German #1

German #4

Leupold Post & Duplex

Most likely no shot will ever be taken over 100 yards.

Excellent question and great timing ...

I'm thinking about a Leupold VX-3 1.5 - 5x with a German #4 on my 375 but was also looking at Trijicon 1.25- 4x with German #4 and green dot.

I've never used Trijicon scopes and while might not be necessary in Namibia, it might be useful back here in the States for whitetails in the Allegheny Mtns.

I have a #1 on my .375. Works superb and is plenty detailed for highly accurate target shooting.

A post reticle causes me to tend to shoot either high or low when trying to get off a quick shot due to its asymmetrical arrangement. I've often heard that complaint from other shooters, also. The typical duplex crosshair is easy to pick up and because it is symmetrical is more conducive to the quick placement of an accurate shot.

If low light is anticipated, then a heave duplex is useful and probably easier to pick up than a post due to having, in effect, four thick posts.

Circle dot! or just a big Dot! Less for you brain the focus on. Put the DOT on the SPOT and pull the trigger. IMHO, it is the best solution to a moving target as well. I believe +90% fast acquisition close range military type optics are DOTS.
I actually like a Leupold dot as it allows you to note a vertical/horizontal axis but the tapered X hairs are very fine and do nor obscure the view. Not that it matters at close range anyway.

EZ

I like a heavy duplex myself, but this is a very personal decision. See if you can try a couple different ones before you make an expensive mistake.

Swarovski have a reticle named ''CD'' in their 1-6X24 range, which consists of a circle with central dot, together with heavy outer posts. The circle and dot can be illuminated in their ''i'' version.

I have mostly 4a reticles and like those the best for quick acquisition. That said, I've never hunted with a #1 reticle so I can't compare them.

Magnification is more important that the reticule at close range.

If you have a variable I personally dislike the type where as you increase the magnification then reticule gets bigger.

I have used both the German post and the infinitely BETTER British No32 sniper reticule.

Also duplex plus various other odd reticules.

The advantage of the German is that on running game moving across your front it helps you maintain the shot at the correct level to the body.

But I have to say that actually a DUPLEX is probably best as if properly set up for CLOSE RANGE point of impact should be exactly on the cross point.

Thus if you centre the scope on the target then the bullets will follow.

I don't like the German post as the post blocks out too much underneath it at longer ranges.

I find I can acquire a target much faster with the German No.4 reticle than with a duplex.

I have astigmatism & it makes a heck of a difference.

Circle-dot with illumination option. The Swarovski comes to mind in a variety of scopes.

for DG I would suggest the CD-I reticle and of course in a Swarovski scope as DBill mentioned as well...

http://www.titanium-gunworks.d.../z6i/z6i-1-6x24.html

Precision aiming isn't as critical on a DG scope, due to the short range and large target. Rapid "pick-up" is what matters. German #4, wide Duplex, or ILL Dot are all good.

Use an illuminated dot of some sort if buff are on the menu.

Your target MAY be in the shade, or the sun MAY be kinda behind it, at which time your scope's black crosshairs will disappear into this black animal.

I know this from experience, twice. I have since gone with Trijicon for my DG bolt rifles. They're good for the military, so they're good for Jack.

I prefer the heaviest German #1, the reticle with a center post at 6:00 and a blunt point in the center of the scope. it has very heavy horizontal lines at 3:00 and 9:00,running from the edge of he scope to almost the standing pointed post. the top of the horizontal posts are even with the centerline of the scope. this hoses some people up and they tend to shoot very high. it is a ,matter of not knowing the rifle and ho it works, just like with double set triggers,, 3 position safeties and other options on guns. they all work fine, but the user must now how to use them.

