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Scope Solutions: Dial or Hold

Scope Solutions: Dial or Hold

Choice is a good thing but sometimes too much is just too much. It is more difficult to differentiate between scope models and differing specs than ever! But importantly, apart from objective size, magnification, and illuminated or nonilluminated options a very important choice is the reticule type. This does not just mean style these days but whether you want a range finding system or the ability to dial in the trajectory drop via purpose-built adjustment elevation turrets. The age-old problem of whether to dial in a change, or hold over, is still a bone of contention?

Most manufacturers offer at least one or two scopes that includes additional stadia lines; in this way, a bullet’s drop will coincide with one or more of these lines on the vertical (6 o’clock) stadia, allowing a quick change of aim to hit your target. In this way you do not change your initial zero and just adjust your aim according to what range the target is at. Alternatively, you can use a simpler reticule without extra stadia lines and adjust the bullet drop/ holdover /trajectory compensation, call it what you will, by ‘dialling-in’ the range compensation with the elevation turret.

Reticule Compensating Scopes

Choice is really a personal issue but you need to be practical too. Too fine a reticule on a rabbit gun and it will be impossible to see in dark conditions or against foliage. However, it may be advantageous for a long-range varmint scope used for more precise bullet placement in better lighting conditions. Conversely, too thick and you run the risk of covering too much of the quarry and not being able to accurately place a shot, especially when using a deer scope on a rabbit rifle. Range finding or bullet drop compensation can fall between the two and can be a real advantage if the stadia lines are well spaced and not overly complicated.

Scopes such as the larger varmint-types from NightForce etc. have a good range of diverse reticules from Mil –Dot to some very fancy stadia and dot designs. For example, the NP1-RR utilises lines, dots and range finding circles and the NP-R2 ladder design that allows trajectory and wind adjustment at extreme range when the bullets path is calculated and relevant reference stadia have been identified. All these make engaging small crows at long range more precise. I use an NP-R2 on my 6mm PPC to good effect, which, with the aid of a range card, allows hits at extreme range with no turret adjustment.

BRT

Similarly, Swarovski offer the excellent BRT-1 ladder-style reticule system, again suitable for engaging targets at longer range, with the hold? addition of useful windage dots to compensate for wind. Kahles have the 4D-Dot available on their hunting scopes, again utilising a ladder-type of four additional stadia that can be matched to any calibre’s bullet drop when you correlate their spacing’s to your own bullet’s trajectory curve. I like this system, as it is uncomplicated and therefore very quick to use and in reality, after deer, is all you need in the field.

Zeiss offer their very good and accurate Rapid -Z system; the Rapid Z 5 is for 100-500 meters, whilst the Rapid –Z 7 is for 100-700 metres. The reticule has just enough aiming points to allow for quick target acquisition, the view is uncomplicated so won’t obscure the target, unlike some similar systems that are just too busy. What you have are differing stadia lines on the vertical 6 o`clock position, with intermediate smaller stadia for fine tuning your trajectory drop and best of all the stadia extend on the horizontal for windage adjustment too.

Leupold have some really good and well-priced trajectory compensating scope reticules, such as their Boone and Crockett design, which is deer-specific. It offers two stadia below your zero point to aid you taking shots at longer range and a similar finer pattern for varmint shooting called the Varmint Hunter, with more stadia and extended windage stadia to compensate for nasty and ever changing wind conditions.

Hawke too offer some excellent, really well priced scopes, such as the Vantage that has .22 long Rifle and .17 HMR-specific reticules that make down range accuracy a cinch. I own two and rate them highly. The Endurance model is calibre-specific for .223 or .308 Win calibres and again they are excellent value for money and quick and simple to use; the trajectory-compensating reticule negates the use for additional turret adjustments. The Hawke Frontier is a higher-grade model, meant for serious centrefire use and the Frontier 30SF 2.5-15x30mm model with the TMX reticule for use at longer range, or as I have been using it, some subsonic large calibre use, brilliant scope.

