

I love the German #1 reticle in my 2.5x Leupold. Premier Reticles will be getting all of my future scope business.

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

I'm very fond of the German #4A reticle. I have this in swarovski 6x42, 2.2-9x42 and 8x56 scopes. These are easily the best scopes I have ever owned or used.

RJW

Greetings All

Hunter Jim - I like my 3x9 AccuPoint (amber) for woods use very much. I am considering another (1.25x4) to use on a .416 Rigby with buffalo in mind. What cartrige(s) has yours been used with? Would you take it for buffalo? Reticle color preference? Thanks in advance, Ed

[This message has been edited by EdO (edited 01-25-2002).]

N� 4 on all my Swarovski scopes with one exception : the 1,25-4x24 I use for drive hunting has this one, which is very fast on running shots :

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Andr�

Leupold's original Duplex reticle has served me very well on a wide variety of hunts, and that's the reticle I'd choose if I could have only one.

AD

Wachtel,

For my Leupold scope I prefer the Duplex reticle.

For Swarovski scopes I prefer the German #4.

I prefer high-power scope.

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

I have a 1.5X5 Leupold with a German #4 reticle on my 416 that I like very well but I am thinking of trying a couple of new reticles on my 375HH. I have two scopes that will have swing off mounts: One is a Kahles 1.5X6 with the 7a reticle and the other, a 1.5X5 Leupold with the German #1 reticle. I haven't tried the #1 before so this will be a first. Personally, I think the Leupold heavy duplex is nice for a big bore. The eye is drawn to the center very fast. I don't think I need anything past 6X in a variable for the 375HH but a 21/2X8 Leupold wouldn't be bad.
On the lighter rifles I have a Kahles 3X9 with a TDS reticle which I dearly love. I've made some long shots with that one. The reticle JJHACK refers to is also interesting as is the RC600 by Premier Reticles. I wouldn't mind trying either and may order one in the future for a custom 30-06 I'm thinking about. I like the variables that go up to 9X and 10X on the light rifles but no larger than 42mm objective.

[This message has been edited by Terry P (edited 01-25-2002).]

I'm with Andre...I have the same scope on my Lazzeroni...it is the Swarovski 1.5x6x42mm and it is very fast and easy to acquire..perfect for dangerous game.

Is it difficult/costly to change reticle on a Leupold? I was thinking about Premier's offers but don't know if this could be done here in Europe. The cross-hairs are a bit thick for shooting from the bench. On the other hand, this rifle ain't meant to be shot of the bench

Wachtel,

Your Leupold scope is a not enough powerful for bench (at 100 yards OK but over not). For bench with my .308 I have a Leupold 24X40 scope. This scope is great for bench only not for hunting too powerful scope.IMHO

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

BER007,

I didn't mean that I would use this rifle for benchrest-shooting, I'm not that recoil-tolerant just yet I will mount the scope with a Warne QR so if the need arose I could always buy another scope.

But I tested rifle+scope last weekend and found it difficult to center the cross on the target with precision. I would like the crosshairs in the middle a bit thinner and the outer posts still as thick as they are.

Wachtel,

Okayyyyy!!!!!

Understood.

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

I have used the standard medium cross hair for years and never a problem, but today I tend to settle on the standard duplex and the Leupold dot is a very nice reticle...

I do not like a reticle that is too busy with a series of dots, circles, x's,-'s, and gimmicks that make it akin to reading a short novel...

I like low power scopes of fixed power such as the 3X and 4X Leupolds and I have and like the 1.5x5 Leupold and I suppose, like you, I have found the 1x4x20 Leupold a perfect dangerous game scope...On 458 Lotts and up I prefer the 2.5 Leupold compact for its ruggedness..

For varmint rifles I like a 10X or a 12X and can live with a 4x12X Leupold, but my main varmint rifle a 222 Rem 722 has an old 3x9 Leupold and it has served me to perfection.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know of a link to somewhere that shows all the reticles? There are some mentioned in this thread that I haven't seen. Thanks. - Dan

Leupold has a good page:

http://www.leupold.com/tiret.html#styles