Thread: How do I set up and use a BRH (or BDC style) reticle?

No such thing as a stupid question apparently, so here goes....

I just acquired a Swarovski Z3 3-10 with a BRH reticle as I want to try it out on my 17inch Kimber Montana 308 so it is not just a bush gun (currently using a Leupold 1.25-4 VXR) and can be used in open areas with a bit more confidence than the 1.25-4 scope can give.

Now, here are my questions.

1. When run the numbers in the Swarovski ballistic app with a 100yd zero I get a the following distance information which are a bit all over the show in terms of easy to remember distances out to about 450yds (e.g.179,237,289,336,379,420, 457):



If I adjust the zero to 134yds I can then get the BRH reticle to very closely (1-6 yards) correspond to 200, 250,300,350 and 400 before the numbers start to get a bit more random as shown below:




I think that the 134 yard zero (or more precisely the 200yd zero for the uppermost BRH crosshair) will give me largely a point and shoot rifle at bush distances and then provide easy to remember distances out to 400yds which for the current factory whitetail ammo I shoot equates to a velocity of 1743fps and 1012ft/lbs of energy. Realistically I'd likely be limiting shot to 400 and under in any event.

How do you guys use the BRH or other BDC type reticles? Do to try and 'true' them up to nice easy to remember numbers by adjusting the zero, or just go, plus or minus 20-30m/yards is close enough at those distances on a deer and call it good. What I am trying to achieve is something that my 10 year old son and I can use with confidence (should we ever find a deer!!!) that is easy to remember in terms of distances!

2. In addition to the above, in the real world a deer is not going to generally be at the set BRH distances. So what do you guys do in those cases? For example a deer walks out of the bush edge and stands broadside at 375yards. In the above example (with a 134yd zero) I know I have a verified BRH distance at 350 and 400yds. Do I align the crosshair at the midpoint between the 350 and 400 marks for an approximate 375 distance, or pick the 350 mark and adjust the aim up a bit to allow for the drop , or aim lower with the 400 mark as the bullet will impact higher, or just pick either and call it good as either distance is approximately 5-6 inches (+/-) at that distance and good enough? Personally I want as much confidence as possible (both for myself, eventually my son when he gets onto a deer and most importantly for the quick dispatch of the animal) that I have done everything possible to get the bullet into the deer accurately and not wonder if I have misjudged something should things not go as planned with the shot.

Hopefully the above makes sense, and hopefully the questions are not too 'stupid'.