I’m looking at getting my first LPVO for a mid length 14.5 inch.. I’m open to either 1-4 (to save weight) or 1-6 magnification.  I like the idea of a BDC reticle for simplicity but I think I would rather hold for wind then dial. Most BDC reticles seem to lack wind holds. I plan on mostly shooting steel targets (12-15” diameter) out to say 500-600 yards and maybe some coyotes.  I have mostly used red dots, I have an ACOG TA31 on my M4 clone, and Vortex 2.5-10x32 FFP PST on a 18” SPR setup with MOA reticle. I would prefer a daylight bright dot.  I plan on shooting mostly 55 grain bullets.  The Vortex PST II 1-6 and the razor gen II 1-6 both have their MOA reticle subtension space 4 MOA apart, if I read the reticle correctly.  Is 4 MOA spaced too far apart for .223/5.56?  Those with these Vortex scopes what zero are you running? 200 yards? Would 2 MOA spacing be better?  Is aiming between the subtensions going to be precise enough to hit the target past 400 yards?

Thanks

Lemme run some numbers.

The Sierra 55gr FMJ is supposed to be most similar to M193.

Environment: 800' ASL, 60*F, 50% humidity.

At 2900fps, from a 100yd zero:
200yds: 1.3 MOA
300: 3.9 MOA
400: 7.4 MOA
500: 11.8 MOA
600: 17.5 MOA.

Full-value wind drift at 600yds is about 1 MOA per mph. It should track well to 500yds. At 600, hold at the top of the plate.

I think I'd prefer the cleaner 4 MOA spaced reticle.

The bullet may go transonic at 500yds. 600yds might be interesting.

Mk262 at 2600fps:
200yds: 1.7 MOA
300: 4.6
400: 8.2
500: 12.5
600: 17.6

Drift is about 0.7 MOA per mph.

There's a reason I suggested a 4 MOA scale for the Swampfox Trihawk.

If I was you, I’d get a chrono and measure your muzzle velocity.   With a short barrel, I suspect your MV will less than what the manufacturers advertise.

Then run a ballistics app, like JBM ballistics to get a good estimate of your trajectory.  Now you can compare it to the specs of a scope.   Some scope manufacturers don’t freely publish their drop data.   For instance, Primary Arms data is usually in their online owners manual.   Or shoot at various known distances (100,200,300,400,etc) and record actual drop.   Then compare to manufacturers BDC data

This is Wolf Gold at 3000 FPS 100 yard zero 2.6" scope height. Seems to me the spacing is pretty much perfect.
Attached File

What app is that?

tagged for the answer.

That looks like streklok. Why are you using 2.6? Are you adding an inch to the 1.5 that most AR mounts for height?

Overall height over bore, including the height over rail.

Yes strelok I've measured my rail to be 1.1" over bore with a digital micrometer.

This.  To use ballistic apps, you have to enter the distance from the centerline of the rifle bore to the centerline of the optic, not the distance from the rail to the centerline of the optic.  That’s why 2.6” and not 1.5”

Thanks for the help. It does seem like the MOA reticle may be more useful at longer distances as there are two extra subtensions to use when the bullet start to dive ( vs razor hd 1-6 bdc)..