Riflescope reticles: Zero Compromise, Element, Primary Arms and other brands
Second part of the reticle guide, dedicated to the other riflescope brands available at Planet Shooters: Zero Compromise, Element Optics, Primary Arms, Sig Sauer, Sightron, IOR, Delta Optical, Sightmark and further Vector, Hawke, Konus and Vortex models.
If you are not familiar with first and second focal plane, MOA, MRAD and ranging, start from the riflescope reticle guide: there you will find the basics, the formulas and the Leupold, Vortex, Meopta, Trijicon, Hawke, Vector, Swampfox and Konus spec sheets.
Part 3: the reticles of GPO, Optisan, Falcon, Dörr, Discovery, Mueller and Gamo are in the third part of the guide.
High-end Austrian-American optics: the reticles are all in the first focal plane, except the 4A-iD and the SFP version of the MHR.
Zero Compromise MPCT1X, MPCT2X and MPCT3X
Official image: Zero Compromise Optic (zcompoptic.com)
Unit MRAD
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Illumination red/green with automatic shut-off
Turrets 0.1 mrad per click
Family of precision reticles for sport and tactical shooting. All have hash marks every 0.2 mil on the main lines and a clear upper half to observe the impact.
MPCT1X: the cleanest, with floating dots at every whole mil and a vertical line that rises only 3 mil.
MPCT2X: adds a minimal tree with 0.2 mil references.
MPCT3X: full tree with a grid of 0.2 mil dots and circles at every whole mil, sized for the .308 175 SMK at 2650 fps with a 20 mph full-value wind.
How to use it (ZCO spec sheets): range (m) = size (cm) × 10 ÷ mil. Dial on the turrets the value read on the reticle, or dial for an intermediate distance and hold over or under for the others.
Official image: Zero Compromise Optic (zcompoptic.com)
Unit MRAD
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Turrets 0.1 mrad per click
Grid reticles designed by Horus. They have a uniform 0.2 mil grid, 0.1 mil markers and "Time-of-Flight" wind dots, which are read directly as wind speed.
Tremor3: adds 0.5 to 1 mil rapid ranging bars and leads for moving targets up to 10 mph, valid between about 200 and 500 yd.
Tremor5: without rapid ranging bars and leads, with chevrons for measuring height and width. It is designed for competitions with multiple targets at different distances.
Official image: Zero Compromise Optic (zcompoptic.com)
Unit MOA
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Turrets ¼ MOA (ZC527, ZC420) · ⅛ MOA (ZC840)
The crosshair is graduated every 1 MOA: even hash marks extend 1 MOA per side, odd ones 0.5 MOA. Numbers are every 6 MOA and the vertical line goes down to 42 MOA. The center dot measures 0.124 MOA (0.103 on the ZC840). It is designed for F-Class, ELR and hunting in open country. On the ZC420 Hunter the MOAH version has thick posts and hash marks every 1 MOA.
Zero Compromise ZC210 2-10x30: DMR, SAN-1, HTR and Predator
Official image: Zero Compromise Optic (zcompoptic.com)
Unit MRAD
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Illumination red or green
Turrets 0.1 mrad per click
DMR: developed with consultants from the Austrian special forces. Fine dot in a box, lower grid for holdovers and leads for 1, 2 and 3 m/s (7.62 NATO).
SAN-1: designed with Keith Sanderson. 0.2 mil illuminated dot, main 2 mil references and chevrons at 2.5 mil for moving targets (chevron tip = 5 mph, 4 mil = 7.5 mph with 5.56 77 gr and 6.5 140 gr).
HTR: hunting/tactical reticle with a large aiming circle for use at 2x, which measures 18" at 200 yd and allows rapid range estimation.
Predator: BDC in 100 m steps out to 600 m for 5.56/7.62, optimized for 30 cm targets out to 500 m. Leads at 6.4, 9.65 and 12.9 km/h.
Official image: Zero Compromise Optic (zcompoptic.com)
Unit M1H in MRAD · 4A-iD and MHR in cm/100 m
Focal plane 4A-iD: SFP, values at 10x · MHR: FFP and SFP versions
Illumination red/green (4A-iD red only)
M1H (ZC420 Hunter): thick posts that bring the eye to the center dot and hash marks at 1, 0.5 and 0.2 mil.
