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Rifle Scopes Why bdc and exposed turrets?

collinthomp

Private
Minuteman
Aug 4, 2019
14
16
Hi all, I am in the market for a new scope for hunting. Why do most scopes that offer exposed turrets also come with some sort of bdc reticle? If you prefer to turn turrets why would you need the hold marks and vice/versa. Wouldn't it make more sense to have exposed turrets and maybe a reticle with windage marks. Or a put together bdc style with capped turrets. I obviously don't know what I am talking about asking these questions. Just looking for some common sense clarification on the topic from you guys. Thanks
 
I agree to just avoid BDC reticles in general, they’re designed around certain calibers/bullet weights so they don’t offer much flexibility.

I’d say you’re better off with a ballistic calculator and a reticle with evenly spaced subtensions so that it can be used with any caliber or bullet
 
I used the bdc term in ignorance. I was refering to all types of scopes with marks all over inside. Why have them and also have turrets you can adjust easily?

personnel experience here, I’d say the value of both together are an advantage mostly in matches or when engaging multiple targets of known distance. As an example, you might dial for the first target and then hold over/under the difference for the remaining.
 
I like options. I prefer to to use turrets for elevation adjustments, but in some hunting situations you may not have time. A quick hold over could mean getting a shot or cranking on a turret while your quarry walks out of sight.
 
Better just watch a crapload of videos on youtube as you need serious help. Scopes are extremely important and have different purposes for all the features. You need to do plenty of research to figure out what you need in your shooting experience.
 
Its a distinct advantage to have the exposed turrets and a calibrated reticle of some kind. Depending on the situation you can use one or the other or in harmony with each other. Its fairly typical to dial for distance and hold for windage. In a situation with multiple targets at different distances you can dial and hold under over/under for speed. Its all about options and applying what works best in a given instance. You could have the feature and not use it but if you don't have the feature you could be handicapped.
 
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Did not know that. I am more of an archery hunter and have never taken a shot at anything past 300 yards with a rifle. Just looking for some explanations on the subject.
In addition to using the hashmarks to range targets of a known size, you can use these to quickly determine your hold for a shot correction when you see your bullet hit the dirt to either side, and/or above or below your target.
 
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