The Leica ER/ERi riflescopes have been out for awhile, but doesn't seem to be much discussion. Aside from how good the glass is, and how poor the reticles are.

For those that have the ER or ERi with the ballistic turret, your thoughts and observations please.

How does the clicks feel? How reliable and accurate is the tracking? How much adjustment is available on the elevation turret? 60 MOA on the 2.5-10 and 30 MOA on the 3.5-14 is what I've heard. True??

Appreciate the feedback.

I have no complaints with my ER Leica 2.5-10 (that isn't my own fault). I bought it when they first came out and it tracks like it is supposed to when I switched rifles under it. It adjusts as easy and direct as my Swaro or Zeiss models. Has great eye relief. I haven't cranked the turrets like you are asking about though. I bought the Ballistic Reticle and that is the only complaint which is my fault. I wish I had gotten something plainer or Mil Dot had they had it. The only scope I really crank the turrets on very much is my SWFA SS 5-20 Mil Quad.

I also own a 2.5-10 and have had no issues with it. Like above, I've not cranked the turrets much but as limited as my experience is, I am very pleased with the performance so far. I'm actually considering purchasing another one.

Have three Leica scopes. Two 2.5-10 and one 3.5-14. One 2.5 and the 3.5 are the #1 reticle and the other is a #4and I really like them. All of my scopes have the elevation turret. The elevation adjustment is different from my other scopes. You sight it in at 100 (or your desired range), then you reset the turret for your "zero". At that point you will have 19 MOA up and 2 MOA down on the turret before it hits the stops. For the windage, it is 11.5 and 11.5 MOA. That's the best I can describe it here. If you want, PM me your number FOS and I'll give you a call to explain. I believe the instructions are on the Leica Sports Optics website. As far as glass goes, it's right up there with my Swarovski, Kahles and Zeiss scopes. For the price you can get them at (EuroOptics and CameralandNY), they are tough to beat!

I really like mine and it sits on my most used rifle. Glass is awesome, plex is a little thin but it hasn't been an issue for me. I have the 3.5-14. Ghostrider described it exactly. Only issue I have with it is how easy it is to turn the turret. I check mine constantly but it does move on its own time to time.

Lee

Gentlemen, appreciate your input.

Ghostrider272,

19 MOA left isn't much!

Have you cranked on your turrets? How does the clicks feel? How reliable and accurate is the tracking?

Clicks are reliable and firm just easy to turn.

I zero mine at 100 yds on the -2 setting and then that gives 21 MOA up. It gets me to 850yds with my 7mm 168 gr Berger at 2925fps from my 280AI. I've cranked up and down from 100-600 without any issues and it tracks right on. Farthest hit on big game with it was 568 yds which is the farthest I've shot at an animal with it.

Lee

Has anyone actually "lost" the reticle in low light? Especially on the standard plex and #4.

That's a good question DD, and from what I've gathered, the center lines are indeed thin, but remain visible through the end of legal light (and a bit after). I just wonder under what conditions.... i.e., clear unobstructive view (pasture, field, clearcut) or if it pertains to still being able to see the fine portion of the reticle in the thick timber, brush, etc.

FOsteology
Thanks for starting this. After the knock down drag out I started on the Huskemaw I was pausing before I ask about this. I'm fairly certain the 2.5-10x42 with the mil-dot is what I put on my new Montana if it turns out to be a shooter.
Thx
Steve Eggers

Steve,

I may very well be wrong, however, I don't believe Leica offers a mil-dot reticle for the ER and ERi riflescopes. They do however have a Ballistic Plex and IBS reticle.

Nope, to my knowledge they're don't offer a mil dot reticle. I have the ER 2.5-10x42 with the standard, non-illuminated reticle. The outter (thicker) posts are only slightly thicker than the plex reticle, so if I'm looking for night time I'd be in the 4a ERi model.

I did a little mod on my TT on my Leica and it's as firm, or firmer, than my CDS scopes.

Really wishing I could get one in the standard plex or 4 to try out.

MShuntfish-Looking forward to hearing how you made that mod for the TTs.

Euro Optics has a demo ER 2.5-10x42mm 4a for $859

http://www.eurooptic.com/leica-er-25-10x42-4a-with-bdc-rifle-scope.aspx

Doug at CameraLandNY has a Demo ER 2.5-10x42mm Plex for $999.99 and you can probably applying the 10% "Moving Discount" he's currently promoting, making it $899.99

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/site.pl?page=leica50000

FOsteology
I have one ballistic plex already, I guess I could use another if I have to , just like a mil-dot better

Good prices for what you get! Too bad I'm set for scopes right now...

I'd also love to hear how you modified your TT to make it more firm. That's all this scope lacks in my opinion.

In all honestly, I wasn't even really in the market for a new scope but I'd always wanted to get back into the "euro scope" market and along came these Leica's with a solid 4 inches of ER, second focal plane reticle, AquaDura lense coatings and not terribly heavy given the 30mm tube design. Why they priced them so cheap is beyond me as Leica has never been bashful about pricing their products and rightfully so. Maybe because they were " new" to the market or something, but these scopes appear to be typical Leica quality feeling solid and as you would expect, the optics are stunning ! ! !

If I remember correctly they started out a lot more expensive and the price came down when they didn't sell. I bought one and sent it right back based on the reticle, which was different than advertised.