4A-iD: classic four-post design with a 1.5 cm/100 m dot. At 10x and 100 m the gap between the horizontal posts is about 70 cm, the length of a roe deer.
MHR (ZC Hunter 1.7-12x50), developed with instructor Michael Gast. It has a mil scale from 0 to 3 below the center and an "RZR" reference above the center: by zeroing it at 100 m, the center becomes the recommended zero distance. It also has side leads for 7 mm calibers at a walk, trot and run. A broadside roe deer that fills the space between the first two leads is at 100 m.
Official image: Element Optics (element-optics.com)
Unit MOA or MRAD
Focal plane FFP on Helix FFP, Titan, Nexus and Theos · APR-1C SFP on Helix HDLR (values at 16x)
Turrets ¼ MOA or 0.1 mrad
The APR-1C has a fine scale, one division per click, for fast measuring and zeroing. The vertical axis is numbered for quick holdovers in PRS/NRL matches and the tapered bars guide the eye to the center. The APR-2D adds a Christmas-tree of dots (0.2 and 0.5 mil, or 1 and 4 MOA) for holding over when there is no time to dial and for reading impacts at extreme distances.
Official image: Element Optics (element-optics.com)
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP on Helix 6-24 (values at 24x) · FFP on Titan and Nexus
It has a floating center cross and a 4 MOA open circle, with long hash marks every 2 MOA and short ones every 1 MOA, and numbered holdovers. On the SFP version Element gives the values as exact at 24x; at 12x and 6x it is used "with a simple calculation", i.e. by doubling or quadrupling the values.
Official image: Element Optics (element-optics.com)
Unit MRAD (values also in MOA on the RAPTR-1F)
Focal plane SFP – values at 8x
Illumination center dot
Turrets RAPTR-1: 0.1 mrad · RAPTR-1F: ¼ MOA
BDC hunting reticles for the Helix HD and Helix HD Compact. At 8x the drop references are at 0.7 / 1.66 / 2.82 mrad. With a 168 gr .308 at 2600 fps, zeroed at 100 m, they correspond to 200 / 300 / 400 m. The width of the hash marks corresponds to a 5 mph full-value crosswind.
How to use it: Element recommends verifying with a ballistic calculator or by shooting at 200/300/400 m. For other calibers, vary the magnification until the references match the distances: with the 6.5 Creedmoor 143 gr ELD-X they match at 10x.
Official image: Element Optics (element-optics.com)
Unit MRAD or BDC
Magnification fixed 5x
Illumination illuminated horseshoe (CR2032)
Turrets MRAD: 0.1 mrad · BDC: ¼ MOA
Fixed-magnification optic with a wide field of view. The MRAD version has a Christmas-tree and is suitable for any caliber; Element recommends a 100 m zero. The BDC version is calibrated for 5.56/.223 with references out to 600 yd and a ranging scale below the reticle.
Element Optics MPR-1D (Theos 2-10x42), Duplex (Iris 3-9x40) and HYPR-7
Official image: Element Optics (element-optics.com)
Unit MPR-1D: MRAD · Duplex: MOA
Focal plane Theos: FFP · Iris: SFP
MPR-1D (Theos 2-10x42 FFP): medium-magnification optic for fast engagements. Floating cross with 0.25 mrad divisions near the center, hash marks at 0.5 and 1 mrad and a tree with thicker crosses at every mrad. 0.1 mrad clicks.
Duplex (Iris 3-9x40): classic reticle for driven hunts, stalking and high-seat hunting, with ¼ MOA clicks.
HYPR-7 7x50: digital riflescope with programmable reticles (MIL, MOA, Mil-Dot, crosshair). The "LIVE BDC" is built on the ballistic profile and adapts to atmospheric conditions and inclination.
ACSS reticles integrate holdover, ranging and leads: for each one, the official manual is the source to keep at hand.
