Duplex reticle rifle scope set at 4 power: at a 100 yds a broadside deers body should be inside the bold line of reticle? This fairly common on normal scope like tasco or Simmons?

you need to know the subtens of the optic , download the manual

most 2nd focal plane rifle scopes are calibrated at the highest power

just to clarify, you mean like this right ?

Tasco's 30-30 reticle was at 9 power in a 3-9x40 optic at 100 yards = to 30moa or 30 inches in both the vertical and horizontal cross hair between the thicker portions

this is where first focal plane scopes give a consistent measure through the range of magnification

also even second focal plane optics with dots or hashes let you much more accurately measure MOA then compare it to something you know like it is about 30 inches between a deer's front and hind legs
or that half of that 30 inches at 100 yards is 15 inches so if the deer's chest fits vertically in that cross hair to thick portion it is either greater than 15 inches or closer than 100 yards if it was say 200 yards it would be about half of that 15 moa but still a very shootable deer with a 308 or similar rifle.

that 30moa appears to be covering about 10-12 inches if that is infact a 30moa space in the optic so that deer would be around 33 yards

Yes.

For example

I think u ate suppose to use the vertical marks. Measure the chest vertically. Dont have to have them perfectly broadside then.

the angle of the deer changes the appeared length

you can't typically see the hooves because unless it is in a mowed yard most places you hunt there should be some contour to the ground.

so yes use the chest

but the problem is unless it is a 4X max power scope that 30/30 reticle is typically calibrated for 9x

because max is max and all the way to minimum is minimum but when you turn the zoom are you at 3.75 , 4 or 4.25

also this is just a go no go

you should make some targets and put them at that distance just some cardboard squares maybe you make them black put them up on target backers make them 15x15 inches now put them out at 100 and 200 yards and zoom in to full power or on some the calibration is marked with a mark on the dial.

make sure your scope is what you think it is

then if you can have someone else put the targets out and you shoot them on a go no go based on what you see in the scope.

DEpends on how big the deer is.

He's wanting to know how big the deer will look. e


AT THAT RANGE

Just put the point the cross hairs intersect right behind the front shoulders and pull the trigger. DON'T wobble of course.
Not rocket science OR require any algebraic equations.

Well, you heard it...
No need for further explanation...

deer can have big chests but they don't get massively larger vertically you are looking around 16-18 inches maybe a huge buck is 20-21

we run similar to this on Men , a mans shoulders are about 17 inches , you get a beast of a guy and he is 22 across the shoulders maybe a really small guy is 15

but that average is still right around 17

so yes you can be a little off measuring things with rifle scope subtense but your bullet isn't falling that fast in any reasonable shoot distance if you hit 3 inches low you are still in the kill zone for a double lung shot

if you are going to use it you figure your no go , like say you practice shooting to 250 yards , you know what that is in your scope then it is bigger than that or it is not

that said with say a 308 and a 200 yard zero anything inside 200 is just a aim and pull the trigger so there really isn't much need.
it is when you are like is that past my limit
so the 30/30 reticle has somewhat limited ability in that but it is there.


you probably want to step up to something with actual marks , dots , hashes and known subtenses that are in smaller increments and then learn how to use it if you are going to work this system.

I have trouble judging distance, and I missed a deer with my marlin 1894 in 45 colt(thought 100, closer to 140). So if I can get a ballpark distance using my scope it will help me.

Get you a BDC reticle. OR a gun that shoots flatter. OR a range finder. Lots of things that will help with that. If you are worried about bullet drop aim 1 inch below the end of his nose. Either way it's a good hit. He's laying right there or he is snorting at you as he runs off.

45lc at 100+ it starts dropping fast
that is a fat chunk of lead going a bit slow and getting slower rather fast pushing all that air.

you should shoot that every 25 yards and see where you stop being able to hit a 6 inch target

depending on the round you might be falling sub sonic around 70-80 yards

Sig makes some nice and affordable range finders and what i bought for my kids. But you dont always have time to range every deer.

The distance between points in your recital will change depending on what power setting you have your scope on on most cheaper scopes.. if your scope a fixed power?

No, it’s a variable tasco 3-9x50, but I may switch to a Simmons fixed 4 power.

The deer I missed was in a pipeline cut over. I snuck up to what I thought was 100 yds. 45 colt does drop fast after 100 yds. The hunt I was on is an alternative hunt using straight wall cartridges only. So I pulled out the marlin 1894.

With a variable second focal plane , all the cheap scopes are second focal plane you have to get over 300 dollars to even get to anything first focal plane usually over 400


make some 16x16 inch cardboard squares and go look at them through your optic at the highest magnification and see how they fall in your scope at 100 yards and 140 yards and can you tell the difference.


that is the trouble with shotgun and strait wall cartridge hunting , shooting 140 yards is a lot more challenging because the round falls apart , goes sub sonic and starts dropping like a stone past 100 yards

and with all the wind drift you might as well be shooting a 308win at 340 yards.

Indiana used to have cal restrictions . I understand the issue. I did a lot of shooting with the 357s we used to use. Its easy to miss judge distance im done so myself but got lucky that day and was aiming on the back of the deer head walking away. Hit low in the spine at the shoulder blades. It dropped i thought i hit where I was aiming then took what I thought was a high shoulder shot on another doe. She kicked and ran 70 yard and piled up . Hit low again but took out the bottom of her heart. Would have missed had i been aming for heart shots that day. Lucked out twice in a roll.

A fixed power works or jus be dure you are on the same power setting in your variable. I would use th back to brisket. Set the target up at know distance and adjust the zoom untill it hits where you like the picture and look at the powere setting. Then you will know at that specific distance and power setting thats where the cross recital falls. It will be different on different power settings on cheaper scopes.

Thanks all for the info!