I have two Leupold 1.5 X 5 scopes ordered from Premier Reticles with the German N° 1 reticle as below.




They could also give me the same reticle with only the vertical post, no horizontal lines at all. I am beginning to think that it might be preferable without the horizontal lines which just obscure the view in my opinion. I don't think I really use them when I aim, I am so concentrated on the tip of the vertical post (a deformation of my front sight training with handguns?). What would be the downside? I have posted here because the intended scope use is for DG on big bores, not bench rest shooting.

SUSAT is best in my NSHO



The inverted one is even better, upside down, does not cover the target.

I came of age using iron sights in the military. The #2 post & crosshair has been my choice of scope reticles. The single post within the tube duplicates the iron peep sight, and the thin horizontal crosshair gives you an artifitial horizon without distracting the eye or obscuring the target.

I agree that you don't really need the horizontal cross-hairs. They just clutter up the field of view.

I have the German No. 4 and 8 reticles in my scopes.

The No 4 is similar to Wink's image, except there is a vertical central cross hair and additional horizontal cross hairs between the broad posts.

The No. 8 has four broad posts with cross hairs meeting in the middle, between the posts.

The No. 4 is better as it does not hide as much of the target. I think the No. 8 is meant for night shooting from a high seat. Just my guess.

I also like the Leupold Du-plex, although I do not have a scope with this reticle at present.


Now for for some contention. Some time ago, I read, but do not remember the source / reference, the US military conducted some trials with pointed post and cross hair reticles in scopes.

They found, as the light decreased, soldiers were shooting high because they could not obtain a sight picture / a consistent sight picture. I think the ranges mentioned were out to 600 yards, circa 550m.

With the cross hairs, the mind -eye was able to use the principle of "quartering" the view to obtain a better sight picture and so aid more accurate shooting.

My mind is unable to comprehend the up side down reticle view Edmond mentions. I read somewhere, the Russians use some similar sort of aiming mark fgor their Draganov rifle sights.

So, its not just the Australians with upside down sights!

I use that reticle on a couple of my rifles with Leupold scopes and I like it a lot. One has a post which is a bit too thick and accuracy (on targets) suffers a little because of it. This reticle was added by another company, not Leupold.

I also have another with a tapered post and a thin cross-hair (an old Weaver) and that works well too.

I like the cross-bars as it makes the target acquisition faster especially on running targets.

My personal preference would be not to buy just a post reticle at all. Even if I am shooting upside down down-under.

I ordered the Leupold 1.25x4 30mm European with the German #4 reticle to put on my RSM.458Lott. UPS guy is supposed to bring it by today. Looks like just the ticket to me.

During late hours, especially in dense woods, the reticle might not show up against the body of the animal.

You can still make the shot if you have both vertical and horizontal reticles.

You can see the reticles extending in both directions beyond the animal.

You can center accordingly.

I prefer the #1 you got for running game. I prefer it to all other patterns and like the horizontal posts. THey really help me for shooting running deer. I would not want just a single standing post. I also like Chevy trucks and red headed women. DOes not mean they are "right," just that they are "right for me." Same applies to scope reticles.

I like the German No4 as shown, but with a lighted center, for use on my double rifles, and big bore bolt rifles. The horizonal bars are a help in keeping the rifle level for long shots, and for running game. I can't tell from the picture if this scope has fine cross wires between the horizonal bars, and fron the verticle to the top of the scope, but the solid bars, and post show up well against the black target bull'seye, so it would likely show up on a big buff!

I like the center lighted so the scope can be used for cats, and bear over bait. Most shots over bait are in near dark, and the lighted pin point makes a nice spot on the shoulder of a big leopard, or lion. The 1.5-5X20 Veri-X III can be had with the lighted tip on the No4 reticle!

I have a Leupold with the iluminated German 4 with red dot...Turn the dot on and you are like an expert shot touch the animal with the dot and wham.. The best scope I have ever shot...Also those Trajecon (sp) scopes with the yelow post are way cool..My hunting buddy has one on his deer rifle...He loves it...

Good luck Wink....


Mike

Where the German 1 shines is for hunting in low light, especially in cover. You need the horizontal bars in this condition as the vertical tip will be lost in the animal. Notice how the top of the tip is even with the top of the horizontal bars.

The German 2 is better suited for running (fleeing) game. The thin horizontal wire doesn't cover much and the heavier vertical post tapers to a square tip just above the wire.

