Nikon has announced
a new reticle designed to be used in conjunction with its popular laser
rangefinders to provide hunters with an easy-to-use system for determining
proper long-range shot placement on animals. The new Nikon BDC (Bullet
Drop Compensating) is actually a trajectory-compensating reticle designed
and calibrated to provide fast, simple aiming points for various shot
distances. This unique system integrates a series of small “ballistic
circles”—each subtending 2” @ 100 yards—allowing unimpeded lines of sight
to even small targets.
Nikon’s BDC is
designed to be used with most standard centerfire cartridges with typical
bullet weights, providing aiming points out to 500 yards, with a 100-yard
sight-in. With Magnum cartridges and typical bullet weights, the same
scopes with BDC reticles offer aiming points out to 600 yards, with a
200-yard sight-in. After sighting-in the crosshair at 100 or 200 yards
with the highest magnification, determine the distance to the target and
use the appropriate ballistic circle. Verify the aiming points by shooting
at actual, measured distances.
Mastering the art of
long-range shooting has always been one of the greatest challenges for the
hunter. Determining the correct hold-point on an animal
at long range has a lot to do with the velocity of a cartridge,
bullet weight and ballistic coefficient—or science—and little to do with
luck or guess work. While there is no substitute for practice, Nikon’s
new BDC reticle—particularly when used with a Nikon Laser Rangefinder—can
provide the necessary edge in determining proper shot placement at a
variety of known distances.
Nikon’s BDC reticle
is available in the following scopes, Monarch Gold 2.5-10x50, Monarch
3-9x40, Monarch 3.5-10x50, Monarch 4-12x40, Monarch 5.5-16.5x44, Monarch
6.5-20x44, Buckmasters 3-9x40, Buckmasters 4.5-14x40, Buckmasters 6-18x40
and ProStaff 3-9x40.