I can see what you mean as I too would like to see a slightly heavier reticle. I spoke with JB about this and for some reason the new "norm" seems to be these wide duplex type reticles. One thing I did notice though and BobinNH noticed the same thing apparently with his S&B Summit, is that because of their superb optics, the reticle lasts longer than you might otherwise think. John stated on another forum about the reticle and low light and I seem to recall him saying the reticle holds up fine. For this scope, my priorities were 4 inches of ER, hydro type coatings, good reticle, durability and superb optics.

How does the reticle hold up in last light in dark timber or heavy brush country?

Anyone utilizing the BDC turret? Looking for more (specific) feedback on spinning the heck out of the elevation turret...tracking, retaining zero, POA/POI, etc. before breaking out my wallet.

Debating between this and a S&B Klassic with an illuminated L3 or L4 and elevation turret. Hard to find one with a turret, and a heck of a lot more $$$.

just so I don't have to retype anything.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1421043/m/4211043441?r=4211043441#4211043441

Enjoy the read.

That was a great write up sir and pretty much sums up the Leica w the #1 for low light use. You could hunt that reticle at night. If you're a guy that "pushes" legal hunting regs, the Leica ERi 4a would be killer. Your first reaction was the same as mine regarding the glass.......WOW ! ! ! You could use the darn thing digi-scoping if you don't mind seeing reticles in your pictures.

I don't own the Leica but would not mind trying one myself. RD is right about what I observed with the Summit Yes I would like a bit bolder reticle in that scope as well but I have aimed the thing at a lot of deer up to past shooting light and it was only then (dark) that it became an issue at all.

I was talking to JWP475 today about exactly this issue. He has the Summit as well,and said he has had no issues losing the reticle either.

If the optics on the Leica are as good as the Summit(I bet they are given Leica's optics in general) then I see here some reticles I would not hesitate to use.

Those scopes Fost listed impress me as being a steal.

Anybody compared the plex and the 4 reticle? Thoughts?

Matter of fact, I asked Doug @ CameraLand and he said the outter posts are about the same thickness with both reticles.

Does anyone have actual subtension measurements for the plex and 4 reticules?

I'll do a little pictorial in a new thread. But I'm warning you...it's like so intuitively simple that you'll not be impressed, I'm afraid.

Look forward to seeing it. But you could just post it here so we know where to look.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/9504461#Post9504461

Here it is...

Reticle sub tensions for the 2.5-10 plex and 4A. All dimensions in inches, low power first, high power second

Between posts: Plex 96.5/24.1 4A 193.7/48.3
Crosshair subtension: Plex 0.55/0.14 4A 0.8/0.2
Post subtension: Plex 5.5/1.4 4A 8.3/2.1

Hope this helps. I have a file for each if anyone is interested. Just PM me your email address.

Kicking this old thread back TTT as I ended up buying an ERi 2.5-10x42mm illum. 4a

The glass is excellent and the illuminated dot is good. Haven't had an opportunity yet to mount it up to a rifle. Wondering how robust the scope is. Sick and tired of scopes not holding zero, not tracking correctly (making zeroing an exercise of frustration).

Just curious as to those that have an ER/ERi how reliable it has been. Good set it and forget scope? Any issues with holding zero? POA/POI issues?

I had an 3-12x50 ERi scope for several months and regret selling it. I had no issues with zero or tracking. The illumination system is geared towards low light and is one of the very best out there. I currently have en ER5 2-10x50 and like it a lot, though the glass -- while still superb -- has different properties than the ERi series in terms of contrast and color rendition.

I can assure you there is NO need to worry about losing the reticle in this one. Leica was listening, and in this non-illuminated ER5 series, the center wires at 10x measure 0.5" at 100 yards. It is quite bold, and the spacing between the heavy portions is only 36"

I used the 3-12x50 ERi w/ 4-a reticle to make my longest moonlight shot on a hog (190 yards).




The superb contrast of the ERi also allowed me to take this bobcat, a tough shot in moonlight as the cats always seem to blend in with the terrain.

I recently bought a 2-10x42 ERi with ballistic reticle. I've only had opportunity to mount and sight it in at 100.
The reticle is fine but is set up in mills as are the adjustments and I prefer this over MOA. The illuminated dot is superb.
Mounted on a svelt custom 7-08 which it compliments nicely.

My experience with the 2.5-10X42 ERi was not as stellar. I only tried one out for a few days optically. I have no idea on durability or tracking. I sent mine back because on the lowest power setting the resolution was not good at all except at the very center. I use variables 90% of the time on the lowest setting so this was not acceptable for me.

The scope had the last 1/3rd of the lens so blurry on 2.5 power that I couldn't even read a car license plate at 40 yards through that edge. The center was clear but having a full 1/3 of the lens looking basically like smudged glass was unacceptable to me.

I had the 4a reticle with a turret. The illumination was superb in that it was excellently low in low light. I did think the dot was too large for any long range shooting.

The glass was excellent on all except the lowest power setting and one of the best low light scopes I've had in it's ability to see details in low light.

I jumped on the sale at Europtic and picked up the 2.5-10x42 with IBS reticle. The scope hasn’t arrived yet. I’m having a heck of a time finding subtensions for the IBS reticle. I emailed Leica but haven’t heard back.

Slim, that the ER or ERi? If the ER, I might be able to help.

ER, model 50025 I think.