Who uses their reticle to range find?

[Niquels]

Is it practical to use my reticle to find target distances for hunting?

The scope is the Leupold VX-5HD 3-15 44mm with the Impact-29 MOA reticle (see attached). It's mounted on a 300 WSM rifle. I'll assume 35 inch top to bottom chest size for a bull elk and create a card for MOA chest measurements versus distance. For example, measuring a bull's chest at 5 MOA equates to 668 yards. I figure my point blank range is 300 yards after that I'll use my reticle to calculate the distance and use Kestrel Elite with AB for the MOA firing solutions. My max range will be ~700 yards.

Last time I went elk hunting was in the 90's. I'm planning to get back into it, but I want to minimize what I carry.

Thanks for your input.

 

[TagEater]

Knowing the exact size of what you are measuring with your reticle is pretty important. There is a lot of variance in animal sizes and it makes it quite difficult

 

[Antares]

There's so much unnecessary potential for error with this approach. Get a good laser rangefinder and figure out somewhere else to drop 6 oz.

 

[Overdrive]

To me it's not practical, get a rangefinder and put a dope card on your stock, much easier and quicker IMO.

 

[ckleeves]

Inside 700 I would drop the kestrel in exchange for a RF and tape a proven dope card onto your stock or into your scope cap.

 

[Rifleman86]

Knowing the exact size of what you are measuring with your reticle is pretty important. There is a lot of variance in animal sizes and it makes it quite difficult

100% this.

Not trying to be insulting, but if you are seriously suggesting this you need to reevaluate what your max range is.

Swap the kestrel for a range finder. Have different dope cards for every 2000 ft interval of DA you expect. 0, 2000, 4000, etc. Using a thermometer (like the keychain ones) get the outside air temp and then your absolute pressure from the barometer in your phone. Update it throughout the day to know which DOPE to use. That will get you fairly accurate DOPE to your max range. Inside of 400 yards I just use 7500 ft as my DA for elk county.

Now I just use my Fury 5000 AB’s now and call it good.

 

[KurtR]

I have done it enough in comps to know I wouldn’t want to do it hunting unless it’s a worst case scenario. Buy a range finder and save the headache

 

[Kenn]

To answer the original question - no one.

 

[Traindriver]

I'm not positive in this because of my limited but decent understanding of Doping shots. I believe with a tremendous amount of practice and training it would be an advantage for a quick target acquisition and small shot window. First of all you obviously know that dialing a scope up to a know distance from a range finder is easiest and relatively quick. I guess if you had a good FFP optic, practiced with you're know ballistics or had a chart taped to the stock, you could quickly estimate the range and dope the shot. Also you would be able to read the mirage in your crosswind and calculate/estimate your windage adjustment. In my opinion many hunters don't know how to read the mirage through a scope to calculate windage adjustments. This would probably be the most useful gain in doping your shots using a FFP scope. Either way, it's fun to dope your own shots, but its realistically easier to just range find and make the adjustments.

 

[Next Ridge]

A range finder is a much better option.

 

[Niquels]

Thanks guys for you input. Doesn't look like its a common practice.

I've been considering the Leica CRF 2800.COM rangefinder. Regardless of which rangefinder I land on, I can use it to develop my skills using the reticle for distance calculations. Then I'll have a back up when the rangefinder isn't working.

The long distance shooting is all new to me and I don't have a good feel to what factors are important. I read all this stuff about it and it pulls me down these rabbit wholes where I feel I've got to have bunch of new devices to do it. I need to go watch and talk to the guys doing it.

Anyhow, thanks again.

 

[Niquels]

... I guess if you had a good FFP optic, ... but its realistically easier to just range find and make the adjustments.

I looked at the FFP scopes, but the price tag drove me away. The VX-5HD is a SFP (second focal plane), but I don't feel that's a big factor. When my target's past 300 yards I can flip the power up to 15x and use the reticle for firing solutions.

I think I will make a distance chart and a dope card to tape to the gun for back up when the range finder doesn't work. I'll try reading the mirage for doping the wind. I'll have to see if the scope will do that.

Anyhow, thanks for your reply!

 

[Obsessed1]

I always use my reticle to range within MPBR. Meaning its either within or not. I call it field ranging. This is done with my reticle. Being able to judge distance with your reticle is a good practice within reason. If field ranging shows the animal is outside the MPBR of the rifle I'm using then its rangefinder time. Generally speaking my MPBR is around that 280-300 yds for most calibers. I do lots of open sight hunting as well with a 45-70 for elk so my front post is used as a distance reference. MPBR for the 45-70 is 175yds with a 120 yd zero. All I need to know is if I can hold on or not. If not then the range finder comes out.

 

[WMag338]

Not me. I’m not intelligent to be doing all that math in the heat of the moment. My Leica CRF is the the tits when needing a quick, accurate range. I have it with me anytime I’m in the field.

 

[KurtR]

I looked at the FFP scopes, but the price tag drove me away. The VX-5HD is a SFP (second focal plane), but I don't feel that's a big factor. When my target's past 300 yards I can flip the power up to 15x and use the reticle for firing solutions.

I think I will make a distance chart and a dope card to tape to the gun for back up when the range finder doesn't work. I'll try reading the mirage for doping the wind. I'll have to see if the scope will do that.

Anyhow, thanks for your reply!

Well you want rabbit holes how about when your second focal plane isn’t calibrated perfectly at the said power it’s supposed to be? The long range game is not cheap nor easy if you want to do it right especially in a hunting scenario. The out of the box bullshit is a sales gimmick. Reading is a good start but trigger time is king. You are jumping ahead your form is where it starts getting to the point of reading mirage for wind calls is a ways out that comes with experience. Burn a couple barrels up and your getting there

 

[cams]

The Leica CRF 2800.COM will be a nice addition to your set up.

 

[Niquels]

Well you want rabbit holes how about when your second focal plane isn’t calibrated perfectly at the said power it’s supposed to be? The long range game is not cheap nor easy if you want to do it right especially in a hunting scenario. The out of the box bullshit is a sales gimmick. Reading is a good start but trigger time is king. You are jumping ahead your form is where it starts getting to the point of reading mirage for wind calls is a ways out that comes with experience. Burn a couple barrels up and your getting there

I guess I'll find out....how well it's calibrated.

 

[KurtR]

I guess I'll find out....how well it's calibrated.

How will you find out?

 

[Niquels]

How will you find out?

Shooting, set the zero, record the velocity, calculate the bullet trajectory, test the predictions...

 

[KurtR]

Shooting, set the zero, record the velocity, calculate the bullet trajectory, test the predictions...

That’s for firing solutions not sub tensions on your reticle. You have to may variables your introducing to find out if the reticle is correct.