Re: Schmidt and Bender w/Horus question?
Horus is well known to threaten lawsuit against other optics companies that attempt hold over reticles, as they have the patent on it. And their patent is extremely broad, so over the years they have used this to limit what you see.
Optics companies like USO will pretty much put any reticle in their scopes and will even make you a custom reticle if you are willing to pay. Others do so because of the efforts of Horus to request it. It's a $400 addition, in fact this week Leupold gave me a price of two of their scopes, with a TMR it was exactly $400 less than the same scope with a Horus. I had both here, so I got a price for both. There is nothing wrong with the concept of the reticle, as a Mid Range Solultion, I have stated that several times... so using it is not an issue. The reticle still works, it's only mils with reference lines. But I will tell you behind close doors some of these companies sing a different song.
Because of the sales efforts, companies are including it as the military is requesting it... the military here also recently requested Mils and MOA in the same scope, which shows where their head is at. Just because someone uses it, doesn't make it right... before your forces (CA) did a class I was working, they were using NF with Mils and MOA, after our demonstration of mil / mil they went out bought S&Bs with P4 reticles in their 5-25x, so the world is full of examples of influence. We demonstrated the effectiveness of using matching systems. They replaced their NF scopes immediately after.
I know Clark, have shot alongside him so I won't comment, However I suggest you should look at the list of competitions. ASC for instance is "self scored" as an example, do your own research before passing judgement or using the information as a point of reference.
I think the line is with Vortex, the EBR seems to balance it well. But I have not found the need to use reference marks... Maybe you missed it, 5 targets from 175 yards to 700 yards, all UKD, ranged by eye, starting from a run, I hit all 5 with six shots in less than minute, with an S&B MSR Reticle. I simply dialed on 1 mil before hand in order to keep the majority in the center of the reticle. This is how to use a reticle effectively. Dial on a BZO and hold in the middle.
I also don't like the Premier XR reticle, I feel the dots are too small the half mil marks are larger and the Christmas tree is a waste of time. but again, my opinion. I had a Premier/ S&B w/ XR reticle and traded it for a Mac Book Pro on this site.. best trade I have made in at least 2 years.
if you want another example, one not well known. I have the NF mil spec Velocity reticle, which when zeroed at 500 yards on the 500 yard line in the reticle is extremely accurate and quick without the clutter. The one I have is used by SEALs, so it combines a mil dot reticle with the velocity reticle for hold overs. When combined with a Mk11 shooting M118LR is extremely effective. As it was designed, the horizontal at center and vertical above are straight mil dots.
The biggest difference is, I am not here to sell you on "A" product or system. I am here to tell you what is effective and works, as I am not beholden to single company. My training encompasses a wide variety of systems, and is not designed to sell you on the merits of a single product. I can speak a variety of languages and make a point of knowing them all. So when you are listening to someone who is paid to sell you on a single product, understand everything they do is, by design, meant to make it look better than everything else.