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01-27-2012, 06:36 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-27-2012, 06:40 PM by Drifter.)
Not a bad idea really, and I'm sure that many shooters might like such a setup. I would think that's it certainly possible to produce, but might be a little costly to have both adjustable brightness and selective dot illumination.
Personally, I see it as a solution to a non-existant problem, but I suppose others might look at it differently for their own application(s).
Edited to add: There are reticles available that illuminate only the center (rather than the grid) if that's your preference. Then simply dial up using the turret (instead of dialing up the selective illumination in your suggested design).
Drifter
I've thought about it as well, and it poses some serious engineering problems when you look at how reticles are illuminated. The entire reticle is lit by a light source in the prism, and trying to illuminate separate parts of the reticle would get pretty complicated. I've had discussions about reticle-related concepts with guys who have been trying to do something really innovative with reticles since 1978, and there are a lot of engineering challenges to be overcome to accomplish what you're intending.
Not just light the reticle. But, if I were to calculate the bullet drop and the windage and dail in the appropriate clicks. A lighted dot would then move to show appropriate hold overs while still keeping your reticle on your initial 100 yard zero.
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Burris is making a laser range finding scope that illuminated the hold-over point on the lower vertical cross hair.
http://www.burrisoptics.com/laserscope.html
That is sick if it works after thousands of rounds of abuse.
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LRRPF52 Wrote:That is sick if it works after thousands of rounds of abuse.
LR52:
Last I looked at one of those was a couple of years ago. The problem was that it only went to about 450 yards. You won't find too much difference in ordinate values for most small arms cartridges to 500 yards and range estimation by eye to 500 is good enough in terms of danger space given the size targets that this device is designed for -- big game.
Also, the optic better be stabilized or you will have to have the rifle in some sort of rock solid rest and the target must be stationary. I can't imagine someone being able to laze something holding a rifle without some sort of very solid rest such as sand bags or a very good bipod and bags under the stock. Just the nature of the beast with those things. And then lazing something that is probably moving, even from a solid rest, probably won't work.
I am also pretty sure that like all of these low powered lasers, shooting into the sun means no bounce and that the target better be big and above ground clutter. Large game most likely. I wonder how many shots you get on a battery?
I would bet the hunter will miss more with this device than if he were using his regular optic to the distance this scope is capable (I think it is around 450 yards). Why? Aside from the usual mechanical issues concerning low power lasers, the hunter must do a number of things in order to get the optic to work. And as he is doing those things his attention is not where it needs to be which is the situation and his sight picture.
LR1955
All good points and just to add, if they did manage to get it to work at 600-800 yards or beyond, you're still relying on a library of predetermined bullet drops, and picking the one closest to your application. Even if it is the same round out of the same rifle, just the temperature/elevation differences would be enough to throw the shot substantially.
