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"New" Nikon Monarch 4-16x w/ BDC

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RONK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2007 at 14:58
 Great shooting Mark! (Or else that's a REALLY big dime!) Bucky
 Did you have enough time to run a "box test" on the tracking?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2007 at 15:03
Originally posted by RONK RONK wrote:

 
Did you have enough time to run a "box test" on the tracking?
 
No Sir, I didn't run a box test. I normally do, but my AR was acting "wonky" this morning and I was pressed for time.
 
That group I posted there was AFTER I zero'd @ 100 and sat and "cranked the snot" out of the W/E adjustments for a few minutes. Decent repeatability, I'd say, Ron.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2007 at 17:34
Very nice scope from the looks of the target the whole thing is working well together.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/29/2007 at 00:54
 
Regarding the reticle thickness issue: personally, I've never found the heaviest reticles to be detrimental to shooting tight groups on paper.  You simply use a certain corner of the crosshairs' intersection to hold on a given point on the target and do every thing else right. Repeat as necessary and you end up with a small group.
 Now, I'm not saying that thin reticles aren't necessary for certain uses, they certainly have their place, but small groups can be achieved quite easily with relatively heavy reticles.


Edited by RONK - December/29/2007 at 00:55
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/29/2007 at 07:59
Originally posted by RONK RONK wrote:


Regarding the reticle thickness issue: personally, I've never found the heaviest reticles to be detrimental to shooting tight groups on paper. You simply use a certain corner of the crosshairs' intersection to hold on a given point on the target and do every thing else right. Repeat as necessary and you end up with a small group.

Now, I'm not saying that thin reticles aren't necessary for certain uses, they certainly have their place, but small groups can be achieved quite easily with relatively heavy reticles.


That pretty much sums up my thoughts on heavy reticles also. Unless I hit a situation where the reticle actually covers up game at a given shooting range I find no problems. Course for me game is kinda large, even with varmints....so I haven't had any problems. You sage rat shooters have a whole different outlook I guess...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/29/2007 at 09:44
OH I forgot to ask....which reticles are etched in the new monarchs? Also that 308 if I remember right shoots pretty darn good....must be the load you mentioned in the reloading thread?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/29/2007 at 09:57
The load was Lapua brass, Varget, 168gr. SMK's, and BR2 primers with a COL of 2.80. The rifle prefers being loaded longer, but I went with what would go comfortably into the magazine this time.
 
The BDC, Nikoplex and the Mil Dot are wire. 
 
I have been busy working a lot this week and the holidays have hindered me, but will try to post some more "musings" on this scope this weekend.   
I'll get to the other range within the next two weeks to try out The Circles at various ranges.


Edited by cheaptrick - January/20/2008 at 05:11
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/29/2007 at 10:01
Thats right I thought I remembered, we shoot pretty similar loads in our 308's only difference is powder. See if you can find out about the std plex reticle. I know sightron uses some etched and some nickel wire. Following your posts with interest....

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 18:53
Sorry for the delay on my review, gang.
 
I hope to be going to the range next weekend and try out the circles on ground hog/prairie dog targets @ 300 yards and do some more "informal" testing. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/08/2008 at 01:45
Cheaptrick
I found a nice cheap trick to do the box test. Maybe you want to do this. Bed your rifle down and center it on your target a 100yds away. Have a similiar target next to you. Now dial in the box test without moving the rifle. Make sure rifle is bedded / packed securely.
Then simply mark each spt on your target next to you as you walk the cross to the four corners and back and see if it does so reliably and with the same amount of clicks in each direction.
Needless to say it may behave differently when you actaually fire rounds on each setting, but it will give you a cheap quick answer on basic tracking reliability.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/08/2008 at 04:26
Thanks, 8.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/13/2008 at 17:16
OK...spent some time with the BDC reticle today, as promised.
 
First off, shot a 3 shot 100 yard group to confirm zero, as per Nikon's BDC manual.
 
 
Check!!
 
ALL SHOTS WERE FIRED CENTER MASS (10 RING) OF TARGET.
 
I then shot out to 200 yards using the first circle down from the center of the cross hair, shooting center mass of my ground squirrel target which is 7 1/2" long and 3 3/4" wide.
I didn't bring back the target from the range, but my POI was about 3" high. Sorry....
 
BDC reticle:
 
I then fooled around and "split" the difference between the cross hair and the top of the first circle. Power setting was 16x.
Here...
 
This was a 6 shot group. Not bad.
 
Then on to 300 yards.
 
