Best reticle for africa

[Velo Dog]

(I apologize to Russ 16 for going off topic here).

Greetings Lumaberpat,

See below my attached first photo.
The other 3 photos are ones that look pretty decent as well.

The pictured Zeiss 4x is what resides on my Brno 602 Magnum Mauser, .375 H&H.
When I bought the scope they were already out of production and so, I had to accept it with duplex reticule.
Nonetheless, it is a fantastic scope for my needs.

Back when still being made, one could order this excellent scope with any one of several reticules offered, including standard cross wires.
Sadly both the scope and the rifle are no longer made.
However, both can sometimes be found 2nd hand, if you scour the internet regularly.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[MS 9x56]

I am a follower of the KISS principal. Stick to standard crosshairs.

 

[uplander01]

Any reticle that's not full of busy lines for range finding and hold-over, #4,#7, or anything like

 

[MontanaGrant]

Duplex works fine for me. I really like the post or #1 reticle for any application 200 yards or under. It is super quick and intuitive for fast shooting.

Hard finding quality scopes anymore though. Basically fall back on finding a rare leupold custom shop scope now and again.

 

[Lumaberpat]

Thanks Velo Dog,

If I decide to go the route of buying a used scope I will start a new threat on how/what to look for, as my gunsmith has strongly advised against this.

Viva Christo Rey,
Lumberpat73

(Sorry about going off topic!)

 

[cmk]

I was going to write something clever and insightful, but when I started to think about the scopes I have, they all turned out to be #4, apart from two with a duplex reticle.

Some of them have an illuminated dot in the middle, some not. Usually, illumination is turned off. I can't even recall any game being shot when the light has actually been on. So... I guess #4 is the way to go if you ask me.

 

[Accidental Villain]

German #2 if I could choose (I have that reticle on a couple of my beaters) and fixed magnification 4x or less.
Have also used different duplex variants in Africa that of course works very well.
As for DG on the other hand its strightly open irons for me.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For the places I hunt in South Africa, a typical duplex reticle achieves everything I need... Ive taken exactly 1 shot over 300 yards in South Africa over the course of 7 safaris.. I typically zero everything for 200 yards.. so 300 yards isnt a hard shot to make even without the benefit of anything "fancy" to support it..

I prefer less complicated reticles over all the different BDC designs..

I could see where an illuminated reticle might provide an advantage in some situations (black target like a buff or a sable.. or in the very early morning or very late evening).. but for me, I havent seen one of those situations yet where I felt like I needed it (although several of my rifles wear leupolds with firedots)..

^^ This!

I have taken two animals over 300 yards (black wildebeest @ 370 yards and kudu at 435 yards) but not with my gun. PH let me use his 270 WSM wearing some fancy tactical scope. I can shoot those distances but don't really care for it. That's the equipment doing the hunting, not the hunter.

Simple duplex is all I need for 200 yard shots with my 30-06. I have shot it out to 280 yards (my first impala). For most of my life it wore a 3x Weaver with duplex and that worked fine when I was tracking animals in snow and timber. Shots were close. The 3-9x Nikon scope it wears now has better glass and Black Friday price was irresistable. It has duplex with three BDC donuts below horizontal wire. I tried a couple of 300 yard shots at the range using their data table. Pfft! I tossed that idea quickly. So I just ignore the reticle detritus and concentrate on the animal. I also don't have a range finder or wind meter. Technocrap for shooting game in the next zipcode, not hunting it. When I take a trophy, it's my achievement. Not my gear's.

 

[FlowHamed18]

I love the fine reticle of the Kahles scopes.

Shot my buffalo with a Helia 1-5

 

[YancyW]

 

[Rare Breed]

For the places I hunt in South Africa, a typical duplex reticle achieves everything I need... Ive taken exactly 1 shot over 300 yards in South Africa over the course of 7 safaris.. I typically zero everything for 200 yards.. so 300 yards isnt a hard shot to make even without the benefit of anything "fancy" to support it..

I prefer less complicated reticles over all the different BDC designs..

I could see where an illuminated reticle might provide an advantage in some situations (black target like a buff or a sable.. or in the very early morning or very late evening).. but for me, I havent seen one of those situations yet where I felt like I needed it (although several of my rifles wear leupolds with firedots)..

I’m going after my leopard and would not hunt him without my illuminated reticle based on what Lou Hallamore told me. Otherwise just don’t see a need for one so depends on what you are hunting

 

[FlyGuy]

Illuminated #4

 

[30.06king]

I'm on board with all others here liking a simple, standard duplex or the German No. 4
I have used both, but only the duplex in Africa which I found perfect for everything.
On my last Zim hunt I used a Leupold Duplex Firedot ( VX6 1-6 ) and tried illumination for the first time. For me, it was a game changer, at one point turning a possibly doubtful shot into a certanity. Now, I won't go back from the Firedot, or illumination at least.

 

[Nyati]

German #4 with illuminated dot is my favorite for all hunting.

 

[meigsbucks]

In general, a plain Duplex is what I prefer. No hold over lines, just a plain Duplex. I do have a few of the Leupold Heavy Duplexes on some brush and DG rifles that I like a lot. As far as illumination, I’ve never felt hindered without it, but my most recent scope purchases have had illumination, whether Trijicon Accupoint, US Optics or the Leupold Fire-dot.

 

[roklok]

I have a Leupold 2-7 with German #4 reticle on my "African" .375, the reticle was installed by the Leupold Custom Shop. I believe the Custom Shop is still closed, which is a true shame. I sent numerous scopes in to have reticles installed in scopes which never had that option from the factory.

 

[Philip Glass]

Illuminated German #4 is my answer but I don’t use the low power scopes mentioned.

 

[nomspc]

Another vote for the German #4 with a central dot. I find the dot helpful on moving animals, low light, dark animals.

 

[Lopehunter]

I have to add a vote for the Leupold Duplex with the Firedot. The red dot draws you eye and attention to the impact point better that anything else I've used. I recently took my first Buffalo with that scope in a backlit situation. The Firedot made a precise first shot much easier.

 

[Tra3]

If you are over 40, the scope should be much better than the rifle. My eyes keep getting older.

I like a swaro 4-AI reticle. I seldom use the illumination. But when shooting something in low light or shade, it is hugely helpful.

I am NOT a fan of a scope that tops out at only 4x, I think it limits the utility of the rifle. For DG you may only be at 1x or 2x. Having the option to zoom in to 6x or higher is a big benefit when shooting PG on the same hunt.

I believe if you put an excellent scope on a rifle, you will be more inclined to use that rifle to the exclusion of others.