I have shot a lot of running deer and other game and very much prefer the heavest #1 reticle for such work. the results have spoken for themselves. and in thick vegetation i uber like the #1 over any of the reticles i have used. the only time i do not prefer the #1 for hunting in wide open spaces where shots may be long and hold over is likely. for that i would want a #4 or duplex reticle. anything else, i do best with a heavy german #1. Whatever the old Premier Reticle used to use for their heaviest #1 is right up my alley.

this is kinda like asking which boot people prefer. you will see soem trends and it will help narrow down your choices for you to ttry on because your feet feel like they do. others' feet are going to be different and you need to try on the different boots. i have markedly beter experience with them, but you my prefer something else

but for me, i would only use the heavuiest german #1 offered by the scope company of your choie,

oh, one other thing. folks that do not like the #1 say thay have trouble shooting tiny groups on paper. this reticle is made for hunting in brush and on game that is 0ften running. i can shoot goups on paper ok with the reticle. if i my goal was to shoot the absolute smallst groups i pick different reticle.

I as well prefer the 3 post system, 3,6, and 9 location. Had Leupold Custom Shop fit one of their 2.5 UltraLite scopes with this reticle and mtd. on Ruger No. 3 rebarreled to 45/70 and it is quick to get on target. That is one tough little scope, light in weight, small in size, but even in low light conditions it is like looking through a window using both eyes open and don't have any problems seeing that very bold vertical post. I am old school and shot post front sights on match guns for lots of years and it just seems natural to me. Zeroed for "center of mass" as opposed to normal six o'clock hold and it just works.

I use several scopes with the No;4

Another vote for the Swaro "battue" reticle.

Duplex is OK, #4 I really like on any hunting rifle.

I just don't understand the over engineered reticles...The standard duplex is the best reticle ever invented, it works at all ranges every time, both long and short, and does not cover have an acre of bush...A cluttered scope does not appeal to me..

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
A post reticle causes me to tend to shoot either high or low when trying to get off a quick shot due to its asymmetrical arrangement. I've often heard that complaint from other shooters, also. The typical duplex crosshair is easy to pick up and because it is symmetrical is more conducive to the quick placement of an accurate shot.

If low light is anticipated, then a heave duplex is useful and probably easier to pick up than a post due to having, in effect, four thick posts.

+ 1 more to the word.

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
Another vote for the Swaro "battue" reticle.

+several!
This is the fastest reticle i`ve tried, and still precise at longer shots. I have one in my Z6i 1.7-10x42 and it sits perfect on my 9,3.
Simply love it, and it has greater FOV than my VX-III 1,5-5.

The reticle shown by KurtC is my all time favorite and for me anyway, it shows up very well even in heavy shaded area in the woods or early in the day or late in the evening.
Had Leupold's custom shop equip couple of their UltraLite 2.5x scopes for use on No.3 Ruger/45-70 and had one on 458Lott No.1 Ruger and good set up. Used to using post/peep sight arrangemet and just comes natural to me. As pointed out, lots of lines, dots, circles, etc. is distracting for me.

I have a "cirlce dot" on a Leupold that wasn't my first choice but I liked the price. It works great. If you were shooting longer range I'd say that the absence of a vertical to help prevent a cant of the rifle could be an issue, but out to 150 yards I think it's irrelevant and hardly relevant beyond that for quite a way.

someting nice and thick my pesonal favourite is the German #4.Its easy to see and fast to use and is capable of great accuracy shooting as well,going through the family amoury and all the big rifles and some of the lighter ones to wear scopes of different names but with the #4 reticle

I HATE cluttered fields of view in scopes for DG. Therefore I really like VERY LARGE dots, Or a flat-topped post with no crosshair (like on the old military M-84 (or was it M-82?) version of the Lyman Alaskan, Or a large red dot. Nothing else but one of those 3 and the animal in the field of view.

Are they good for 100 yard paper targets at the range? No, they aren't particularly so. But I don't care. I've never felt in danger of being bitten, clawed, or swatted by a paper target. I want something I can pick up the animal quickly with, and which has a large exit-pupil and is properly mounted so I don't have to look for it.

For DG, I also don't want any scope with more than 2-1/2X magnification and would prefer some of the older ones that had about 2X even though they were called 2.5X Just plain 1X wouldn't break my heart. I'm not gonna be shooting at DG beyond a max of 50 yards anyway.