Best 270 win BDC reticle

Bowhunt25

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Sep 27, 2020
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Looking for a scope recommendation for my tikka .270 Winchester that I just purchased.I want a simple BDC reticle with holdovers that line up well with the 270. Gun will be used primarily for whitetail hunting in the Midwest, most likely inside of 300 yards for range, possibly out to 400. Considering something in the 10 or 12 max magnification range.
 

mtg

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Sep 24, 2024
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I’m using the Burris ballistic plex, and their E1 should be fine too. I do the math (after knowing my loads speed) so that the bottom post is 600 yards.
 

Macintosh

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Any mil-dot reticle. Zero at 100, and hold .5mil =200, 1mil=300, 2=400. Between 300 and 400, every 10 yards = 0.1mil, so 330=1.3, 380=1.8, etc.
For me this is far easier, and more accurate at odd yardages, than the unevenly spaced yardage-based reticles. A 270 wont need quite that much holdover, but you’ll be within a tenth or two (so realistic maximum error about .2mils or roughly 3” at 400 yards depending on what load, your personal guns velocity, etc). I personally prefer to dial especially past 350 or so, but this works well for moderately long ranges like you are talking about.
Trijicon has some good 3-9 and lower powered hunting scopes with mil-dot reticles, which would be my choice if you want 2fp scope, so you arent forced to be at too-much magnification to use the reticle. Or the S&B Klassik 3-12 with P3l reticle is a good FFP option with a good hunting mil-dot (ie still visible on lowest magnification).
 
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D Lee

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Jan 4, 2014
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Hey.......

Offered respectfully:

1. Pay attention to the posts above mine. They are correct.
2. At least as I understand it - SFP POI can change if you are shooting on a magnification level different than the magnification you used to sight in. And why many like MIL.

Cheers and good luck.
 

Unckebob

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Aug 21, 2022
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Hey.......

Offered respectfully:

1. Pay attention to the posts above mine. They are correct.
2. At least as I understand it - SFP POI can change if you are shooting on a magnification level different than the magnification you used to sight in. And why many like MIL.

Cheers and good luck.

The POI doesn't shift with SFP scopes, but the BDL reticle is only accurate at the (usually) highest magnification level.

I use the following system for deer hunting.

1) zero rifle at 200 yards
2) bullet will hit 1.5" high at 100yd
3) 200-250 yds -> the bullet will hit a little low about 0"- 6."
- At lower magnification, shoot a little high and it will still hit the vitals, or
- dial up to maximum magnification and use BDL reticle
4) 250+ -> maximum magnification and use BDL reticle
 

Macintosh

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It was true in the past that 2fp changing magnification would change poi…it is still true, but to such a small degree that its not a consideration on a modern scope. The issue with modern scopes as stated above is that all reticle subtensions change on 2fp scopes as you change magnification.
 
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If you can swing it...the BRH reticle in the Swarovski Z3 line of scopes is superb, IMO. I have the 3-10x42 w/ the BRH reticle on my .270 and not only is it very light at <13 oz but also it is top tier glass quality as well.

The BRH is essentially a variant of the .5 mil TMR style reticles but with wind drops included. It's not only a BDC reticle but also a MIL reticle if you prefer to calculate dope that way. It is a SFP scope and so it is only correct at 10X. That's what I want anyway as 225 meters is my MPBR. I run it at 3X 90% of the time and if there is a target beyond that simply range, zoom to 10X, and use the correct drop. Simple, idiot proof, consistent and amazingly accurate. Even better, the Swarovski ballistics app is awesome...you can select many factory loads from the database and...voila!

Very well designed, IMO. K.I.S.S. Screenshot 2024-12-07 at 10.08.52 PM.jpeg
 
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What they did here...they took a standard mil-dot reticle(a good simple reticle) and interposed at the .5 mil drops additional hashes that include windage!!

In fact, via the 145 ELD-X Hornady Precision Hunter ballistics and a 200 yard zero we have 2.2 mils elevation needed at 500 yards. Compare this with the BRH reticle at the second mil dot...477 yards. Hold slightly high to make that 2.2 mils and BOOM you are money at 500 yards. Obviously, I believe this should all be verified in the field before attempting it on a live animal but the point is...

This reticle can be used as a standard BDC with the drops each verified to distances...and/or one can use it as a mildot/TMR hybrid reticle using MIL'S for dope. THATS dope. that's also a big impovement over 90% of the BDC reticles out there.
 
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Plug in the Trijicon Huron subtensions with your ballistics and see how well they line up. Something like the Credo with an MOA tree would be easy to document as well, once you know you know.
 
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Feb 7, 2022
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For clarity, the BRH reticle diagram makes it look like the first hash is at 1 mil but it isn't. The first hash is at .5 mil and the first dot is at 1 mil. The hashes and dots are .5 mil apart the whole way.

The Ballistics app also includes energy/velocity data. That 145 grain eldx is north of 2100 fps and 1400 ft/lbs at 500 yards. Pretty good for a 100 year old cartridge!
 
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