Nikon Earns Patent for BDC Reticle — Shooter Reports are Mixed

Nikon Sport Optics now has a patent on its BDC (Bullet-Drop Compensating) reticle design. While many other, previous reticle designs have featured multiple hold-over points, Nikon managed to convince the United States Patent Office that its BDC reticle design is indeed new and different. Nikon’s BDC reticle is now officially protected by U.S. patent number D530,776.

Nikon’s BDC reticle features a conventional medium plex crosshair augmented by four hollow circles placed below center on the verticle line. The small circles provide additional aiming points corresponding to Point of Impact at different distances. This way, the theory goes, a hunter can easily move from one distance to another without the need to click different elevations with his scope turrets.

The standard Nikon BDC is designed to be used with most standard centerfire cartridges with typical bullet weights, providing aiming points out to 500 yards with a 100-yard sight-in. With magnum cartridges and typical bullet weights, the same scopes with BDC reticles offer aiming points out to 600 yards with a 200-yard sight-in.

BDC Concept is Good, But Reticle Needs Work
Our FORUM members recently debated the merits of the Nikon BDC reticle. Opinions were mixed. The Nikon is a reliable scope, and is priced attractively, but some users noted that the reticle is too thick for its intended use.

Fireball10X reports: “I have the 6-18×40 Buckmaster with the BDC and I like the scope but the crosshairs are thick and I don’t use the BDC. I dial my shots….”

Bhoges adds: “My buddy had the 5-16×44 w/BDC and [the reticle] is too large. When we hunt chucks it blocks out the targets. It would be useless on Prairie Dogs.”

JB77 concurs: “I have one on a 7-08 used for deer hunting, I would think that the reticle is a little heavy for anything but close up work on varmints.”

On the other hand, Cheaptrick says the BDC reticle works fine on Prarie Dog-size objects out to 300 yards, and he has the target to prove it: “I’m not a prairie dog hunter, but I used a Nikon Monarch with a BDC reticle on small targets (prairie dog size) out to 300 yards with my factory .308 fairly proficiently.”

'Good Guy' List Added to FORUM Classifieds

To help our FORUM members make informed buying decisions, we have launched a list of reliable sellers, based on actual purchaser feedback. The “Good Guys” are those who describe their products accurately and who pack carefully and ship in a timely fashion. “Good Guys” also take the time to answer buyers’ questions, and stand behind what they sell. While we don’t require that sellers insure their wares, we think it’s a good idea for sellers to insure items valued $300.00+, and include the cost of insurance in their sale price.

Posting “Good Guy” Reports
If you had a good experience using the FORUM Classifieds and can recommend a Good Guy seller, post your report in THIS FORUM THREAD. The Moderator will then add your recommendations to the list in the first post of the thread.

Positive Good Guy Reports:
(This is just for starters. The list will grow as more user feedback is received.)

Sanchez Wins Rimfire Silhouette Nationals, Sets New Records

Youth triumphed over age and experience at the 2008 NRA Smallbore Silhouette Championships, conducted last week at the at the Ridgway Rifle Club in Ridgway, Pennsylvania.

Mark Pharr (left) with NRA Champion Agustin Sanchez (right)

Agustin Sanchez, a 24-year-old Shooter from Baja, Mexico topped the field in both Hunter Class and Standard Rifle Class. Sanchez was on fire during the match, setting new NRA Match records in both classes. The young ace from Baja tallied an amazing 116 out of 120 in Standard Rifle and 115 out of 120 in the Hunter Rifle. Sanchez was using Lapua’s new Midas+ rimfire ammunition for all of his matches.

Rimfire Silhouette is an extremely challenging sport. All shooting is done offhand from the standing position. Small targets are placed as far as 100 meters. At that distance, the wind has a huge effect on bullet flight. Typically, chicken targets are placed at 40 meters (43.7 yards), javalina targets at 60 meters (65.6 yards), turkey targets at 77 meters (84.2 yards), and ram targets at 100 meters (109.4 yards).

Two classes of rifles are used in Rimfire Silhouette: Standard and Hunter Class. Standard rifles can weigh up to 10 pounds, 2 oz. (with sights) and have no restriction on trigger pull weight. The fore-end shall not exceed 2 1/4″ wide, and 2 1/4″ deep measured from the centerline of the bore. Hunter Class rifles must have a more conventional “sporter-style” stock, typically with a narrow fore-end. A high comb is used to provide a good cheek weld. Hunter Class Rifles are limited to 8.5 pounds (with scope), and the trigger pull weight shall not be less than 2 pounds. No bull barrels are allowed — you must use a conventional tapered hunting barrel. Many top silhouette shooters like Mark Pharr will shoot the lighter Hunter rifle in both classes, as accurized Hunter Class guns can be competitive even against the heavier guns.

New Binocular Spotting Scope

A new, high-end spotting scope with dual, binocular-style eyepieces is being offered by John Rigby & Co., of Paso Robles, California. Early examples have exhibited exceptional optical quality and resolution. The dual eyepieces reduce eyestrain and improve perceived brightness and contrast. Along with delivering better effective resolution, the twin-eyepiece system is much less fatiguing. The military has long known that viewers can resolve small objects at long range much easier with binoculars vs. single-eyepiece spotters. Attend a big 1000-yard match, such as the Williamsport World Open, and you’ll see many custom scope brackets that mount a pair of single-eyepiece spotting scopes together. Those guys wouldn’t go to the trouble and expense of mounting twin scopes if it didn’t provide a better view.

This scope has a huge 120 mm objective lens, 20% bigger than any major-brand spotting scope on the market. Robert Whitley has been testing a Rigby Binocular Spotter. He reports: “The optics on this scope are incredible. The other evening I set the scope up on a deck at my home and amazed myself watching ants climbing up and down the bark on the trunk of a tree about 150 yards away — very clear and sharp image resolution for sure. There is no question this is an exceptional piece of equipment. Nothing like older eyes to give one an appreciation of great optics.”

