1/2 or 3/8 Leupold reticle dot

[jaja]

I'm finally ready to buy a Leupold FX-3 25x by 40mm rifle scope. I just have one final question. Which reticle dot is best for smallbore rifle silhouette: 1/2 or 3/8? Is there any advantage for picking one size dot over the other? Any help you silhouette guys or gals can give me would be deeply appreciated.

[ppkny]

Are you ordering from Chicken George on this site. He can get you the best price plus the reticle you want without going through the custom shop yourself.
ppkny

[DavidABQ]

I have the 1/2 minute dot on my FX-3 12x40 and I love how easy it is to see.

I never have tried the 3/8 minute dot but I suspect it would be harder for me to see.

The nice thing about Leupold is if you do not like it they can change it for something near $70.

[cedestech]

Dot size is like everything else. It's personal preference. I have been shooting 1/2 but plan on going down. I'm thinking SB with white animals I'd even like smaller then 3/8.

[jaja]

Where is Chicken George found on this site?

[bwilliams]

have 2 - 30x with 3/8 dot on small bore and 2 - 24x with 3/8 dot for high power. I like the smaller dot, as I feel it gives a more precise target acquisition with out blocking out target as I find the 1/2 does. Only personal preference as I think its a 50 - 50 split on preference between 1/2 and 3/8.
brett

[jaja]

Thanks for your input Brett. I didn't realize the 1\2 dot would block out too much of the target.

[yankee]

An easy way to figure out how large the dot will be is. 1 inch equals 1 minute of angle at 100 meters. So a 1/2 minute dot will cover approximately 1/2 inch of the target at 100 meters. A 3/8 minute dot will cover 3/8 inch if the target at 100 Meters. This is not exact but pretty close probably within 1/16 inch or so but an easy way to figure. For many years I used 1/2 minute dots then picked up a scope with a 3/8 min dot. My newer scopes have the 3/8 dot.

[OldRanger]

I have the 1/2 inch dot. I don't think it covers up too much of the target at all. At 40 meters its less that a 1/4 inch dot (actually I think it is closer to 1/5 of an inch at 40). I looked at the 3/8 but thought it was sometimes too hard to pick it up. Again, probably just personal preference.

[jaja]

Thanks for all the info. I guess I'll get the 1/2 inch dot since I'm not getting any younger and apparently it doesn't cover up very much of the targets. Also, I suspect it might be easier to see the 1\2 inch dot when the sun is shining in my face.

[weemurr]

I have both 3/8 & 1/2 on silhouette rifles and don't think either is markedly better than the other, bigger is better in poor light conditions though.

[Jerry G]

I have a hard time telling the difference unless they are side by side. Either dot is great. Just don't go smaller.

[Jason]

Keep in mind that the 1/2 or 3/8 minute dots are measured as the diameter of the dots and the actual perceived size, or the area on the target covered by the dots, will vary as the square of the diameter. That means that a 1/2 minute dot will actually appear to be approximately 1.78 times the size of a 3/8 minute dot. That's a pretty big difference when comparing them side by side. I have two Weaver T24 24x scopes with 1/2 minute dots and one Sightron SII Big Sky 6-24X scope that I always shoot on 24X that has a 3/8 minute dot. I very much prefer the size of the 3/8 minute dot. The 1/2 minute dot actually covers a bit too much of the turkeys and rams for my taste, especially when I'm trying to shoot at a very specific paint fleck or something on a target. If the wind is really bad and I'm being blown around enough that I'm more worried about that than I am the wind's effect on the bullet in flight, I'm guessing that the slightly larger 1/2 minute dot might be slightly better for timing the shot release.

I do know of multiple people who use full 1 minute dots, though, including master class shooters. I tried a rifle with a scope like that once, just to see what it was like. I could probably make it work in a situation with no wind to allow for, but that covered way too much of the animal for anything other than just putting the dot in the middle of the animal and pull the trigger when you see a little white all the way around it. I think I'll stick with my 3/8 and 1/2 minute dots.

[tenx9]

As always it depends what you like. Magnification plays a big role. Some people like high magnification with a big dot. As soon as the dot gets near the target they squeeze. Others prefer a small dot that floats inside the animal. I use a 1/2min dot set about 24X or so on my Premier Leupold. Works ok for me.

[kevinbear]

1/2 is probably the most popular in silhouette, lots of folks like a full one minute dot, I've had all three and prefer the 1/2 now.