So cool, I'm fairly new to hunting and choosing gear is often overwhelming. I'm so glad I trusted my hunter education examiner and went with a duplex. No crowded view and set for MPB range I won't have to get confused about dialling or other fancy stuff. I had no idea you could possibly range too with a duplex, but it makes sense.
Another great video! I had one of those leupolds when they came out and all I can say boy what a difference from my old K4 and it sure made harvesting game a whole lot easier early in the mornings and evenings.
When I was a kid I remember my grandfather's scope (communists took away his rifle after the war). It had a variant of the German #1 reticle, but with shorter horizontal bars, each maybe ⅓ of the width of the scope, and bars were pointy/bevelled, just like the post. It was supposed to be good for poor light, and since we lived way up North back then, it would make sense. I have not seen that kind of reticle since except once or twice in some illustrations on the web.
Greetings from Oklahoma. Thank you. We love hunting hogs here. Love your videos and thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. And as always, Weidmansheil🌿📯
👍👍Love the simplicity of the duplex reticle. I've shot one deer at 315 yds. The rest of my shots have been 200yds in. I zero my rifles at 200 and I'm good to go from 300 in.
Another great and informative video I always truly enjoy the history lessons and passionate knowledge from a true fellow ethical hunter which seems to be far and few in between these days Keep up the great work DD and Thank You
Another spot on video.the only thing I have found to better then the plane duplex in a Leopold.is a Leopold I bought with an illuminated dot at the center of the retical.since I got older my vision is not as good at dusk so the red dot makes it so fast and easy to just put the dot where the shot needs to go. Thanks again for for trying to teach the younger hunters that first focal plane scopes are for the range not hunting.
It's helpful to know where your bullets are hitting when using the tip of the bottom post to aim with. Great vid, DD! Happy New Year to you and Becca. Thanks for posting on YT.
Love my Leopold doubles! Didn't exactly know what I was doing when I bought my first but it just seemed RIGHT. turns out it was and all my others since are too. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year
Cool video. One of my favorite reticle shows is the accurange that loupold put in their redfields. The circle make it super easy for quick acquisition.
Absolutely agree. I also teach shooters to use the reference points inside the scope. In my varmint calling days in the 1970’s. Used a K6. Zeroed for 100 yards. The bottom transition from thick to thin was an excellent 25 yard zero for a quick eye shot. The top transition was an excellent 225 zero for a coyote. Spend time at the range and know where your rifle shoots at all ranges. I don’t care for all the clutter in the new scopes. Brush, horse scabbards, and cases can create issues. I miss the old adjustable objectives on the end. I set them at 200 yards and forgot about them.
2 years ago I bought a Mossberg MVP Predator in 7.62x51/308. I installed a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x50 Illuminated on it and harvested my first moose, 1 shot at 228 yards. My father in law who shoots 30-06 was there and was amazed at the accuracy. He has only ever used 30-06 and was skeptical of the "little" 308. The scope has the duplex reticle and is clear as crystal.
Although the standard duplex is on the majority of my hunting rifles because they’re the best for the type of hunting I do most, from time to time I rely on a few of my Leupold scopes that have a TMOA first focal plane reticle. The reason is simple. I use the reticle to range deer in low light/poor light conditions which may render my Zeiss rangefinder unreliable. Additionally, more often than not, deer will linger in spots where your going to range a tree limb instead of the buck and the difference can result in disappointment if you pull the trigger. However, and more precisely, I use the reticle to determine if the animal is within MPBR. Example: In Kansas, the average distance from the ground to the back of a mature buck is 36”-40”. So, for 38” on average, and based on my MPBR for both my 7x61 S&H or 270 AI, I’ve calculated that a buck is inside my MPBR if it appears larger than 11.5 MOA on my reticle. If it’s smaller than 11.5 MOA then it’s further than my MPBR. It’s a very fast method for ranging when batteries fail in my range finder or the conditions render my range finder unreliable. Believe me, basic ranging with a reticle requires a tough calculation to run through your head on the fly and then also apply your dope according to the result of that calculation. So, do like I do and figure out your required MOA measurement for MPBR before you head to your favorite stand overlooking the bean fields. It’s quick and easy.
The BEST reticle by far. Simple is the best a lot of times. With this reticle, zero you’re rifle at 200 yards. Dead on from 0-200, hold a little high out to 300. Past 300, just stop hunting lol.
Hay Kirk I've been using the viper HS 2.5-10X44 with BDC reticle for 11 years now. It's mounted on my customized weatherby vanguard s2 30-06. Got it zeroed at 200yds ,second hash mark down and it's right on bullseye at 300. Great scope and reticle.
