Leupold BALLISTIC AIMING SYSTEM User manual

COVERCOVER
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Table of Contents
Boone and Crockett™ Big Game Reticle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 1
Varmint Hunter’s Reticle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11
Long Range Duplex Reticle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 21
Long Range Varmint Reticle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 26
Another Way to Sight In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 29
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The Leupold Ballistic Aiming
System™ – Boone and Crockett™
Big Game Reticle
The goal of every hunter is a successful hunt with a clean harvest. It was with
this in mind that Leupold
®
created the Leupold Ballistic Aiming System™.
Because we so strongly agree with the Boone and Crockett Club’s
®
legacy of
wildlife conservation and ethical fair chase hunting, we have designated one
of the system’s reticles as the Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle, while
the other is designated as the Varmint Hunter’s reticle.
Together, the Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle and the Varmint Hunter’s
reticle give the hunter two very useful tools intended to bring about successful
hunts with clean and efficient harvests. Through the use of these straightforward
and easy-to-follow instructions, it is sincerely hoped that all hunters will find
their skills improved and their hunts more successful.
1
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The Leupold Ballistic Aiming System provides a series of aiming points to
improve your ability to shoot accurately at longer ranges. The first aiming
point (the intersection of the Duplex
®
reticle) is designed to be used at 200
yards with most common cartridges or at 300 yards in several flatter shooting
cartridges designed for longer range use.
The Leupold Ballistic Aiming System provides you with two different power
selector positions, indicated by large and small triangles located within the
magnification level indicators. These are provided to allow you to select the
hold points best suited to the cartridge you are using. In some cases, the smaller
triangle setting can be used to accommodate your slower, heavier bullet load,
while the larger triangle can be used to accommodate a faster, lighter bullet
load in the same rifle. The reticle assumes bullets of similar spitzer shape will
be used throughout.
An Overview of the Leupold
Ballistic Aiming System
2
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As an example, a 30-06 with a 180 gr spitzer bullet and 2700 fps muzzle velocity
would require the use of the smaller triangle mark. A 30-06 with a 150 gr
spitzer bullet at 3000 fps muzzle velocity would use the larger triangle mark.
We have designated three sets of cartridges to be used in conjunction with
the large and small triangles and sight-in distances of either 200 or 300 yards,
described as Group A, Group B, and Group C:
• Group A cartridges will use the large triangle and a 200 yard zero
• Group B cartridges will use the small triangle and a 200 yard zero
• Group C cartridges will use the large triangle and a 300 yard zero
Be sure to verify the aiming points by practicing at the actual distances at
which the points are intended to work. Ballistic performance of your rifle
and cartridge can vary somewhat from ammunition manufacturer data
due to rifle barrel length, actual ammunition performance and various
atmospheric conditions.
3
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(48-58 inches of drop at 500 yards)
(Less than 35 inches of drop at 500 yards)
(35-45 inches of drop at 500 yards)
4
Boone and Crockett™ Big Game Reticle Cartridge List
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General Instructions
For the Use of the Leupold
Ballistic Aiming System
5
SIGHTING-IN
The Boone and Crocket
™
Big Game reticle is sighted-in by zeroing the rifle at
the intersection of the Duplex® reticle at either 200 yards (Group A and B), or
300 yards (Group C). For Group C cartridges sighted-in at 300 yards, the lower
aiming marks will be correct at 400, 500, 550, and 600 yards. Be sure to verify
the aiming points by practicing at the actual distances at which the points are
intended to work. Ballistic performance of your rifle and cartridge can vary
somewhat from ammunition manufacturer data due to rifle barrel length,
actual ammunition performance and various atmospheric conditions. See the
Owner’s Manual for detailed sighting-in instructions.
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The Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle offers:
• a Duplex central aiming point (sighted-in at 200 or 300 yards) as well
as CPC-style hold points calibrated to 300 and 400 yards, and additional
aiming features for targets at 450 and 500 yards for Group A and Group B
cartridges (add 100 yards for Group C cartridges)
• a 10 mph windage hold point at both the left and right ends of the 300 and
400 yard CPC-style hold points
• the traditional VX
®
-III range estimating feature between the Duplex central
aiming point and the top vertical heavy post (consult the Leupold Riflescope
Owner’s Handbook)
Specific Instructions for the
Use of the Boone and Crockett™
Big Game Reticle
6
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7
NOTE: When using a cartridge in Group C and sighting-in at 300 yards, add 100
to all of the above yardage indicators.
Range Power Selector Values 10 MPH Drift
Large Bullet Drop Small Bullet Drop
200 yd MOA — — —
200 yd Inches — — —
300 yd MOA 2.19 2.74 2.16
300 yd Inches 6.88 8.61 6.79
400 yd MOA 4.80 6.00 3.03
400 yd Inches 20.11 25.13 12.69
450 yd MOA 6.26 7.83 —
450 yd Inches 29.50 36.87 —
500 yd MOA 7.82 9.78 —
500 yd Inches 40.95 51.18 —
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In order to use the Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle, you must determine
which of the three groups (Group A, Group B, or Group C) your cartridge and
load fits into.
DETERMINE POWER SELECTOR SETTING
First, determine which of the triangles on the power selector is the correct
one to use with your particular rifle caliber, bullet weight and muzzle velocity.
Refer to the tables of Group A, Group B, and Group C cartridges on page 4.
Using the Boone and Crockett™
Big Game Reticle
8
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9
Once you have determined which triangle is the correct one for your rifle caliber,
bullet weight and muzzle velocity, always remember that is the position to which
you must set the power selector when using any of the hold points on the
Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle.
