Scope reticles for hunting

turner · 04-13-2008, 10:28 AM

I was curious as to what members considered the best reticle they have found for hunting big game. I've recently found I really like the German #4 type a lot, especially after having shot some very good groups with them at the range after reading they were not good for precise shooting. Who likes what??

thebigitch62 · 04-13-2008, 10:48 AM

I like the leupold varmit hunter reticle, because it's designed for 22-250 but it matches my .300RUM ballistics just about perfectly.

Onesonek · 04-13-2008, 11:34 AM

Well, first off I don't hunt much beyond any particular rig's point blank range. But even out at the tail end of those ranges, knowing what the range is can be tough at times to accurately judge in certain terrains and lighting conditions for me. Yet I don't feel lazer range finders to be a necessity, but some ranginging capability is nice to have.
So to answer the ? at hand, I prefer any reticle that I can range from. I can make do with duplex types, and any with mulitiple point stadia's work quite well. Sometimes the manufacture will have the subtensions published, if not I just spend a little time at the range with various target sizes and figure out whats what.

Dave

SwedeSteve · 04-13-2008, 11:45 AM

Spot on onesonek!

thebigitch62 · 04-13-2008, 01:33 PM

I also use a laser rangefinder, so i'm not guessing the distance.

AKHunter · 04-13-2008, 02:09 PM

I cant say that I have ever relied on the reticle for ranging. If it is within 300yards I aim and shoot. I may have an advantage in that the game I hunt is BIG game, Moose, caribou, black bear and sheep. Only once so far have I had to shoot 300yards. Big kill zones and a .338wm or .30-06 sighted in 4.0' high at 100yards gets me 5-6' drop at three hundred. Simply put, aim 2/3 the way up the chest of the critter and squeeze. When the animal is near a hundred yards I aim for the top of the brisket and get a heart shot in.

This method works well for me.

HAWKEYE50 · 04-13-2008, 03:03 PM

I like the Leupold Varminter retical. I set a 15" high piece of cardboard at 200yds last night. With the scope set at 8x, it took 2 stadia lines to measure the top to bottom measurement. I cant shoot at that target for safety reasons, But learning the power settings vs distance will help durring the longer distance test. I have a laser range finder which I wouldn,t give up for anything. It works great. Once I've fired at all the various distances, checked by laser and tested, I will make a cheat sheet taped to the stock. This scope is the first I've had with holdover marks.

Nathan123 · 04-14-2008, 02:11 AM

I use duplex reticles. For me it is all about knowing my rifles and how they shoot.

I do have a mill-dot on my heavy barreled M17 .25-06, but it was on there when i got it, and the thing is a tack driver so i never bothered to change it. Every other scope i own has a duplex reticle.

SwedeSteve · 04-14-2008, 04:16 AM

AKHunter- I hope that's inches and not feet, otherwise I gotta come hunt where you do! LOL That's some BIG game! Just funnin' with ya!

turner · 04-14-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKHunter

I cant say that I have ever relied on the reticle for ranging. If it is within 300yards I aim and shoot. I may have an advantage in that the game I hunt is BIG game, Moose, caribou, black bear and sheep. Only once so far have I had to shoot 300yards. Big kill zones and a .338wm or .30-06 sighted in 4.0' high at 100yards gets me 5-6' drop at three hundred. Simply put, aim 2/3 the way up the chest of the critter and squeeze. When the animal is near a hundred yards I aim for the top of the brisket and get a heart shot in.

This method works well for me.

I understand and agree with your methods, but am curious as to what reticle you use and whether you use a bold one and both eyes open on close shots. This is something fairly new to me (using both eyes and a bold reticle) and it seems to work very well.

wirehunt · 04-14-2008, 08:38 AM

German 4 here for distance stuff and a red dot for heavy bush, both eye's open with both.

lefty o · 04-14-2008, 10:38 AM

for big game, a standard plex reticle is great. heavy enough to be seen when its still fairly dark out. for big game, i have no need to range animals using a reticle.

Brother Bob · 04-14-2008, 11:00 AM

Whatever comes with the Bushnell Elite 3200's. You simply can't find a better scope for the money.

AKHunter · 04-14-2008, 02:32 PM

Heh I did'nt even notice that LOL. It is INCHES. My 06' has a Leupold 3x-9-40 VXII with a standard duplex reticle, my .338wm has a Leupold 1.5x-5 VXIII also standard duplex reticle.

Often I have both eyes open at the range but am not sure when hunting, it is not something I am thinking about at the time when ready to shoot an animal. I expect I have both eyes open most times just due to habit. Of course the angle of the sun will get me to closing an eye if it is in my face.

pruneemac · 04-16-2008, 01:44 AM

I just got a mil dot scope and im learning to use it. very useful once you figure out the distances. so far 3rd dot is 400 yds.

300RUM · 04-16-2008, 08:54 AM

I like the Sheperd scopes. I used one on a friends 300 RUM, and just ordered one for the 22-250. It should be here Thurs. Im well aware they are overpriced, but hey... been divorced 4 years and the 22-250 and Sheperd is the 1st gun I have purchased since the whole ordeal, so why not spend that income tax return?