The scope itself comes with a high-quality hard case and two matched eyepieces. Available power levels are 20x (30mm) and 30x (21mm). Higher magnification eyepieces are under development. The head containing the two eyepieces rotates on the scope body, allowing viewing from a variety of angles. These Rigby Binocular spotting scopes will be sold directly to the customers. Pricing is subject to change, but the builders expect the unit to retail for $1799.00 including twin eyepieces. For more info, visit JohnRigbyandCo.com or call 1 + (805) 227-4236, ask for Geoff Miller.

6mmAR Turbo: Ultimate AR15 Cartridge?

Robert Whitley has developed the very accurate “6mmAR” cartridge based on Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass necked down to 6mm. This round is optimized for the AR15 platform, and provides excellent performance with 105-108gr bullets, with ballistics that beat both the .223 Rem and the 6.5 Grendel.

Not content with the success of the plain 6mmAR, Robert has created a new wildcat, the “6mmAR Turbo”. By moving the shoulder forward (while retaining its 30° angle), Robert has designed a case that delivers more velocity: 2850-2900 fps with 105-grainers.

In driving the 105s to 2900 fps, the Turbo rivals the performance of the larger 6mmBR cartridge, in a round better suited for the AR platform, with less bolt thrust and better feeding from the magazine.

Jerry Tierney (2008 NBRSA 600-yard Champion) recently started testing his own Whitley-built 6mmAR Turbo upper. He tells us: “This round is impressive. I am getting 6BR velocities with Berger 105s — no question. And the accuracy is there. Case forming is easy. Since you start with the 6.5 Grendel you just neck down with a die set short, and you have a false shoulder that provides a perfect ‘crush fit’ in the chamber. Bottom line it works. Really well. This thing gives the AR15 long-range bolt-gun performance. I hope the military is paying attention.”

Whitley explains: “The Turbo definitely has a good bit more speed than the 6mmAR. For a guy wanting to shoot plain bullets out of an AR-15, it appears somewhere between 2850-2900 fps for a bullets like the Berger 105 VLD is a realistic number. With moly bullets, probably a bit more is possible. For the chrono work, all bullets were plain (no moly) and I pushed it to see where was a realistic upper end. I think about 2900 fps with naked 105 Bergers is a ‘practical max’.”

Top 1K Shooters at Williamsport this Weekend

This weekend marks the highlight of the season for Pennsylvania 1000-yard shooters. The Original Pennsylvania 1000-Yard Benchrest Club hosts the 2008 Williamsport World Open, July 12-13. Many of the nation’s top long-range shooters will vie for honors and valuable prizes. While the World Open runs Saturday and Sunday, it’s not too late to sign up. The deadline for entry is July 11th (Friday) at 7:00 PM eastern time. CLICK HERE for complete World Open information.

Ten Shots in 4.046″ at 1000
To give you an idea of the the level of accuracy Williamsport shooters can achieve, here is a 4.046″ ten-shot group recently shot by Scott Leitner with his 6-6.5×47 Light Gun. This is a new PA Club Light Gun Group Record, and it is the smallest 10-shot group shot this year in either Light OR Heavy Class, so this is quite an accomplishment.

Rifle and Load Specs
Leitner’s gun features a glue-in Panda action, an 8-twist Broughton 5C barrel chambered in 6-6.5×47 Lapua with a .269″ neck, and a Nightforce NSX 12-42×56 scope. The load consists of Sierra 107gr MKs pushed by 39.7 grains of Hodgdon H4350 and Federal 205M primers. Muzzle velocity for the 107s with this load is 3025 FPS.

Build Your Own Workbench–Free Plans

Here’s a nice do-it-yourself project for the summer. Simpson, maker of Strong-Tie fasteners, offers FREE Workbench Plans for a sturdy, 48″-wide bench with a pegboard backing and both upper and lower shelves. A complete list of fasteners and cut lengths is provided. For use as a loading bench with mounted presses, you can double-up the bench-top for extra ridigity. Without much difficulty, the plans can be adapted to build a wider bench if you prefer.

The same downloadable document also contains plans for an 80″-high 6-shelf unit, a 72″-high heavy-duty shelving unit (with 4 shelves), and a 48″-wide heavy-duty table.

Praise for 6.5mm "Thick Jacket" Bergers

As we reported some days ago in the Daily Bulletin, Berger Bullets is rolling out a line-up of tangent-ogive, non-VLD “thick jacket” bullets. These are designed to work more reliably on extended shot strings with hot barrels. In addition, the bullet shape should be less sensitive to seating depth than secant-ogive VLD designs. Berger’s Eric Stecker reports: “So far we have made ONLY the 6.5mm and 7mm in the THICK jacket configuration. Remember that the THICK jacket is meant to eliminate or significantly reduce bullet failures. The standard bullets still perform very well. We will soon be making THICK jacket bullet is 22 cal, 6mm and 30 cal. When these bullets are available we will be posting the news on this forum.”

Larry Bartholome, past captain of the U.S. F-Class Team, has tested the 6.5mm thick-jacket 140s. Larry is impressed: “I have been shooting two different lots of 6.5mm 140gr thick-jacket Bergers and they are, if anything, more accurate than the thin-jacketed ones were/are. I have shot Lot 235 and Lot 1231. I used Lot 1231 in the Lodi Midwest Palma Championships shooting F-Class. It would be hard to ask for a better bullet. I don’t think I had a bullet out for elevation (10” Ten-ring) out of 340 record shots I fired all week.” [Note: These are VLD-style bullets Bartholome is using, not the tangent-ogive 140s.]