Feature Story on Varmint and Hold-Over Reticles
In our articles collection, you’ll find a story of interest to varminters and game hunters. Choosing And Using Modern Reticles, by author John Barsness, reviews the many “hold-over” reticle options currently available for hunting scopes. The latest “hunting hold-over” reticles, such as Leupold’s Varmint Hunter Reticle, offer both vertical marks (for hold-over) and horizontal bars or dots (for wind compensation). The idea is to allow the shooter to move quickly from one target distance to another, without having to dial elevation changes with his scope turrets. Likewise, the horizontal wind-hold markings give the shooter reference points for winds of specific velocities. That makes the process of “holding-off” for wind much more predictable.
In the Barsness article, which originally appeared in Varmint Hunter Magazine, the author traces the history of ranging/hold-over reticles starting with the Mildot reticle. Barsness explains how to use the mildot reticle, noting how it is best used with a First Focal Plane scope design.
First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Designs
If nothing else, you’ll want to read this article just to improve your understanding of First Focal Plane (FFP) vs. Second Focal Plane (SFP) optics operation. If you want to use the markings on a reticle to range at various magnification levels, then you want the FFP design, preferred by the military. If, on the other hand, you prefer the viewed appearance of your reticle to stay constant at all power levels, then you’ll probably prefer the SFP design.
Barsness explains how the modern “Christmas Tree” design reticles, such as the Zeiss Rapid Z, evolved, and he explains how to use these reticles to adjust your point of aim for different target distances. These hold-over reticles can be very handy, but you must remember that the yardages which correspond to the stepped vertical markings are determined by the ballistics of your cartridge. Thus, if you change your cartridge, or even change your load significantly, your hold-over yardage values will change. You will then need to field-test to find the actual value of the reticle’s hold-over points.
Even if you are not a hunter, you can benefit from reading the Barsness article. For anyone shopping for a varmint scope, the article is a “must-read”. And Barness clears up some common misconceptions about FFP vs. SFP optics. Barsness also offers good, common-sense advice. We agree with Barsness when he says that some reticle designs have become too complicated. Barsness writes:
These days there are reticles with everything from a few extra dots along the vertical cross hair to reticles that cover the bottom third of the scope’s field of view, providing an aiming point for every blade of grass in North Dakota. Here we run into the basic fact that simpler reticles are easier to use, if not quite so versatile.
Personally, I particularly like simple reticles in shorter-range varmint rifles, whether rimfires or small centerfires such as the 22 Hornet. These aren’t likely to be used at extended ranges, or in any significant amount of wind. Hence, something like the Burris Ballistic Plex reticle provides about all the information we can realistically use — the reason there are Burris Ballistic Plex scopes on most of my rimfire or small centerfire varmint rifles.
CLICK HERE to Read ‘Choosing and Using Modern Reticles’, by John Barsness.
A Ballistic reticle is a waste on a SFP scope. The Zeiss Rapid Z-1000 is the worst there is no true zero point, if you zoom in or out the POA & POI will change.
At what ever power you zero, that is what power you have to use to be true.
Tipper, while I agree with what you are implying, a ballistic reticle or standard measurement reticle (moa, mil)of any kind is not a waste as a SFP scope. You can make range cards for all powers or powers you are likely to use and it becomes a very versatile and powerful system. Many with FFP scopes dislike its utility on low power settings. I shoot a SFP nightforce and shoot it on 11x at 100-500, and have cards that I’ve proven for 22x and 32x. It all works out, but one just has to do the math, the practice, and have some sense of logic upon his shoulders. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY HUNTERS IN CAMPS THAT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO USE THEIR LEUP BDCS AND SHOOT ON WHATEVER POWER AND CLAIM THEIR RETICLES WORK WITH WINDAGE AND DROP FOR 250-350-450-500 JUST LIKE MAGIC. EVERY VELOCITY AND LOAD. AINT THAT DANDY! Rant over lol. In essence most hunters do not shoot or think enough to utilize such a reticle as a Rapid z-1000 and I should think there should be very bold print about concerning potential issues for the unfamiliar.
It is really not that hard to get multiple holdovers on any BDC scope at at any power.
Exbal has a “reticle tool” built in that allows you to that quite easily. You need the standard ballistic data, MV, BC, height above bore etc and the distance in inches between each bar/dot/hash mark etc.
Plug it in the tool, put in the max power at which the BDC marks are set and then put in the viewing power. Yardages pop up for each mark, change power again and get new yardages.
I have a 3-9 Kahles TDS on a light 300 WSM that can go from zero to 798 by using , 6X, 7X, 8X or 9 X.