Author Topic: Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question  (Read 486 times)

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Offline mrjbloomington

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Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question
« on: April 09, 2010, 05:44:39 AM »
Does anyone know? If you have a variable handgun scope with a balistic style reticle will the variable power adjustments effect the usefullness of the bullet drop reticle?

Offline eye shot

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Re: Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2010, 08:33:45 AM »
No but changing the power setting changes how far the bullet will drop. Most BDC's are set to work on the highest power. I have a BDC pistol scope on a 12ga slug gun, scope is mounted on barrel scout type. Using the bottom hash mark on 7x I couldn't hit the target at 200yds. Now if you crank done the power say to 4x I could hit dead on at 200yds. using the next to last hash mark. I have three different BDC scopes and not one tells you this. I only buy BDC scopes because of the versitility.
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Offline mrjbloomington

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Re: Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2010, 08:57:25 AM »
Thats kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for your help

Offline helotaxi

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Re: Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2010, 11:02:53 AM »
Not all scopes are like this though, just most of the ones made specifically for the US market.  If the reticule doesn't change size with the changing of magnification, you have what is known as a second focal plane scope.  That is the US standard but it makes all variety of BDC and Mil dot reticules worthless unless you know what magnification is good at what range for your rifle and always have the scope set to that magnification.

First focal plane scopes maintain the relationship between the reticule subtensions and the image regardless of magnification.  This makes mil-dot and other ranging reticules actually useful.  The problem with this type scope is that if the reticule is large enough to be visible at the lowest mag, it will cover up a lot of the target on the highest mag.  I think it was Swarovski that made a hybrid where the outher reticule with the ranging hashmarks was first focal plane but the fine x-hair in the center was second focal plane so it stayed really fine when the scope was zoomed in.  Only issue with that design was the cost of the scope it was included on.

Offline diggler1833

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Re: Bullet drop reticles on variable powered scopes question
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2010, 02:03:13 PM »
Good info there.  The FFP scopes really shine when ranging with the reticle, and when using the reticle for holding over.