Dial-in Scopes

Here you dial in the new zero for the range you intend to shoot at, but as with the reticule type, you must accurately know your range first. Dialling in has the potential of being the most accurate trajectory compensating system, purely because you match the correction exactly to the scope’s adjustment and not the nearest available stadia line.

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Again, trajectory compensating elevation turrets come in all shapes and sizes but here are some of the best on offer. Swarovski’s new X5i 5-25x56mm has upped the game recently and their top end scopes have an improved illumination system and user-friendly bullet drop compensating elevation turrets.

The ballistic turrets are now very good, being enlarged to accommodate an increased elevation and windage range for maximum ability. There is a viewing window, so you do not lose count as you correct for elevation and the adjustment is precise with the new spring retention system. There is also a sub zero feature that allows shots at close range from your original zero stop setting. Certainly one of the best scopes Swarovski has ever made!

ASV

Zeiss has external turreted click adjustable, or Bullet Compensating turrets, called the ASV system for specific calibres and these are either bought with the scope or can be retro fitted to an existing Zeiss model. Their new Zeiss Victory HT V8 4.8-35x60 ASV uses the latest high light transmission Schott glass lenses of 92%, which when combined to the new large 60mm objective lens diameter gives superior images for clarity, even at the highest magnification.

The ASV bullet drop compensating elevation turret also makes sure your bullet’s trajectory matches the range you are shooting at for perfect shot placement, with nine replacement, calibre-specific rings. The large 36mm tube diameter allows a greater elevation and windage range, so you have the best possibility at hitting a distant target.

Leupold too offer tactical turreted scopes for instant bullet compensation but also a retro fit turret conversion to calibrate your factory or reloaded ammunition to correspond to exact divisions on target style turrets. This to me is an excellent idea, as you get the scope you want or can afford and then match a custom build turret to your own load, perfect.

Best Example

NightForce have also had very accurate elevation and windage adjustment from their NXS range of scopes. But their new Zero Stop and BEAST (Best Example of Advanced Scope Technology) scopes allow precise adjustments in an instant with very tactile and highly visible rotating turrets.

Kahles offer probably my favourite scope in truth, great optics and simple no fuss and supremely accurate in operation. Their new Tactical 6-24x56mwith 34mm tube diameter with dual turn external adjustment elevation turrets are quite outstanding, with precise and instant increment adjustment. Their K10-50x56mm model again offers superb clarity and precise dial-in turrets, with a unique over-sized parallax ring; I use it on small calibre wildcats for extreme crow shooting.

If you are adventurous, then some scopes even have automatic adjustments i.e. the new Burris Ballistic Laser scope is a variable power system that acts as a conventional optic but when the range button is pushed, the range is accurately assessed by a laser and then an illuminated dot appears on the vertical reticule stadia to show where you need to aim! You have to input your ballistic data to the ammunition you are using and then at a push of a button the Laser scope computes the bullet drop for you. Too much perhaps and certainly dumbing down the shooter’s ability to a point and shoot level. Some might feel putting your trust in a machine completely is not a good idea!

Conclusions.

Ultimately, it is up to you which system you use, the main point to remember is it does not matter how good the scope trajectory compensating system is, if you do not know the exact range! A good laser range finder is certainly necessary to compliment the ‘Dial or Hold’ ethos, as does a good computer program like Quickload and Quick Target for plotting an exact trajectory. Also, remember a lot of deer are shot are short ranges, so you will probably never need a significantly differing trajectory, but longer range shots on the hill, after foxes or vermin certainly will and basically there is a scope out there at a budget you can afford that will suit your needs. Next time, judging the wind.

CONTACT:
Zeiss 01223 401500
Swarovski 01737 856800
Kahles RUAG 01579 362319
Leupold Viking Arms 01423 780810
Hawke Deben 01394 387762
Quickload JMS Arms 07771 962121

 

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