I have hunted with a duplex for over 40 years. Yes they are an awesome reticle for hunting. But i have found a better one!! I picked up a Leica Amplus 6 with a L4A reticle. It’s a duplex reticle with an illuminated dot ! I think it is an absolute game changer! You can turn off the illuminated dot and use the fine cross hairs for target shooting precision. And use the illuminated dot for hunting. Talk about fast target acquisition.
Who makes a post or post/crosshair reticle. I prefer to buy American made but I really want a post, it was what my grandfather had on his pump carbine and I loved that scope for the thick wood of the northeast where I hunt.
Bussy reticles do nothing for me. Even for target practice, the busy reticles take away from my concentration. Unfortunately, in today's market, most scopes seem to have busy reticles. My budget likes Burris but their lower priced scopes don't even offer a fine plex.
I call your attention to the Meopta Optika 6, one step up from the standard duplex reticle, other than the fact that is based upon the current optical sight for the TOW anti-tank rocket, it seems to work pretty well. If you haven't tried one, I have a spare that I can loan you
Leupold needs to make a non illuminated 2 or 2.5-12 X 42 or 44 in a 1 inch tube. If its like 12-16 oz they would sell like hot cakes at $1,000.00-$1,200.00. I can't find a mag range I like better than my 3-9 freedom at that weight. It seems odd to me to put my $300.00 3-9 on a $2,000.00 hunting rifle but there it sits.
Desert Dog, it seems like all of the newer Leupold scopes have the CDS turret. If you are big game hunting 300 and in, do you every find yourself using this feature on your scopes?
I had a few of the "free" turrets made, and they work surprisingly well at the range, but I have yet to use them in the field. The beauty of CDS, is that it let's you zero perfectly at 100yds (which has advantages) and quickly dial beyond that. But, you need to know exact range, so the extra step of ranging the animal could cause a missed opportunity.
The “ultimate best” is a duplex with an illuminated center dot. It has all the great features of the standard duplex and is far superior in low light, allowing shots at near-darkness that are impossible with the standard duplex (or any other) reticle.
Desert dog I had no idea how to range with that cross hair ! I never shoot past 200 yards and I know I am capable of much further ! where has everything gone wrong !
Scope makers should realise their customers with means (money) are getting older sight less sharp they want a Bolder thicker reticle so they dont have to give up shooting.
I'm very hard on binoculars, so only get a few years out of them. I'm afraid to invest $1500-2000 in a pair of binoculars that I'll probably damage. And some of my buddies with the Leica and Swaro rangefinding binoculars have had issues with them. So for now, it's a decent set of binoculars with a separate rangefinder. Still waiting for the technology to improve.
I have a 25-year-old Leupold 115079A scope with the fine cross-hair reticle. Can I install a Duplex myself, or is that a factory retrofit? Has anyone done this and what did it cost?
Depends on the bullet, velocity, how strong the wind is, and angle. In a 10mph crosswind with a standard 165gr load, you might need 6-7" of hold at 300 yards.
Because the reticle stays big and clear at any magnification. Most hunters stalk prey with the scope on it's lowest setting in case we bump an animal up close. It's really hard to find the reticle for a quick shot with a 1st focal plane scope on low magnification.
I like the #4 (as long as the lines are not too thick), but it doesn't draw my eyes to the center like a duplex does because of the lack of a top post.
So cool, I'm fairly new to hunting and choosing gear is often overwhelming. I'm so glad I trusted my hunter education examiner and went with a duplex. No crowded view and set for MPB range I won't have to get confused about dialling or other fancy stuff. I had no idea you could possibly range too with a duplex, but it makes sense.
Another great video! I had one of those leupolds when they came out and all I can say boy what a difference from my old K4 and it sure made harvesting game a whole lot easier early in the mornings and evenings.
This is unironically an amazing video. Glad I came across it
I love the simplicity of the duplex!
Excellent video. I loved the history
I have learned so much from this channel. AWESOME video...
Thanks for another outstanding video.
Thanks for the video. Helped me choose a duplex on my new hunting scope.
I just listen yo your videos over n over. I've learned so much from u .
Totally agree with your assessment of the good ol' Duplex, so simple and so effective!
When I was a kid I remember my grandfather's scope (communists took away his rifle after the war). It had a variant of the German #1 reticle, but with shorter horizontal bars, each maybe ⅓ of the width of the scope, and bars were pointy/bevelled, just like the post. It was supposed to be good for poor light, and since we lived way up North back then, it would make sense. I have not seen that kind of reticle since except once or twice in some illustrations on the web.
Greetings from Oklahoma. Thank you. We love hunting hogs here. Love your videos and thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. And as always, Weidmansheil🌿📯
Thanks for another great video full of useful information !
Yup love it.. lighted dot in the center makes it awesomer.
Most of my scopes are a duplex with Firedot. That firedot really helps near the end of legal shooting time.
"Awesomer"
Luv it!
Best wishes for 2022!
The ideas I got from this video may be useful in the future. Thank You, Sir.
