AusVarmint

Ok im getting a new scope its a Nikon Monarch 6-24x50 but i still dont know what reticle thou! There is the new bullet drop compensator one, fine duplex, target dot and the nikkoplex which im not real keen on. Basically are in built measures in scopes really that useful out in the feild on varmints???

Get the one with the target dot Dave. If you ever want to do some target shooting it will come in very handy.
My experience is that the more shit in the lens (drop compensaters, etc) the harder it is to find your target in a hurry.
If your only ever going to do hunting and spotlighting then I reckon a thick cross hair duplex is the go as the fine duplex's are hard to find in a spotlight
Good luck and good hunting

You make some valid points there knackers thats what i was worried about to much crap in the way to spot what im looking at and then not enough at night, how big are target dots generally???

Dave, there was a thread on the 6mmbr forum discussing the New Nikon Monarch 6-24x50. Jon from The Optic Zone described the reticle subtensions at 100yds as-
Nikoplex Target Dot
6x - .33" 6x - 1.25"
24x - .08" 24x - .31"

He said range of adjustment was around 34 moa.
Thread link http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post ... 53&trail=8

Whitty, thanks for the link. Browsing opticzone at minute trying to find something around the same length as a VX11 6-18 but better value. Looking at the VX111 as well. I'll just pop back to their site and have a look at Nikon

well it just seems now the 20 with a 44mm obj or the 24 with a 50mm!

Knackers wrote:Get the one with the target dot Dave. If you ever want to do some target shooting it will come in very handy.
My experience is that the more shit in the lens (drop compensaters, etc) the harder it is to find your target in a hurry.
If your only ever going to do hunting and spotlighting then I reckon a thick cross hair duplex is the go as the fine duplex's are hard to find in a spotlight

I cannot comment on the target dot, I have never used one. I do have a Leupold with their Varmint Hunter reticle, and would make the following comments, which may also apply to the Nikon reticles if they have the same function:

1/ I do not find the extra lines, dots etc., confusing and they are so fine they do not obstruct the view at all.

2/ the very fine lines do count against the scope in low light conditions but it is still useable

3/ the scope is zero'd for 200yds and the first drop point is 300yds. This means that unless you are shooting at "unpredictable" ranges of 300yds or more, the drop points are useless. When target shooting I assume (I don't do it so I don't know for sure) you would simply use the elevation adjustment to compensate for the drop at the distance you are shooting, which is easy on a range but tricky when hunting because your prey may be sighted at any distance without time to muck about with adjustments.

4/ the wind deflection dots are great if you know the speed of the wind and that it is fairly constant the entire distance to the target (!)

5/ using the reticle makes the scope fixed power, i.e. the drop points only work at a given power setting for a given set of ballistics. You have to make sure the scope is set to the right power, or you simply miss!

6/ they cost a lot and if you're not going to use them they're simply not worth it.

I have one on my "varmint" rifle in 6.5-20 40mm. I think it's great, but I wouldn't buy one for any other rifle as I rarely use the other rifles for ranges over 200yds. Personally I go with fine duplex for smaller calibres and shorter ranges, duplex for everything else. One day I'll try an illuminated reticle on a Kahles or Swarovski for low light work......

I was once told by an old experienced hunter "learn to judge distances accurately, estimate your hold points correctly and buy the best fixed power plain cross hair scope you can find". Even though I don't own a fixed power scope, I still think there's a lot of truth in the statement.

I have just bought a Nikon Buckmaster with the BDC reticle. Haven't taken delivery yet but I think it will be a useful feature. I think I will actually use it, rather than having a flash ranging reticle and never using it. Also have a Boone & Crocket reticle Leupy coming - might do a comparo for the site when I have both of them set up.

HiWall wrote:I have just bought a Nikon Buckmaster with the BDC reticle. Haven't taken delivery yet but I think it will be a useful feature. I think I will actually use it, rather than having a flash ranging reticle and never using it. Also have a Boone & Crocket reticle Leupy coming - might do a comparo for the site when I have both of them set up.

That would be great if you could mate!

Well after all that ive dropped the Nikon Monarch idea as it seems they are not going to be ready till june at this stage according to an email from the guys at opticzone sooo that might just have to wait and now i will tell a mate who wanted my vxII he is going to have to wait also