Ranging With TDS Reticle
In the Field - Putting it all together
Range, Wind and Angle with the TDS Reticle
The TDS Tri-Factor Reticle may also be used to determine the range to an
animal at various distances. To do this you will need to first know
the depth of the Chest area of the game you are expecting to look at. Please
refer to the Animal Silhouette Depth Chart.
Procedure:
The following example uses a 30-06 rifle, firing a 165 grain bullet
at 2800 fps, to take a Bull Elk with a 24" Chest, standing at 300 yards
in a
10 m.p.h. right to left cross wind at a 45° angle uphill incline. Please
refer to the graphic diagrams, Figures # 1,2 and 3 and follow the following
four steps.
 Fig. 1 |
|
 Fig. 3 |
Step A. Mount your rifle and locate your animal in the scope.
Step B. Measure the yardage to the target by sliding the crosshair
to the top of its back. Holding that position, drop your eyes down to the
bottom
of his chest and interpret the grid line (Fig. 2 ) aligned with the bottom
of his chest. Divide his chest depth in inches by the number of grid lines
required
to cover it. (Assume his chest to be 24" deep and it requires 8 grid
lines to cover. (Fig. 2) 24 divided by 8 = 3. Multiply this number by 100...
The animal
is 300 yards from your position.
Step C. Slide the reticle up the animal's body, centering the 300
yard range marker bar precisely on the animal's intended bullet point of impact.
(BIP) Maintaining elevation, slide the range marker bar into the wind (to
the right), until the tip (wind correction point) of the 300 yard marker bar
is
on the BIP. (Fig. 2)
Step D. To correct for the 45 degree angle uphill shot, (because loss
of gravity in angled shots causes the bullet to hit high) lower the reticle
to the 200
yard range marker bar position and FIRE. With a minimum amount of practice,
this whole procedure can be accomplished in about 3 to 5 seconds...
Please Consider:
The TDS TRI-FACTOR Reticle System is a good field expedient method
of approximating range to your game. Range estimation is just that however
and should be used along with good judgement. Know the game you are hunting,
know your own shooting ability, know the limitations of your equipment
and use good judgement whenever evaluating any shot at extended distances.