Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 or 3-9

[lateknightucd]

Hey everyone, just wanted a little bit of advice on optics for an R700 .308 deer rifle. I know that the Nikon Buckmaster series offers pretty good bang for my buck (no pun intended), but I'm not sure which one to choose. I figure I'll generally be using the rifle in sub 250 yard shots which would normally be perfect for the 3-9 x 40. I was looking on Optics Planet, however, and noticed that the 4.5-14 was offered with a mil dot reticle. I know that the mil dot reticle is pretty standard for long distance shooting and so I figured it'd be good to start learning how to use it. I downloaded the CD training program and think I'd prefer to use the mil dot reticle. My concern, other than paying basically double for the 4.5-14, is the FOV at 100 yards. I'm worried that this'll be too much for shorter shots. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Hoop]

Nikon 3-9 or 2.5-10 with the BDC reticle, you'll love it for hunting.

[gsxr600booya]

i ended up getting the buckmaster 6-18 for my 308 tikka t3 varmint. i love it. and it has the mil dot recticle

[gsxr600booya]

oh yea and FOV for the 6-18 at 100yrds is only 5.6 if zoomed at 18X but at 6X i think its plenty comfy to shoot 100 yrds

[lateknightucd]

Okay, good to hear. Did you self-teach using the mildot?

[bigfoot-00]

I used to be a Leupold only kind of guy. A friend got me to buy a Nikon 4.5-14 BDC for my Savage 17 and it was so sweet I have changed over most of my long guns. I use the Buckmasters in 3-9 BDC on the 10/22, 4.5-14 BDC on the .270 and AR-15, and 6-18 BDC on the Browning 22-250. I would not buy one without the BDC. Some guys don't like the circles as opposed to the cross hairs but it works for me.

[gsxr600booya]

yea the manual that comes with the scope breaks the mildots down for regular cartridges and magnums. works pretty well definitely well enough to bring down a deer

[lateknightucd]

Thanks for all the info. Bigfoot, were you using MilDot before the BDC? Eventually I'd like to change over to longer distance shooting, have you used the BDC reticle out further than 200 yards or so? Does it still work as advertised?

[bigfoot-00]

I used the fine duplex on my Leupold 6.5X20 up to 500 yards. BDC works just as well for me because it is a great hunting reticle. We can see the squirrels just fine. That small a bullet tends to move around quite a bit at that distance with the wind. I have never tried to shoot groups at over 300yards.

I can see if you were trying to group on paper a Mildot or fine duplex may work better for you.

[Whitesmoke]

I wouldn't use anything that has a low end power over 4.5x on a hunting rifle....just doesn't make sense...if you jump a buck at 30 yards...you wouldn't be able to quickly see what part of the deer you were aiming at with a higher powered scope...all you would see is hair!

[bigfoot-00]

Kind of depends on the cover where you are hunting. Out in Pagossa Springs the 4.5-14 is great because we usually are shooting 150 to 300 yards.

Most of the guns I listed are small cal for varmint hunting in open country.

[Whitesmoke]

Originally Posted by bigfoot-00

Kind of depends on the cover where you are hunting. Out in Pagossa Springs the 4.5-14 is great because we usually are shooting 150 to 300 yards.

Most of the guns I listed are small cal for varmint hunting in open country.

yep, Varmint is another story....he's talking a 308 Deer rifle.

[lateknightucd]

I think, based on what people have posted so far, I'll go with the 3-9 with the BDC reticle. I can always get a new scope later if I want to move up to longer distance shooting. Thanks for all the replies everyone!