I think a proper set of fixed sights are better for DG. In a scope, a German 4 or a Heavy Duplex is my preference. LEU has a new Wide Duplex that may be suitable in a 2.5X scope.

Gary

Give some consideration to a large dot installed by Premier reticles. We use them shooting metallic silhouettes. Many of us have had them installed in hunting scopes and they are fast and do not have heavy side posts obscuring the target. A large dot is my favorite and I have all the others mentioned.

I have six SCHMIDT&BENDER and ZEISS scopes all with the German NO;4 reticles.
On lower power in thick bush or follow up the fine lines almost disappear and the thick main lines come to use. And in low light the close thick lines give a great guide.

Nitrox,

Living "Down Under", your sights would, of course, be the the right way up!

robthom

Circle Dot from Swarovski

My Zeiss scope seems to be more clear than my Leopold, but the reticle on the Leopold is more narrow and preferable.The Swarovski reticle posted by Andre Mertens,looks alot like a Leopold,except for the dot and circle.

shootaway, I think the standard Leopold reticle is called the DUPLEX which I have used in LEOPOLD and SWAROVSKI scopes but find in low light they disappear and make it hard to line up game but they are great at the shooting range.

I thought Premier had stopped installing most reticles. If true it is a shame, as they have been excellent. I wrote them about it and never received a reply.

Here is the scope (Trijicon TA31 RCO)used by the US Marine Corps on their M16A4 rifle:


Here's its reticle:


The original, civilian version of that scope (Trijicon TA 31) comes with one of these reticles:




Trijicon also makes a more traditional line of hunting scopes with reticles like this:


Trijicon scopes do not require batteries. They have internal tritium illumination, augumented during daytime by a fiber optic light collector (the red plastic tube on top of the TA31)

Billinthewild, I bought my second Leupold with German N° 1 reticle installed in October of 2005 so I thought they were still doing it. Then I checked their website and learned they had stopped most of the reticle production and installation this month. You are right, unless you want a military style reticle.

http://www.premierreticles.com

German #4, or the Trijicon Reflex sight with the 6.5 MOA dot, for big critters or things that can either bite or shoot back.
For small game, the standard Duplex is fine.

Cheers, Dave.

All my larger caliber rifles have a #4 or #4a reticle. The S-B illuminated reticle has a dot in the middle of the finer crosshairs. It is great on running and in poor light.

Darn shame. I have two and they are great. If I find another source I'll post it.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
Billinthewild, I bought my second Leupold with German N° 1 reticle installed in October of 2005 so I thought they were still doing it. Then I checked their website and learned they had stopped most of the reticle production and installation this month. You are right, unless you want a military style reticle.

http://www.premierreticles.com

I have 4a reticles from Premier in Leupold M-8 4x scopes on my favorite rifles. I hunt deer and hogs in very thick brush and it works fine, even when light gets low. Ranges are normally short. This reticle is very fast to use even in low light, and the horizontal bars really do help. The fine center crosshairs also allow for a very fine hold out to about 300m if that comes into play.

I've hunted feral cattle in thick forest with it also -- great for that, and I'd do it again tomorrow.


Okie John

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Hunter:
I ordered the Leupold 1.25x4 30mm European with the German #4 reticle to put on my RSM.458Lott. UPS guy is supposed to bring it by today. Looks like just the ticket to me.

I have one on my 376 Steyr (a Montana Arms with Serengeti treatment) I like it a lot but I wish I had ordered the 2X7 as I see to much of the barrel below 3 power and with the 376 I also expect to shoot at smaller targets.

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:
Here is the scope (Trijicon TA31 RCO)used by the US Marine Corps on their M16A4 rifle:


Here's its reticle:


The original, civilian version of that scope (Trijicon TA 31) comes with one of these reticles:




Trijicon also makes a more traditional line of hunting scopes with reticles like this:


Trijicon scopes do not require batteries. They have internal tritium illumination, augumented during daytime by a fiber optic light collector (the red plastic tube on top of the TA31)

I think I remember a magazine article from a year or so where they gathered up about 6 or 8 shooters and had weapons with different types of sighting systems and the trijicon was the fastest with accurate fire.

For hunting BIG big game I like Leupolds heavy duplex, German picket Post reticles, and the Swarovski Circle Dot reticles.