drop plex yardage

Daisymaye · Rookie Member Joined: May 04, 2013 Posts: 4

I have Weaver drop plex reticle 3-9x40 scope, pretty typical drop reticle I believe, I was wondering if anyone knows where to find info on or has info on what each reticle equals out to in yards with a 115 gr hollowpoint co-efficient of 0.257 @ 3339 fps? This is my prarie dog load for the summer, great practice, and I constantly shoot dogs & coyotes out to 350 yrds plus, don't get me wrong it's hard as hell that far with little prarie dogs and is mostly guess work and walkin it in. That's why I would like to find out the exact yardage or close to, where each of those reticles shoot a. May save me some ammo, and kill some more critters. Any web address or anything like that would be helpful.

Daisymaye · Rookie Member Joined: May 04, 2013 Posts: 4

Sorry, I'm an F.N.G. I forgot to put that my scope is on my 700BDL 7mm mag

Donut Slayer · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

I'm not familiar with the drop plex but I'm sure someone who is will chime in. As far as doping goes, shooting at the range with a log book does wonders. A lot better than any ballistic program.

slimjim · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

Daisymaye wrote:

I have Weaver drop plex reticle 3-9x40 scope

Daisymaye, we may need the specific scope model. Drop reticle doesn't seem to be a common term. Weaver does have an EBX reticle. If that is the one you have, this may help.

www.weaveroptics.com/resources/ebx/

Daisymaye · Rookie Member Joined: May 04, 2013 Posts: 4

That's never even come across my mind to bring a log book when shooting. I've always relied on memory. Maybe that's why I'm asking this question. I've only been writing down loads so far. Thanks Donut Slayer.

slimjim · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

Another option is to place a target with 1-inch grids that can be seen easily and place it at 50 or 100 yards. At 9x, you should be able to see the distance subtended by each ballistic drop reticle mark.

Dawgdad · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 5:34 am Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

My experience with the multi-plex reticles is a composite of all the replys so far. You will want to look at a ballistics program to get an idea of how much your rifle and load will drop at distance with a given zero range. Using the ballistics program I can determine the drop in inches and Minute of Angle in 10 yard increments. I will copy this into a log book so I do not have to remember. (A short pencil beats a long memory every time).

Then I will do what Slim says and determine how far apart each aiming point is at a known distance to get the Minute of angle separation using the grid paper target at 100 yards. You need to note the magnification you are using too. For most scopes - the distance each aiming point subtends will change as you change the magnification. Most likely in your case you will do this at full 9x magnification. Write these down in the log book.

Then compare the MOA between the aiming point to the ballistics table MOA values and determine what the actual zero distance would be for each aiming point.

Then - go to the range and confirm your home work. Shoot the different aiming points at same target and confirm how much difference in elevation shows up at 100 yards. The top cross hair should be zeroed for 100 yards. each aiming point will print higher up the target. Also a good check to see if you have the scope mounted squarely as the bullet holes should track straight up the center line of the paper.

Then go to the calculated zero distances and determine if you have the correct BC and velocity for your load and if you will hit a PD sized target.

The true worth of these reticles can only be utilized if you have accurately determined the distance of your target. A mis calculation of 10 yards will have a 3-4" difference in the point of impact at 350-400 yards you mention as your max range.

Once you get the elevation figured out - then you can start to learn to read the wind.

One more thing from my personal soap box - you owe it to the coyote or PD to make sure your skills and load are up to the shots you want to take. You should practice on paper and plastic bottles until you can make clean shots at the longer ranges rather than just winging lead around in the general direction of the fur and hoping for a positive result.

Suzanne · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 6:47 am Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

Yah.......I'm thinkin a prairy dog at 350yds? that would be like a pencil dot in a 3x9 scope, then add in the reticle adjustment....I'd call it quits. If you were up on a hill you might get a good body view, but still they're only about 6 inches long and 3" wide (the ones I've seen).

tlo7mm · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: drop plex yardage

Nikon has a great program called spot on but I think it only applies to the scopes that they manufacture. I have a nikon 4-12 with BDC and I was supprised at what the drops measure out to, it depends on where (from 4 to 12) you have the scope set and of course it depends on the ammo you are using. I love it but based on what other manufacturers boast about their bdc that the tick marks or dots would be more uniform in where they are aiming at. For instance, most say that for certain calibers if you have it sighted in at 100 yards then the first drop would be 150 and the second would be 200 and so on. That is not the case with Nikon scopes and I think it is likely that it is not the case with any others.