New Scope, Turrets BDC?

[CouesFanatic]

So I posted a month or so ago about a new scope for my 300 ultra mag. I ended up with the Vortex Viper 4-12x40. It looks nice. I'll have to put up some pics sometime.

 

I've always shot a regular quadra-plex scope zero'd at 300 and guess at the hold over. But this new scope has turrets and bdc. I was planning on just using the bdc but after some reading it sounds like turrets is the way to go. What would you guys suggest as far as zeroing? Is there any way I can use the turrets and bdc? If I needed to do a quick shot without changing the turrets could I still use the bdc? Does everyone zero at 100 and just crank the turret up to the yardage they are shooting? I'm new with this stuff, so advice is needed.

 

By the way, I have a 18A antelope tag this year and a Utah mule deer tag so this gun is going to get broke in fast!

[crazyaboutcoues]

This is my suggestion from the experience I have with Turrets.

 

I would zero in at 100 yards set the turret, then make sure it is hitting at 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and so on. I would leave the gun set at 300 (because that's what you said you normally hunted with) and hunt like you always have. The problem i've had with turrets is I get all caught up with dialing the exact yardage at normal ranges and blow the shot. (ask azpackhorse)

 

The only time you need to dial in is when you have PLENTY of time to set up for the shot and at long ranges. If the animal you are hunting is moving at normal range don't mess with the turrets just do what you've always done. If you have a bedded buck or a buck that is feeding and doesn't know you are there, now you have plenty of time to set the turret and make the shot.

 

Turrets are an awesome tool...my youngest son killed his first buck at 498 yards with a .243, his second was at 412. My oldest sons record is 580 yards one shot with my 30.06. I dropped a lion last year at 570 but missed a good buck at 300 trying to get the exact yardage and jerked the trigger. OK packhorse you can stop laughing.

 

just my .02 Good luck!!!

 

 

[Red Rabbit]

Here is the website that I have used to set up the drops for my turrets.

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/calculations.html

 

I prefer to zero at 200 yards with the turrets.

 

If you do get the scope with the LR BDC reticle and turrets, the scope may require you to zero at some set range, often 200, for the hash marks to be close. Thus, the reticle will determine what yardage you use to zero for the turrets.

 

RR

[azpackhorse]

Tommy,

the lion shot was AWESOME! Did I mention what a nice buck that was that you missed

 

 

[crazyaboutcoues]

ouch...

 

We'll try it again this year.

[firstcoueswas80]

Turrets!!!

[catclaw]

The answer is that yes, you can use both. I use the hold-over marks for reasonable distance shots. What these distances are depends on the caliber and velocity and BC of your projectile. I am not familiar with the Vortex reticle but the instructions should tell you how to zero it, as Doug said, either 100 or 200 yds. Then reset your turrets to zero and use them for shots too far to be taken with the hash marks.

 

I don't like to set scopes to 300 yds as it can really screw you up on close stuff.