DETERMINE THE RANGE TO THE TARGET
Determine the range to your target using a laser rangefinder such as a
Leupold RB800 or RX
™
Series rangefinder, or utilize the traditional VX-III range
estimating feature using the space between the Duplex central aiming point
and the top vertical heavy post. For more information about how to use this
feature, consult your Leupold Riflescope Owner’s Handbook.
AIMING
The Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle is a hold point reticle. For targets
judged to be 300 yards away, hold directly on the 300 yard hold point. For 350
yard targets, hold directly between the 300 and 400 yard hold points. For your
convenience, a 450 yard hold point has been included between the 400 and
500 yard hold points.
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10
WIND COMPENSATION
The left and right edges of the 300 and 400 yard hold points may be used as
10 mph wind compensators. To correct for a wind speed of 10 mph, place the
edge of the hold point for the distance of the target directly on the target
when aiming.
CONCLUSION
This concludes the instructional portion of the Boone and Crockett
™
Big
Game reticle.
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The Leupold Ballistic
Aiming System –
Varmint Hunter’s Reticle
The goal of every hunter is a successful hunt with a cleanly made harvest.
Whether a hunter is pursuing big game or varmints, it is imperative that he or
she strive to make a quick, humane kill. It is with this in mind that Leupold has
introduced the Varmint Hunter’s reticle, a tool intended to allow shooters to
make solid hits and clean kills at longer ranges on varmints.
Together, the Boone and Crockett
™
Big Game reticle and the Varmint Hunter’s
reticle give the hunter two very useful tools intended to bring about successful
hunts with clean and efficient harvests. Through the use of these straightforward
and easy-to-follow instructions, it is sincerely hoped that all hunters will find
their skills improved and their hunts more successful.
11
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An Overview of the
Leupold Ballistic Aiming System
12
The Leupold Ballistic Aiming System provides a series of aiming points to
improve your ability to shoot accurately at longer ranges. The first aiming
point (the intersection of the German #4 reticle) is designed to be used at 200
yards with most common varmint cartridges or at 300 yards in several flatter
shooting cartridges designed for longer range use. See page 14 for cartridge
group tables.
The Leupold Ballistic Aiming System provides you with two different power
selector positions, indicated by large and small triangles located within the
magnification level indicators. These are provided to allow you to select the
hold points best suited to the cartridge you are using. In some cases, the smaller
triangle setting can be used to accommodate your slower, heavier bullet load,
while the larger triangle can be used to accommodate a faster, lighter bullet
load in the same rifle. The reticle assumes bullets of similar spitzer shape will be
used throughout.
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As an example, a .223 Remington with a 40 gr V-max
®
bullet and 3800 fps
muzzle velocity would require the use of the larger triangle mark. A .223
Remington with a 55 gr V-max bullet at 3240 fps muzzle velocity would use
the smaller triangle mark. We have designated three sets of cartridges to be
used in conjunction with the large and small triangles and sight-in distances
of 200 yards, described as Group A, Group B, and Group C.
• Group A cartridges will use the large triangle and a 200 yard zero
• Group B cartridges will use the small triangle and a 200 yard zero
• Group C cartridges will use the large triangle and a 300 yard zero
13
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14
(30-40 inches of drop at 500 yards)
(Less than 30 inches of drop
at 500 yards)
(45-55 inches of drop at 500 yards)
Varmint Hunter’s Reticle Cartridge List
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15
General Instructions
For the Use of the Leupold
Ballistic Aiming System
SIGHTING-IN
The Varmint Hunter’s reticle is sighted-in by zeroing the rifle at the intersection
of the German #4 reticle at 200 yards for Group A and Group B cartridges.
For Group C cartridges, sight-in at 300 yards and the lower aiming marks will
be correct at 400, 500, and 600 yards. Be sure to verify the aiming points by
practicing at the actual distances at which the points are intended to work.
Ballistic performance of your rifle and cartridge can vary somewhat from
ammunition manufacturer data due to rifle barrel length, actual ammunition
performance and various atmospheric conditions.
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The Varmint Hunter’s reticle offers:
• a fine-lined German #4-style central aiming point (sighted-in at 200 yards in
most cases) as well as cross-wire hold points calibrated to 300, 400, and 500
yards for most cartridges
• 10 and 20 mph windage hold points at both the left and right ends of the
300, 400, and 500 yard cross-wire hold points
• 10, 20, and 30 mph windage hold points along the German #4-style central
aiming point line
• a prairie dog range estimator between the 500 yard and bottom vertical
heavy post
Specific Instructions
For the Use of the Varmint
Hunter’s Reticle
16
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17
Range Power Selector Values 10 MPH Drift 20 MPH Drift 30 MPH Drift
Large Bullet Drop Small Bullet Drop
200 yd MOA — — 1.77 3.54 5.31
200 yd Inches — — 3.71 7.41 11.12
300 yd MOA 1.81 2.26 2.86 5.72 —
300 yd Inches 5.69 7.10 8.98 17.97 —
400 yd MOA 4.13 5.16 4.09 8.17 —
400 yd Inches 17.30 21.61 17.13 34.22 —
500 yd MOA 7.02 8.78 5.49 10.99 —
500 yd Inches 36.80 46.00 25.87 51.79 —
*Brackets a prairie dog at 300 yards. If the prairie dog is smaller than the bracket, then it is more than 300 yards away.
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