Back in March we posted here about my concept, upside down, post reticle. I know that to many shooters the concept is foreign but its kind of like French Fries dipped in milkshake; you cannot appreciate the idea until you try it.
My friends at Nightforce Optics apparently did not think the notion ludicrous, they read that post and then offered to install their International Hunting Reticle in a 1-4X Nightforce Compact riflescope and let me give it a try. Its nice to have friends in low (the right) places. As a side note, the IHR reticle is an illuminated reticle but without serious re-engineering, Nightforce could not illuminate my upside down sample.)
I mounted this scope on my MVP CUR in .25-45 Sharps and I’ve been shooting this rifle/scope combo a good deal. While engaging targets at point blank range the reticle seems to work similarly to any other reticle, at longer ranges is where it shines. To simulate this, I zeroed the scope so that the bullet struck eight inches low at 100 yards, which is about like it would strike at 200 yards with a 100 yard zero. (This is with the 117 grain Core-Lokt RN at 2300 fps.)
By shooting at a five inch circle target at 100 yards form the seated position, I found that my engagements times were just slightly faster with the upside down post than with a standard duplex style reticle. And, more importantly, I hit the target more often. Why? Its simple really; its easier to apply holdover if the object (the reticle) you are trying to hold over does not obscure the object (the target) you are trying to hold over. (Take a shot of whiskey and say that five times, really fast.)
Will any scope manufacture ever offer the upside down post as a standard reticle? I doubt it; too many shooters are too engrossed in ballistic reticles of a more precision nature to ever buy into a truly pragmatic idea. So, if you will all kindly buy a copy of my latest book, I’ll be able to afford to purchase this very fine Compact scope my friends at Nightforce were so kind to put together for me, because, I really, really like the idea.
