Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Ranging with Leupold 6x42 Heavy Duplex reticle

I'm going to look at reticle subtensions for the Leupold 6x42 Heavy Duplex, but in case someone has already figured this out...

Anybody have a method for using a Leupold 6x42 heavy duplex reticle for range estimation with deer and elk? Read something ambiguous about it, looking for some clarity.

Thanks in advance for your time and comments.

There's a list of animal dimensions in this thread. From there, it's just a matter of dividing those measurements by the reticle's subtensions to get yardage. For example, if a reticle subtends 4.5" from the crosshair to the tip of the bottom post at 100 yards, and a mule deer buck with a 18" chest fills that gap, it's 400 yards away.

With the Leupold 6x42 Std duplex or Heavy Duplex at 100 yards
the thin section of the duplex top to bottom total is 9 inches
AT 200 yards it is 18 inches the avg back to briskett of a WT Deer.
400 yards a avg deer would fill from the crosshairs to the bottom
post where it goes from thin to thick.

Thanks to you both.

Amra, I had myself confused with the magnification, thanks for the clarification. Top to bottom deer = 200 yards or so. Past that I need to get out my rangefinder and/or close some distance.

Top to bottom elk = 300 yards or so, or about the max range I would choose to shoot. If the elk appears top to bottom I should think about holding at the top of the back with my 30-06.

Not a perfect system, and not preferred if I can get out my rangefinder. But better than nothing.

On the M8s, they have a different thin opening. 9" on the standard and 14.5" on the heavy.

They have the same opening of 9" on the heavy M8 that I have.

I'll have to take your word for it as I don't have any HDs any longer. Their catalogs showed the subtensions I posted above for years. Is yours the original reticle that came with it?

Mine is a Heavy Duplex by the Leupold factory.

Buy you a rangefinder and do not worry about that.

Having a quality range finder is always good idea BUT
firm believer in fixed 6 power with reticle that will
range at least in open country. Two seasons ago first day
of season ago after all summer scouting burned my lungs
out reaching a coulee to hope for what looked to be 300
yd shot at herd Bull. They had just made a fast paced two
mile walk up out of river country and his 8 cows just
stopped for quick dirt/salt lick. The Bull went down for
a brief rest. As I rested my Leica range finder on the
side of a lone Juniper for the life of me could not get
a reading I guess because of a few wimpy branches. I kept
trying with no luck until he rose up and tipped his nose up
to get a whiff. Would of been risky to keep trying to range.
Was happy to know my Schmidt Bender 6 x 42s #7 reticle is
supper fast determining 250-300. As the bull was drawing in
scent it was obvious he was under 250/300. Was good with my
200 yd zero, the bullet was flying and a fine 6x6 hit the dirt.
I am not smart enough nor patient enough for turrets.
I am practicing out in the desert shooting my 270 Wby with a
3 x 10 x 42 BDH Sworvorski BUT fixed 6 with thick enough side bar
to range with for me sure is SIMPLE.

No need to hit the enter key.