Good video DD. Thanks. The Duplex is the only reticle I use, for all the reasons you mentioned.
👍👍Love the simplicity of the duplex reticle. I've shot one deer at 315 yds. The rest of my shots have been 200yds in. I zero my rifles at 200 and I'm good to go from 300 in.
Leupold duplex with firedot is a good one along with the wind plex ..👍
Great video to start my new year!
Another great and informative video
I always truly enjoy the history lessons and passionate knowledge from a true fellow ethical hunter which seems to be far and few in between these days
Keep up the great work DD and Thank You
The duplex is all I know, I don’t shoot past 300 yards anyways, and it has performed perfectly.
Finally someone with common sense. Theres always that guy that goes in the comments and is like “I shot an elk at 647 yards with my 6.5” lol
Perfect timing! I was planning on buying a new scope soon.
Another spot on video.the only thing I have found to better then the plane duplex in a Leopold.is a Leopold I bought with an illuminated dot at the center of the retical.since I got older my vision is not as good at dusk so the red dot makes it so fast and easy to just put the dot where the shot needs to go. Thanks again for for trying to teach the younger hunters that first focal plane scopes are for the range not hunting.
Another great and common sense video DD, as you say hunters don’t need complex mil dot etc scopes to ethically hunt game at appropriate range.
It's helpful to know where your bullets are hitting when using the tip of the bottom post to aim with. Great vid, DD! Happy New Year to you and Becca. Thanks for posting on YT.
Love my Leopold doubles! Didn't exactly know what I was doing when I bought my first but it just seemed RIGHT. turns out it was and all my others since are too. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year
Cool video. One of my favorite reticle shows is the accurange that loupold put in their redfields. The circle make it super easy for quick acquisition.
Absolutely agree. I also teach shooters to use the reference points inside the scope. In my varmint calling days in the 1970’s. Used a K6. Zeroed for 100 yards. The bottom transition from thick to thin was an excellent 25 yard zero for a quick eye shot. The top transition was an excellent 225 zero for a coyote. Spend time at the range and know where your rifle shoots at all ranges. I don’t care for all the clutter in the new scopes. Brush, horse scabbards, and cases can create issues. I miss the old adjustable objectives on the end. I set them at 200 yards and forgot about them.
💯 agreed at ethical hunting ranges the duplex is quick and simple. Works every time for me.
2 years ago I bought a Mossberg MVP Predator in 7.62x51/308. I installed a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x50 Illuminated on it and harvested my first moose, 1 shot at 228 yards. My father in law who shoots 30-06 was there and was amazed at the accuracy. He has only ever used 30-06 and was skeptical of the "little" 308. The scope has the duplex reticle and is clear as crystal.
Excellent video!
My fav reticle period
Although the standard duplex is on the majority of my hunting rifles because they’re the best for the type of hunting I do most, from time to time I rely on a few of my Leupold scopes that have a TMOA first focal plane reticle.
The reason is simple. I use the reticle to range deer in low light/poor light conditions which may render my Zeiss rangefinder unreliable. Additionally, more often than not, deer will linger in spots where your going to range a tree limb instead of the buck and the difference can result in disappointment if you pull the trigger.
However, and more precisely, I use the reticle to determine if the animal is within MPBR.
Example: In Kansas, the average distance from the ground to the back of a mature buck is 36”-40”. So, for 38” on average, and based on my MPBR for both my 7x61 S&H or 270 AI, I’ve calculated that a buck is inside my MPBR if it appears larger than 11.5 MOA on my reticle. If it’s smaller than 11.5 MOA then it’s further than my MPBR.
It’s a very fast method for ranging when batteries fail in my range finder or the conditions render my range finder unreliable.
Believe me, basic ranging with a reticle requires a tough calculation to run through your head on the fly and then also apply your dope according to the result of that calculation. So, do like I do and figure out your required MOA measurement for MPBR before you head to your favorite stand overlooking the bean fields. It’s quick and easy.
I agree with you on the duplex reticle. It is the only reticle that I use. Too much jargon in all the other reticles in my opinion
DD as always, a thoughtful POV that challenges marketing-driven mumbo jumbo.
Another fine video!
The BEST reticle by far. Simple is the best a lot of times. With this reticle, zero you’re rifle at 200 yards. Dead on from 0-200, hold a little high out to 300. Past 300, just stop hunting lol.
if its past 300 you can just sneak in closer... You don't have to stop hunting! 😂 A 250 zero can extend that range a bit.
@@wesleyturner1979 Sneaking closer, I agree. Past that, unless you are in the mountains of new zealand then like I said, stop hunting.
I like the Leupold hunt-plex reticle! Draws my eye to the center really well
My Vortex Viper HS has the BDC reticle but the layout is similar to a wide duplex and that's how I use it with my .270 sighted in for MPBR.