04-13-2008, 10:28 AM	#1
turner Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tn Posts: 623	Scope reticles for hunting I was curious as to what members considered the best reticle they have found for hunting big game. I've recently found I really like the German #4 type a lot, especially after having shot some very good groups with them at the range after reading they were not good for precise shooting. Who likes what??

04-13-2008, 03:03 PM	#7
HAWKEYE50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: HOLLY MI Posts: 166 Blog Entries: 20	I like the Leupold Varminter retical. I set a 15" high piece of cardboard at 200yds last night. With the scope set at 8x, it took 2 stadia lines to measure the top to bottom measurement. I cant shoot at that target for safety reasons, But learning the power settings vs distance will help durring the longer distance test. I have a laser range finder which I wouldn,t give up for anything. It works great. Once I've fired at all the various distances, checked by laser and tested, I will make a cheat sheet taped to the stock. This scope is the first I've had with holdover marks. __________________ "KEEPIN MY POWDER DRY"

04-14-2008, 04:16 AM	#9
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	AKHunter- I hope that's inches and not feet, otherwise I gotta come hunt where you do! LOL That's some BIG game! Just funnin' with ya! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-14-2008, 08:38 AM	#11
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 654	German 4 here for distance stuff and a red dot for heavy bush, both eye's open with both. __________________ Happy Hunting

04-14-2008, 11:00 AM	#13
Brother Bob The Mayor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Olive Branch, MS. Posts: 2,682 Blog Entries: 3	Whatever comes with the Bushnell Elite 3200's. You simply can't find a better scope for the money. __________________ The Most Expensive Commodity In This Country Is Ignorance!

04-13-2008, 10:48 AM	#2
thebigitch62 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Port Orchard Wa Posts: 107	I like the leupold varmit hunter reticle, because it's designed for 22-250 but it matches my .300RUM ballistics just about perfectly.

04-13-2008, 11:34 AM	#3
Onesonek Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pipestone, MN. Posts: 349	Well, first off I don't hunt much beyond any particular rig's point blank range. But even out at the tail end of those ranges, knowing what the range is can be tough at times to accurately judge in certain terrains and lighting conditions for me. Yet I don't feel lazer range finders to be a necessity, but some ranginging capability is nice to have. So to answer the ? at hand, I prefer any reticle that I can range from. I can make do with duplex types, and any with mulitiple point stadia's work quite well. Sometimes the manufacture will have the subtensions published, if not I just spend a little time at the range with various target sizes and figure out whats what. Dave

04-13-2008, 11:45 AM	#4
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	Spot on onesonek! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-13-2008, 01:33 PM	#5
thebigitch62 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Port Orchard Wa Posts: 107	I also use a laser rangefinder, so i'm not guessing the distance.

04-13-2008, 02:09 PM	#6
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	I cant say that I have ever relied on the reticle for ranging. If it is within 300yards I aim and shoot. I may have an advantage in that the game I hunt is BIG game, Moose, caribou, black bear and sheep. Only once so far have I had to shoot 300yards. Big kill zones and a .338wm or .30-06 sighted in 4.0' high at 100yards gets me 5-6' drop at three hundred. Simply put, aim 2/3 the way up the chest of the critter and squeeze. When the animal is near a hundred yards I aim for the top of the brisket and get a heart shot in. This method works well for me.

04-14-2008, 02:11 AM	#8
Nathan123 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newcastle, N.S.W, Australia Posts: 354	I use duplex reticles. For me it is all about knowing my rifles and how they shoot. I do have a mill-dot on my heavy barreled M17 .25-06, but it was on there when i got it, and the thing is a tack driver so i never bothered to change it. Every other scope i own has a duplex reticle.

04-14-2008, 10:38 AM	#12
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,789	for big game, a standard plex reticle is great. heavy enough to be seen when its still fairly dark out. for big game, i have no need to range animals using a reticle.

04-14-2008, 02:32 PM	#14
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	Heh I did'nt even notice that LOL. It is INCHES. My 06' has a Leupold 3x-9-40 VXII with a standard duplex reticle, my .338wm has a Leupold 1.5x-5 VXIII also standard duplex reticle. Often I have both eyes open at the range but am not sure when hunting, it is not something I am thinking about at the time when ready to shoot an animal. I expect I have both eyes open most times just due to habit. Of course the angle of the sun will get me to closing an eye if it is in my face.

04-16-2008, 01:44 AM	#15
pruneemac Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA Posts: 56	I just got a mil dot scope and im learning to use it. very useful once you figure out the distances. so far 3rd dot is 400 yds.

04-16-2008, 08:54 AM	#16
300RUM Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: KY. (like the jelly) Posts: 63	I like the Sheperd scopes. I used one on a friends 300 RUM, and just ordered one for the 22-250. It should be here Thurs. Im well aware they are overpriced, but hey... been divorced 4 years and the 22-250 and Sheperd is the 1st gun I have purchased since the whole ordeal, so why not spend that income tax return? __________________ Not so funny meow is it?