Getting a reticle replaced?

[rabagley]

I have a Leupold VX-III 4.5-14 50mm w/ Duplex reticle in the second focal plane.

What are the odds that Leupold can replace the current reticle with a mil-dot reticle in the first focal plane for less than $400?

I ask because $400 appears to be the difference between what I could sell this scope for and the price of a similar Mark 4 with a mil-dot reticle.

[CSACANNONEER]

I've never done it but, I'm sure it's a lot cheaper than that!
When I bought my last NXS, the dealer could not find the reticle I wanted so, he mounted what he could find on the rifle he had just built for me. When he delivered it to me, he explained the situation and said that, if I really wanted to send it back to NF for a reticle change, he would eat the $80 cost. That was two years ago.

[Jicko]

CSA: OP is talking about mil-dot and FFP!!!

I don't think it is possible to change to a FFP, IIRC, FFP is a whole different glass array design.

If you just want to change your duplex to a mil-dot, that is very possible, and I believed that Leupold will do that for you and it should be around $100-200. But FFP is probably impossible.

[rksimple]

Loopy will replace the reticle, but FFP is a no go. Premier Reticles used to do that mod and add a GenII, but that is no more.

[rabagley]

Okay, thanks for the info. Pretty much confirmed what I thought (was hoping that something like Premier Reticles still existed, however).

Perhaps I need to ask a different question: how do you use a SFP mil-dot reticle for ranging on a variable power scope? When does the mil-dot "dot" actually cover 1 MOA in a SFP reticle?

[rksimple]

It should be listed in your manual, or as a different color number on the scope. Normally loopies have them set for max magnification.

ETA: Did you mean to say "mildot covers one mil", instead of mildot covers one MOA?

[rabagley]

you're right, one milliradian, not one MOA

[rksimple]

you're right, one milliradian, not one MOA

Just wanted to be sure. With SFP scopes, you can make the mil reticle subtend different measurements by adjusting the mag. Cut the mag in half, double the subtention, etc.