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Scope with a bullet drop

Precision rifle builder and specialist in rifle testing

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By Steve Bowers

Sunday, 18 April 2010

Q) I want to buy a rifle scope, but require one with some form of bullet drop compensation built in. What do you recommend? T. CARSLAKE By email

A)As with most scopes, once the zero is set you either have to aim off to adjust for a longer shot or adjust the scope’s elevation or windage. This is fine, but some form of built-in bullet drop compensating feature is becoming popular. The adjustment can be made with a convenient over-sized and bullet- specific adjustment turret fixed to the scope or one that uses a reticle within the scope to allow an instant change of aim. Both have advantages and disadvantages and you will usually pay a premium for a scope thus equipped.

Range-estimating reticles that have extra stadia lines to match a specific bullet path can usefully provide differing aiming points for distant targets. One needs to match the spacings of the reticle to the specific load in the rifle and most of these scopes have booklets to help. However, with too many stadia in the field of view the sight picture can become obstructed and complicated. Scopes with dedicated bullet drop compensating turrets can be
a better choice as the reticle is left clear with all bullet drop compensating information stored round the turret’s rim. Scopes from Zeiss, Swarovski, Kahles, Schmidt & Bender, Burris and Leupold all offer bullet drop compensating reticles or external target turrets.

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