Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Disillusioned by 6x36LRD

Wanted to try the LRD on one of my rifles. I bought a 6x36 and saw instantly that it was not usable for my purposes. The dots appeared to be at least 2minutes in size and there was literally no distance to speak of between the dots. They're literally right on top of one another. Just can't see how this reticle could help a guy past 250-300yds. Not a gripe...just an observation. I wonder how big the dots are in the 6x42? powdr

That's the thing about optics. You don't know if they'll work for you until you try them out yourself.

Well....I think they are the same size and spacing in the 6x36 as the 6x42. This was using the 6x42's first dot at 300 yards....it's sighted roughly 2.5" high at 100, 200 yard zero:

Did you look at a grid target, say at 100 yards?

IIRC, the dots are just under a minute wide. As to spacing, with a typical 270 Win. load and a 200 yard zero the first dot should be right on just past 300, the second dot just past 400, and the tip of the post just past 500.

I am the guy that bought your 6x36 LRD. I have the same reticle in two 6x42's, one on a .270 and the other on a .223 predator rifle. I find them very useful and they line up just fine at the intended ranges for me.

I am going to put the 6x36 on a .22 WRM Ruger 77/22 that I use for PD shooting. I have found from previous experiments that, if the crosshairs are sighted for 100 yards using W-W 40 gr. SXHP ammo, the dots add exactly 25 yards apiece. So you can place shots precisely in elevation up to 175 yards using the LRD reticle.

The LRD reticle is a bit different and might be somewhat distracting when you first try it on the range, but I have found that after using it for awhile it is natural to use and performs its intended purpose.

With my next rifle I am going to try this scope. I like the 2.5x8x36 with the B&C. So it'll be interesting to compare.

Having used both, when light is sufficient it's easier to "hold fine" with the opposing wedge points of the B&C. But I've had no trouble shooting moa with the LRD dots.

I just don't see how a man could use those dots for precise aiming. powdr

Ground squirrels or deer?

I killed 2 doe antelope standing next to each other at just under 600 yards with the 6X36 with LRD without a problem with 1shot each. Not that difficult. Not exactly big targets either.

There are several factors in the field that contribute to accuracy--a good rest, maybe some nervousness, cold weather...that factor into "precise aiming" long before the size of an LRD dot. It's a hunting scope, not a target scope.

Said another way, there's a lot of other [bleep] I'm worried about before I worry about the size of a dot while hunting.

I have a Leupold FX3, 6x42 with the LRD reticle on my Merkel K1 in 7mm RMag. 6.5# scoped with a round in the pipe.

I absolutely love that combo. I've matched a load to the LRD reticle perfectly - 150gr. E-Tip at 3,000 fps puts me +/- 1" out to 500 yards with the dots.

I have no problem using the dots. Yes, they are close together but it hasn't proven to be an issue. This is what I call a pure hunting scope. It's not for target shooting per se. It's a hunting scope.

I have no problems ringing 8" gongs out to 500 yards with the dots. An 8" gong is basically minute of big game and it works great.

I have the same dots on my VX-2 3-9X40.



I don't usually use the whole dot as an aiming point, but either the top or bottom edge where it intersects with the vertical crosshairs. Using a 100 yard zero I find the top of the dot is pretty darn close to perfect at 200 and 300 with 150's, I use the bottom edge of the dot for 165's.

Yep, Dober was preaching them years ago and they do work.



The other day I was shooting at 6" round target dots at 420 yards.

The LR dot will about cover up the target dot and it is easy to shoot nice groups. Also works great on deer but I imagine it would suck for certain target shooting.


The B&C reticle is finer and depending on the rifle it has the potential to be more precise.

Holding on second dot, with a 200 yard crosshair zero?

That reticle gets me to 600 yards. With the 7mm Mashburn and 162 Amax 2.5" high at 100 yards and zero is 300 yards. The first dot is 400 yards, the second is 500,and I can hold the bottom taper precisely enough on a 6" orange dot at 600 to stay at or under MOA,and where I seem to impact just above the dot an inch or two,likely because it's getting a bit harder to control vertical.

But I'd never miss the chest of a deer at that distance with it.

Like Sam I use the 6" orange dot at 400-600. The reticle works fine and I barely notice it shooting at an animal. There may be better stuff for varmints and targets but that's not why I bought it.

Thanks guys, I have a great amount of respect for the people that have responded. I guess I need to give it another try. It does appear to me to be the easiest reticle for use at long distance. I want to thank all who responded. powdr

powdr It's not a target/varmint reticle; but it works for big game.

Thanks BOB, I have a great deal of respect for you, Sam and the other guys experience and hunting knowledge. powdr

All that being said unless you have places to hunt to shoot
that far the LRD is not great in THICK woods at DARK THIRTY.
I am sending my FX-3 6x42 LRD back to Leupold plus 70 bucks to have a German #4 installed.