dot or duplex?

dot or duplex reticle?

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BigFatKen

BigFatKen

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Joined
Dec 5, 2005
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Location
Walnut Hill, about 35 miles west of Auburn, AL
I want to try a new deer scope. My 30 year old Bushnell 3x9 has served well, but it never had a great image at 9x and the eye relief shortens at 8 or 9. My shooting will be 60 yards min. and 220 yards max. I could use a clear image at 12 power for the longest range. This is a 6x-18x. I am 60 and the field has gotten longer in the last few years. 1" rings.

..
I am considering a dot. $169.95
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dot.jpg


What would you get? Comments on higher priced scopes that are availible online would be appreciated.
Ken
 
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I prefer the duplex. One can use the spacing between the narrow lines in the center and the fatter lines on the outside to judge range and adjust accordingly.
 
thank you

I should have said its my old Ruger .25-06 with 117 gr Serria pointed bt bullets. 50 to 200 yards should "on target" with very little up and down movement. Also, the field has a little "point" sticking out at 125 yards and the woods at the top is a measured 178 yards. In certain spots, I can see about 20 yards into the woods, hense the 200 yard limit.
 
personlaly i believe that dots are for red dots, eo-techs, aimpoints etc. i like the old fashion recticle with cross hairs.
 
As far as I am concerned, out to 250-300 yards you don't need anything more than 9X and 6X is just fine. 12X is unnecesary and 18X is well into "silly" territory. IMO, of course.

As for reticles, I don't like dots because they get tough to see as the light goes. I personally enjoy top quality fixed power scopes of 2.5X to 6X with heavy duplex reticles. These work perfectly under any reasonable light condition and are no handicap out to 300+ yards.

In my opinion Leupold's FX-III 6x42 is the finest scope you can put on a general purpose hunting rifle, and their FX-II 2.5x20mm ultralight is the single best scope for light rifles and/or for folks who insist on limiting their hunting shots to under 300 yards.

Both of these scopes are available for under $500, will last essentially forever, and are as clear and well made as any scope under the sun. Of course, no one but the most knowledgable rifle nut will pay any attention to such a scope, so if you're looking to impress the neighborhood teenagers, by all means spend 170 bucks and get yourself an 18X moon scope from Cabela's. :neener:
 
BTW, if you are/were concerned about image brightness and quality, you should be wary of high powers. One of the big reasons why your old 3x9 didn't dazzle you at higher powers is exit pupil. This is, essentially, the size of the light "beam" or "cone" that's entering your eye. A young eye can take in about a 7mm "beam"; an older eye may only be able to take in a 4mm "beam". Generally speaking, the bigger the "beam", the brighter the image (assuming equal quality optics -- the other big reason why your old 3x9 doesn't have the best image quality.)

That old 3x9 (assuming the standard 33 mm objective lens) has an exit pupil of 11mm on the low power -- great image! -- and 3.7mm at high power -- not so great image. Once you get below 4mm exit pupil, most anyone will notice a degradation of image quality.

The Pine Ridge scope you mentioned will, when set at 18x, present to you a 2.4mm beam of light. You will find that this, frankly, sucks. As anyone who has ever looked through a $99 K-Mart "600x" telescope will tell you. :)
 
I just got the Natchez email flyer and they have some great prices on the Browning models, very good scopes for the money. They had the Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x50 for $229, the Browning for $199, and a Browning 5-15x40 for $229. All would serve well.
 
thank you all, more to consider

I've learned a lot. It will be a duplex crosshair. More info:

The deer will be standing or I won't shoot. FOV of little concern.

From my blind, the field goes uphill 50 feet and I look a little north of west; maybe 280 degrees
Late in the day, the sun is now WSW. Peak rut will be at or a little after the winter solitice My latitude is same as Ft. Benning, GA
I am getting light interference from the sun.

I am now considering a fixed 10x with 4" sun shield. Does a cardboard tube really work?

I see lighted reticles for sale and its safe to shoot to dark at this spot.
scope.jpg

duplex.jpg


Product Code: LU-RS-45578

Regular price: $1,625.00
Sale price: $1,249.99
You Save: $375.01
This is a high end
Leupold Mark 4 10x40mm LR/T M1 Long Range Tactical Rifle Scopes w/ Duplex Reticle - 45578 w/ FREE UPS
Leupold Mark 4 10x40mm Long Range Tactical LR/T M1 Scope 45578 - Leupold' s goal of a riflescope that would be ideally suited to the special needs of the military and high intensity law enforcement organizations was achieved in the creation of the Leupold Mark IV series. Leupold Mark 4 Long Range / Tactical 10x40mm LR/T M1 Rifle-Scope is not only astoundingly durable, Leupold Scope is optically outstanding as well. Leupold M1 Rifle Scope's oversized adjustment knobs give the user audible and tactile confirmation of each 1/4-MOA click.
***********************************************************************************
Above looks a lot like this:
Leupold FX-III 6x42 Riflescope Personalized by Leupold Custom Shop
Product SKU: LU-RS-FX3-6x42-Custom
Regular Price: $646.32 Our Price: $379.99
**********************************************************
I don't mind paying for quality, but I hate getting screwed. Why the giant price diff?
Clarity of image most important with low light ability second.
 
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I think you might be dissapointed with a fixed 10X at close ranges. When you see nothing but fur through the scope it can be tough to figure out which patch of fur needs the bullet.
 
I prefer the dot, to me, my eye is drawn to the dot as its more prominent than the crosshairs in a duplex scope are. Never had a problem using one in low light, but thats just my experience. If you can, get a dot scope in your hands so you can look through it to see if you like it before you buy.
 
I think you might be dissapointed with a fixed 10X at close ranges. When you see nothing but fur through the scope it can be tough to figure out which patch of fur needs the bullet.
Click to expand...

Thank you but this is field shooting. I will have 7x35 binoculars. I have been looking forward to making a head shot. 10X and a standing deer at 30 yards should do it. When they are that close, a grunt will stop them if they are moving.

I prefer the dot, to me, my eye is drawn to the dot as its more prominent than the crosshairs in a duplex scope are. Never had a problem using one in low light, but thats just my experience. If you can, get a dot scope in your hands so you can look through it to see if you like it before you buy
Click to expand...
.

I would love to handle one but none of my friends have one and I'm not driving around to find one.

As a Christmas stocking stuffer, I got three of these. Thanks for the help.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238163

Anyone have experience with a lighted reticle?
 
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