Hay Kirk I've been using the viper HS 2.5-10X44 with BDC reticle for 11 years now. It's mounted on my customized weatherby vanguard s2 30-06. Got it zeroed at 200yds ,second hash mark down and it's right on bullseye at 300. Great scope and reticle.
Thanks from Idaho!
I have hunted with a duplex for over 40 years. Yes they are an awesome reticle for hunting.
But i have found a better one!!
I picked up a Leica Amplus 6 with a L4A reticle. It’s a duplex reticle with an illuminated dot !
I think it is an absolute game changer!
You can turn off the illuminated dot and use the fine cross hairs for target shooting precision.
And use the illuminated dot for hunting. Talk about fast target acquisition.
Happy New Year. DD. Mike.🙂
👍 Very educational
Who makes a post or post/crosshair reticle. I prefer to buy American made but I really want a post, it was what my grandfather had on his pump carbine and I loved that scope for the thick wood of the northeast where I hunt.
I agree completely.
Bussy reticles do nothing for me. Even for target practice, the busy reticles take away from my concentration. Unfortunately, in today's market, most scopes seem to have busy reticles. My budget likes Burris but their lower priced scopes don't even offer a fine plex.
I’ve been eyeing the Huntplex reticle from leopold pretty seriously. Any experience with that reticle?
Call it a version on the German nr 8 scope,that have 4 posts and crosshairs but thicker. One very good that one also.
I believe the German #8 came out after the Duplex. To me, it doesn't draw the eyes to the center like a true Duplex does.
I call your attention to the Meopta Optika 6, one step up from the standard duplex reticle, other than the fact that is based upon the current optical sight for the TOW anti-tank rocket, it seems to work pretty well. If you haven't tried one, I have a spare that I can loan you
Leupold needs to make a non illuminated 2 or 2.5-12 X 42 or 44 in a 1 inch tube. If its like 12-16 oz they would sell like hot cakes at $1,000.00-$1,200.00. I can't find a mag range I like better than my 3-9 freedom at that weight. It seems odd to me to put my $300.00 3-9 on a $2,000.00 hunting rifle but there it sits.
Desert Dog, it seems like all of the newer Leupold scopes have the CDS turret. If you are big game hunting 300 and in, do you every find yourself using this feature on your scopes?
I had a few of the "free" turrets made, and they work surprisingly well at the range, but I have yet to use them in the field. The beauty of CDS, is that it let's you zero perfectly at 100yds (which has advantages) and quickly dial beyond that. But, you need to know exact range, so the extra step of ranging the animal could cause a missed opportunity.
The “ultimate best” is a duplex with an illuminated center dot. It has all the great features of the standard duplex and is far superior in low light, allowing shots at near-darkness that are impossible with the standard duplex (or any other) reticle.
Most of my scopes have the Firedot feature. Almost mandatory by the end of legal shooting time.
I like lupolds hunt plex retical .
Desert dog I had no idea how to range with that cross hair ! I never shoot past 200 yards and I know I am capable of much further ! where has everything gone wrong !
Scope makers should realise their customers with means (money) are getting older sight less sharp they want a Bolder thicker reticle so they dont have to give up shooting.
Leupold make a great firedot duplex. Red led is adjustable and 30mm tube gives a nice field of view. Its a duplex on steroids!
Most of my scopes are Duplex with firedot!
Prefer 4a for general hunting and the thicker #4 for brush & poor light.
Do you prefer a rangefinder binocular or a separate binoculars and rangefinders ?
I'm very hard on binoculars, so only get a few years out of them. I'm afraid to invest $1500-2000 in a pair of binoculars that I'll probably damage. And some of my buddies with the Leica and Swaro rangefinding binoculars have had issues with them. So for now, it's a decent set of binoculars with a separate rangefinder. Still waiting for the technology to improve.
I have a 25-year-old Leupold 115079A scope with the fine cross-hair reticle. Can I install a Duplex myself, or is that a factory retrofit? Has anyone done this and what did it cost?
The Leupold factory can do it. But It might be more cost effective in the end to buy a new scope with modern HD glass.
Do I have to worry about wind holds under 300 yards ? I’ve got a 308 using copper bullets
Depends on the bullet, velocity, how strong the wind is, and angle. In a 10mph crosswind with a standard 165gr load, you might need 6-7" of hold at 300 yards.
Hi, why do hunters prefer a second focal plane?
Because the reticle stays big and clear at any magnification. Most hunters stalk prey with the scope on it's lowest setting in case we bump an animal up close. It's really hard to find the reticle for a quick shot with a 1st focal plane scope on low magnification.
In Germany the Number 4 is still more popular
I like the #4 (as long as the lines are not too thick), but it doesn't draw my eyes to the center like a duplex does because of the lack of a top post.
1st!
Childish ...
No the previous song was better!!!!!!! Haha