I have a new SWAROVSKI 6-18X50 HABICHT TDS and was looking at the ballistic calculator for a 300 wsm. For each power it changes range in yards on the TDS drop. How can you keep up with this in the field.

Example 6 power

100 yard zero
Line 2 402 yards
line 3 661 yards
Line 4 574 yards
line 5 1008 yards

8 Power
100 yard zero
Line 2 344 yards
Line 3 561 yards
Line 4 722 yards
Line 5 869 yards

10 Power
100 yard zero
Line 2 305 yards
line 3 493 yards
Line 4 637 yards
Line 5 770 yards

12 Power
100 yard zero
Line 2 280 yards
Line 3 445 yards
Line 4 574 yards
Line 5 696 yards

14 Power
100 yard zero
Line 2 260 yards
Line 3 409 yards
Line 4 527 yards
Line 5 638 yards

16 Power
Line 2 245 yards
Line 3 380 yards
Line 4 488 yards
Line 5 592 yards

18 Power
100 yard zero
Line 2 232 yards
Line 3 356 yards
Line 4 457 yards
Line 5 553 yards

Most of hunting in GA and Ky ranges from 100 yards to 600, I printed data for each power. If you have any experience or knowledge with this scope , please help me determine the best way to use this in the field.

Thanks for your valuable time,
Donnie

This is all you need to know ^^^

For BDC reticles I only calculate for the highest Magnification. If the shot is past 250 yards, crank it to 18x and use the TDS. (Alot of scope for hunting GA & KY).

I would set my scope at 200 yard zero Dixie. What's up Man, hows business?

You can't. The TDS is made to be used at highest power. The single reason why turning an elevation turret gains favor.

I had that exact scope with the TDS. I liked the glass. I was out in NM on a pronghorn hunt. I was trying to steady my rifle at 18 power, using Harris bipod. I made the shot, but it wasn't easy. If I had lowered the power, the TDS wouldn't be right. When I got home, I traded that one for a Z5 3.5-18x44 BT and fitted the BT with an Outdoorsmans turret, set up for my load.

If one has a Euro with 1st focal plane TDS, then the scope power can be changed without losing accuracy, but the reticle gets thinner as the power goes up. With the more common American type, 2nd focal plane reticles, the TDS is only accurate at full power. To me, that's a compelling reason to go with turrets. That's what I did. You can adjust the power and the turret independent of each other, not so with 2nd plane ranging reticles.

DF


Edited to add, keeping up with a different set of values for each power setting is a night mare and something I didn't even consider. To me, that's not a viable option. If I wanted to keep up with a drop chart, I'd go with an MOA turret and make a drop chart for each load. In my case, I don't like keeping up with drop charts. So, I found the best load for my rifle, set up a yardage turret for that load and took it hunting. If one expects to shoot a bunch of different loads out of one gun, then the MOA, drop chart option is the best way to go.

I just downloaded Strelock ballistic calculator, and it looks like the pay for version (strelock +) will calculate at any magnification. It lists the TDS reticle, and it's pretty slick. BTW, I have the same scope.

Be aware that speed is in m/s and bullet weight is in grams, so you have turn off metric units. A picture of the reticle pops up with the ranges for each horizontal line.

I think I may spring for the paid version.

May be the way to go is your going with that type scope.

To me, it is too cumbersome to have all those values, so mine went down the road. Great glass and fine scope, otherwise.

The Z5 costs a bit more, but the glass is about the same, IMHO. I'm a turret convert. And, as they say, there's nothing more morbid than a convert...

DF

THis is the system i also apply with all my multi-stadia reticled scopes. Zero the center x-hair for a conservative point blank range, and calculate stadia zeros from there. I then test it, measure and make changes to the ballistics program, then recalculate for even 50-yd. intervals only [windage too], then put it all in a Butler Creek scope cap cover. There's certainly no perfect system but this has worked well for me for many years now.

When i used tds scopes i would zero the rifle at whatever range (usually around 225-250 yards) gave me nice round numbers that were easy to remember for each stadia line. As always, shoot to confirm

I love my Swaro TDS redical but that change in impact at diferrent magnifications is why I bought my March scope (no change between magnification changes)

Thanks Stoney and everyone else for your support.

I recalculated at 18 power with 200 zero and its perfect to remember.

18 Power
200 yard zero
Line 2 297
Lin3 3 408
Line 4 501
Line 5 592

Looking at this makes it real close and easy to remember 200,300,400,500,and 600.

That is the way Swarovski recommends it to be sighted in- 200 yard zero for most cartridges.

I love the TDS system - im trying to become America's poorest sportsman as I think I have over 20 of them now. I only have 1 of the 6-18's though, as I believe 12x is plenty of top end magnification to shoot out to 800 yards with the 2-12 Z6 or 4-12 AV. Sounds like you got it figured out - you got good advice above (other than the guys who claimed turrets were better). And Dirtfarmer probably knows it, but his statement above about first focal plane reticles needs to be corrected in that the crosshairs get THICKER, not thinner when you crank the power up on a FFP reticle. I have tried FFP like the 3-12 PV and the Schmidt and Bender 4-16 TDS and for me, they cover way too much of the target when cranked up which is why I prefer the 2-12x50 Z6 and 4-12x50 and 3-10x42 AV's.

Thanks for the tip about the ballistics app Sakoluvr- going to try that out.

Do you work 9-5pm? What is your address?

I spelled the app wrong above. It is Strelok+ Just downloaded it to my phone. There is a slide bar that you use after entering the magnification range that changes the horizontal hair values.

At 3500 fps (.257WM) and a 200 yard zero the first horizontal stadia line changes from 500 yards at 6x, 400 @ 10x, 350 @ 14x and 325 @ 18x, just to give an idea for the values. Of course you can adjust to 1X increments too.

I really like this app! The reticle image can be enlarged on the screen too, for us reading glasses guys.

FFP does neither. FFP reticles cover up the same amount of target at all powers. If the reticle covers up 1/2in at 100 yards at 6x it will cover 1/2in at 18x.

You are correct - I should have said that a FFP covers up more of the target than the same reticle at the same power in a SFP scope. The point being, when they are cranked up to full power for long range shooting, the reticle gets HUGE in the scope - especially if you are used to SFP. When I tried the Schmidt and Bender, it covered up an entire 1" bull and then some at 100 yards when cranked up to 16.

You're right, I did know that, just wrote it wrong.

DF