Same deal...Set the scope on 16x, corrected parallax, aimed for center mass (10 ring) and shot using the second circle down.
3 shot group...
 
 
 
This group measured about 1". 
Shooting a little high still, I then split the circles between the first circle and the second and came up with this....
 
  
 
This group measures a tad less than 1 1/2".
 
More later. I knew some guys were curious about my findings and I wanted to post my results.    


Edited by cheaptrick - January/13/2008 at 17:27
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/13/2008 at 17:19
That looks like you are ready for some serious prairie dog or ground hog shooting, you might give Richard Franklin a call and find out where they do some of their ground hog shooting.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/13/2008 at 17:28
Jimmy, I think you'd like this scope and reticle, Brother.
Tell Mrs. Duce I said it was OK for you to buy it....Embarrased
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/13/2008 at 20:17
Originally posted by 8shots 8shots wrote:

Cheaptrick
I found a nice cheap trick to do the box test. Maybe you want to do this. Bed your rifle down and center it on your target a 100yds away. Have a similiar target next to you. Now dial in the box test without moving the rifle. Make sure rifle is bedded / packed securely.
Then simply mark each spt on your target next to you as you walk the cross to the four corners and back and see if it does so reliably and with the same amount of clicks in each direction.
Needless to say it may behave differently when you actaually fire rounds on each setting, but it will give you a cheap quick answer on basic tracking reliability.
 
 
 That's a good tip, 8shots, but I don't think it's a good idea to refer to it as " cheap trick" on this site....Smoking
  Thanks for another great Range Report, Mark!Yippee


Edited by RONK - January/13/2008 at 20:22
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 03:45
Ok...Here's some more musings. This thread will be a work in progress for those out there in cyber space, so I will update it as spend more time with the scope.
 
Great scope overall, especially for the money!!  
Nikon really went all out to try to compete with the Conquest and came pretty damn close, IMO. You will be hard pressed to find a scope with the Monarch II's features for the SAME money, let alone  less.
 
The Monarch II is light weight, 18oz. and fairly compact for it's power range, 13.5".
This puts it a half oz. heavier than a comparable Conquest 4.5-14x and around 3/4" shorter.
 
The BDC reticle is a "hit" Wink too and very easy to use.
It will take me another trip to the range to "tweak" the reticle to my rifle, but I would recommend this scope and reticle, in conjunction with a good range finder, to LR varmint shooters everywhere. 
I do wish I had a longer range to go to in my AO, but 300 yards is it for now.
I'll mount "The Deuce" on my .223 AR next and try out the reticle again.
 
The "fixed" 4" eye relief is a nice feature too. Never a deal breaker for me, more of a luxury found on upper tier scopes. Big kickers are no problema!!
 
Like I said, The Deuce is a great scope for the money, but head position side to side and up and down is kinda hinky...critical.
What I mean is, you have to hold your head still or you'll lose your sight picture fairly easily, on the higher magnifications. I observed that on my 4-16x power, at settings past 12x.
This has been true on 2 new Monarchs I looked through. Mine and a 3-12x I looked through at a local gun shop.  
 
The lower power ranges, (between 4-10x) is where this scope shines!!
Nice wide field of view and the old "tunnel vision" issues mentioned by "the haters" Whistling is looooong gone, my friends!!  
The 2.5-10x model, which I have never seen, must be a dandy big game scope!!
 
That's all for now!! Thanks for the participation gang!  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 08:41
CT,
good range report bro. the one i have falls into play with just about everything you said about the one your testing.  I love mine it's a great hunting scope.even with the AO it is.If i'm in the woods i set it on 50 yards and everything is clear.if i'm in a field I set it to middle ways of my shooting range.(from one end to the other) and everything falls clear inclose and out and away.  great scope....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 09:24
I actually prefer an AO, like yours, over the side focus due to the fact I'm a lefty.
I like to be able to correct parallax with my right hand, while leaving my trigger finger next to the trigger guard.  
 
Thanks for your imput, BD!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 09:38
CT,
I can see where being a lefty can hinder your shooting at times.is there a market out for any brand of scope that is user friendly for a lefty? Looks like a cash cow to me.
 
When you get time and would like to go out past 300 let me know.i'm sure we can work something out about a shooting weekend.
 
 


Edited by Bigdaddy0381 - January/15/2008 at 09:38
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 09:50
Yeah, I'd like to stretch this thing out some more.
 
AO's are pretty lefty friendly.
Side focus works OK, but you have to use your shooting hand to dial it, or do a "reach over" with your right hand and it's backwards....Whatever
 
Lefties (special shooters) are the persecuted in the shooting world.
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