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Sun, 2011-09-25 11:50
yemtig
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Those hunting with a BDC reticle on their rifle what zero and magnification do you use?

     Just wondering what you guys do on your hunts...   I use a Nikon BDC reticle riflescope (3x9x40) and zero mine at the range at 100 yards..  I use a Barnes TSX 180gr .30-06 bullet as my hunting round

 

     What magnification I use is determinate on my hunting season and the unit im in....  This year, I am in a unit that has lots of timber and I'm in the 3rd rifle season...  Which means the bulls will be post-rut and will be moving silently...   Usually, in this situation, I find a nice ridge/glassing point to be on during first light and I usually have mine set on 9X magnification for shots out to 400-500 yards (I currently only feel comfortable shooting at the 350-400 yard range)...   Once it starts to warm up and the animals are bedded, I switch down to 3x magnification, while I still hunt....  This gives me a 0-170 yard shot with a 2 inch drop based off the bullets ballistics...  Having my scope on 3x while still hunting allows me to get the scope on the vitals quicker at short distances in this situation...   Just curious what you guys do that have these BDC scopes on your hunts... 

    

     So in summary, I use my 9x for longer shots that present themselves usually at first and last light, then switch to 3x during the day as I still hunt...  The BDC reticle is usually used by me at my longer shots at 9x and when shorter shots are required, I switch over to 3x (always when still hunting)  and just place the center of my reticle on the vitals and pull the trigger.... 

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Sun, 2011-09-25 19:33
#1
buckykm1
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BDC

Most scopes that i have seen with BDC, have to be set on a surtain power for the BDC to work. i know my buddies Burris does, and so does my Bushnell.

Kevin

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Mon, 2011-09-26 08:34
#2
henry wilkins
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On my 3x9x50 Leup, on my -06

On my 3x9x50 Leup, on my -06 I keep it on 6 power most times and adjust as needed.Close/far,light/dark.I have a BDC Nikon on my MZ and have it on 6 also,but have it zeroed in at 100 nice tight groups but can't hit target center at 200.So I'm going to raise it to 4" high @ 100 so I'm in the zone out to 200.I never really thought about how the BDC would work on different power settings,but I'm going to check it out now....

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Mon, 2011-09-26 08:56
#3
exbiologist
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max power

They only work on max power!  

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Mon, 2011-09-26 09:23
#4
henry wilkins
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Thanks ex-bio,that would

Thanks ex-bio,that would explain the low shots at 200 yrds. Also wonder why put BDC on a variable scope then?I'm heading to the range this week and will play with it till I'm satisfied that it works right. But a couple folks on other sites said to zero 4" high at 100 and it will only be 6-8 inches low at 200,still in the piepan. Mine is on a MZ. I'll see what high power looks like first,but I'd hate to run into a bull at 20yrds and not be able to see it in scope....

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Mon, 2011-09-26 09:52
#5
buckykm1
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BDC

exbiologist wrote:

They only work on max power!  

I am not trying to argue, but that isn't true in all cases, my Bushnell is a 5 x 15 and it needs to be set on 12 for the BDC to work, just read your directions that came with your scope, it will tell you.

Kevin

 

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Mon, 2011-09-26 09:57
#6
Still Hunter
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A 100yd zero at 100yds is not

A 100yd zero at 100yds is not good for long shots with a 30-06. You'll be dropping 15-18" at 300yds.

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Mon, 2011-09-26 17:03
#7
hunter25
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The only one I have is in my

The only one I have is in my Zeiss 4.5x14. The online ballistic calculator they provide has you punch in your ballistics and bullet information and it will then optimize the power setting to give you the best results. In the case of the 270wsm I have it mounted on it comes out to 13 power for the best results. On my 7mag it was closer to 12 but I just didn't like it on that rifle.

Normally when hunting I keep my scope set on around 4 power until a situation dictates otherwise.

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Mon, 2011-09-26 17:24
#8
Blue Skies Hunting
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The BDC scopes are made from

The BDC scopes are made from Nikon which require scope to be on full power to use properly.

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Mon, 2011-09-26 23:22
#9
yemtig
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bdc's are BEST at max power

While you could theoretically use the bdc circles on the nikon brand scopes at any power, max power is really the only way to go...  The reason for this is that from one circle to the next, you will have a larger range gap as you dial the scope down from max power to min power....  Once you zero the crosshairs at 100 yards (remember to do this at max power) you can dial your power down for those close encounters and do the holdover yourself....  The bdc is a cool concept and fits my purpose well, for a bullet like the .06 which is not as flat shooting as a .270...  Its just eliminates you having to guestimate the holdover on longer shots...  Zeroing in at 100 yards allows me to properly utilize the bdc reticle at shots over 200 and out to 400 when set to max power (9x)..  I print out and laminate my reticle yardage cheat sheet and have it taped to my stock when out in the field...  Best advice is to know your yardage limitation, which for me is 300-350 and take ethical shots you know you can make...    

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Tue, 2011-09-27 09:47
#10
Still Hunter
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Does the BDC come out

Does the BDC come out accurate? I shot a scoped 06 for about 20 years. I went and looked at my notes. I always set my max range at 300yds.

This was with a 200yd zero and my handloads with an 180gr Nosler Partition.

100yds +2.00" ...150yds +1.5"...200yds zero....250yds -3.00".....300yds -8.00"

An elk has a big kill zone. Up to 250yds I just held dead on. Between 250-300 yds I held at the top of the kill zone. It never failed me as long as I got the windage right. 

In the heat of a kill I don't want to figure things out on a scope. I just want to see a crosshair. I do understand the appeal of a BDC scope though. Beyond 300yds it would be very handy.

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