What's your opinion of the Vortex Crossfire 3-9X 40 Scope with Dead-Hold BDC reticle? Is the published data for elevation and windage for an "Average" big game rifle anywhere close to accurate??

Thanx

I would shy away from the Vortex Chinese made crap personally.

Do not expect the reticles to match up in a nice and neat manner. Play with Vortex's LRBC and you'll get an idea.

The BDC reticle referenced in the manual is a guesstimate at best and only on maximum zoom (9x in your case). The range values will change with each change in magnification (ex: yardage at 8X will be different than 9X). Take the yardage estimated with a cup of salt.

You can use a ballistic calculator and get guesstimates based upon your ammo's specs. Create a cheatsheet and tape it to your rifle. More accurate than relying upon Vortex's generalities but still not 100% accurate. Typically this is good enough for "minute of deer".

Better ways exist but this is a starting point.

Hard pass

Could be an upgrade. What are you using now?

Mines fine on a bolt action .223 with leupold rings, past that, I’d go American made

Nikon prostaff is much better.

I have 2 of them and they are fine for daytime but lowlight, which is hog light, they really are bad.

First one had manufacture problems. Sent it in and got a new replacement. Works great so far on a .458 socom.

Here's a picture of a target that I shot this weekend with the cheap piece of junk.
It took four shots to zero my Mossberg Patriot 30-06 at 100 yards.
Adjustments (clicks) worked fine and accurately.
Zeroed shot is on center/right target, 1" high at 12 O'clock.

Fancy target stand. I just grab a trash pallet from work for mine. Wouldn't you prefer a group of shots to determine zero? What if you accidentally shot that last one low by human error?

Gary, I have a bag rest setup that allows an absolute solid hold for every shot. That's why I was able to tell that the Vortex "clicks" were exactly 1/4 minute at 100 yards.
The "zeroed" shot was as solid as I have ever squeezed off a round and I had no wind on Saturday morning.
The fancy target stand is made from one 8' 2 X 4 , one 8' 1 X 4 and 12 deck screws (see picture).

Then why did it take 4 shots?

Because I like to "sneak up" on zero. And, I wanted the barrel to be fouled before next hunting season....

Makes no sense.

It makes perfect sense to me.

Still trying to keep your post count up, I see..

explain the logic please

Shot 1-To get on paper from factory boresight
Shot 2- To verify that cheap scope not damaged by recoil
Shot 3- First click adjustment to verify 1/4 minute accuracy
Shot 4- Final clicks and zeroed.

What's not to understand??

I understand what you've done and suppose nothing is wrong with it. I never said I didn't understand, our logic just differs. When I sight in:
shot 1- to verify zero is off and get windage and elevation measurements to zero
shots 2-6 to get group and determine if further adjustment is needed, if cheap/pos scope is discovered, discard & purchase quality scope (this situation has only occurred once, buy once cry once)
either way, cat has been skinned

Will my post count go down, if I stop posting?

Gary: Please understand this...
If you read thru this entire thread you will see that I asked for an OPINION on the Vortex scope that was part of a rifle/scope package I purchased.
Immediately, I got a response that the scope was cheap Chinese junk and I might as well discard it.
I got another response the "Nikon Pro Staff is better" Think that answers my request??
The rifle was claimed to be factory boresighted, so I thought it necessary to see if, in fact, I could get on paper at 100 yards. Result is shot#1 Top right target at 7 O'clock.
In trepidation that scope could not handle recoil from 30-06 (Chinese Junk?) Shot #2 Left center target at 7 O'clock. Joy! Scope is still together and repeats shot placement.
Just for grins, lets see if the clicks work O.K. (Clicks "spongy" from another thread) clicked "up" to get 1" above center.See sho#3 center right target at 10 O'clock Clicks seem to work O.K., Miracle??
Clicked right to get centered,,1" high at 12 O'clock, dead center, ZEROED.
You bet your sweet [censored] that nothing is wrong with my procedure.

Have a good day.

No fireman, you seem to do a fine job of offering your opinion on any subject. Sometimes it just takes you longer to get around to making a comment. Some of the comments are "off the wall" IMO.

You didn't seem to mind help with your AR trigger thread. Isn't the reason people ask questions is to get answers? I am never off the wall.

You won't last long around here, with the giant chip on your shoulder.

I plan on being around for a while. I have been warned about people who consider this website their personal playground. Take a good look in the mirror, CHIP!