Primary Arms ACSS Nova Fiber Wire and Nova 5.56/.308
Official image: Primary Arms (primaryarms.com)
Unit MIL
Focal plane SFP – ranging and holdovers at 6x
Illumination Fiber Wire, 11 levels
Turrets 0.1 mil
1-6x24 LPVO for carbines. In the Nova the four mil hash marks below the center, as wide as 18" shoulders, correspond to 300 / 400 / 500 / 600 yd. The Nova 5.56/.308 has references every 50 yd from 250 yd out to 700 yd; for most 5.56 ammunition a 100 yd zero is used. Both have leads for walking, running and sprinting targets (3, 6 and 9 mph), effective between 100 and 300 yd.
Reticle drawing in the official documentation (link below).
Unit MIL
Focal plane SFP – BDC and scales at 10x
Illumination 11 levels, including 2 for night vision
Turrets ½ MOA
It has a chevron with a horseshoe for close distances and a BDC marked from 100 to 800 yd. For 5.56 M855 62 gr the manual specifies a 100 yd zero. The wind dots are every 5 mph (from 5 to 20 mph) and there are leads for targets at 3, 6 and 9 mph.
Ranging: the BDC scales are as wide as an 18" target. Range (yd) = size (inches) × 27.78 ÷ mil.
Primary Arms ACSS Griffin MIL G2 (PLxC 1-8x24 FFP)
Official image: Primary Arms (primaryarms.com)
Unit MIL
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Illumination from daylight to night vision, AutoLive
Turrets 0.1 mil
LPVO for carbines out to 800 yd. At low magnification only the illuminated dot with the outer crosshair remains; at high magnification the aiming point becomes the tip of the chevron. The BDC runs from the chevron tip to the 5th hash mark (600 yd) for 5.56, .308 and 6.5 Grendel; for 5.56 the zero is at 50 yd. The chevron is as wide as an 18" target at 300 yd.
Primary Arms ACSS Athena BPR MIL (SLx 3-18x50 FFP)
Official image: Primary Arms (primaryarms.com)
Unit MIL
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Illumination red, 6 levels
Turrets 0.1 mil
Precision reticle with the chevron as the aiming point. The hash marks are at 1 and 0.5 mil and there is a grid of dots every 0.5 mil, 15 mil down and ±6 mil wide. For ranging it has a vertical scale for a 1.78 m tall target (400–1000 yd) and a horizontal one for an 18" width.
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Turrets 0.1 mil
Deka G2 (SLx 4.5-27x56 and PLxC 4.5-36x56): 0.1 mil dot in a 0.2 mil clear area and alternating 0.1/0.2 mil hash marks with a "T" at every mil, numbered every 2 mil.
Neptune (PLxC 4.5-36x56): 0.05 mil dot and a grid of floating dots every 0.5 mil, 12 mil wide and 21 mil deep, for extreme long range.
Metric ranging: vertical scale for a 1.70 m target (from 300 m, +100 m per line) and horizontal scale for 19".
Focal plane SFP – values at maximum magnification (the 1-10x24 is also available in FFP)
Illumination 6 levels
LPVOs for carbines. They have a center dot (1 MOA on the BDC-6, 0.5 MOA on the BDC-10) inside an illuminated circle. The holdover bars below the center are at 5.04 / 8.84 / 13.45 / 17.28 / 22.61 / 28.69 MOA. Sig does not publish the corresponding distances or the reference load, so they must be matched with a ballistic calculator and verified at the range.
Reticle drawing in the official documentation (link below).
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP
Illumination OLED dot, 10 daylight levels
Reticle with a digital aiming point. Paired with a Sig BDX rangefinder (for example KILO): measure the range and aim with the illuminated dot that appears on the reticle. Ballistic solutions extend out to 800 yd.
Without a rangefinder (SmartBDC): dial positions 1–8 select the ballistic groups (1–6 for centerfire, 7 for muzzleloader, 8 for crossbow), with a dot every 100 yd out to 500 yd. Position 9 turns on fixed references at 0/5/10/15/20 MOA, position 10 only the center.
Fine crosshair with an open-center dot and hash marks every 2 MOA in all directions, for short- and long-range target shooting. Note: on the 10-50x60 FT the dimensions differ from those of the PLR models, so use the spec sheet for your own model.
Mil version for field target and precision shooting, with a hash-mark scale and an illuminated floating dot. For the dimensions, the official reticle spec sheet is authoritative; it differs from some values given on the product page.
Focal plane FFP on Crusader 5.8-40x56 and Recon 4-28x50 · SFP on Terminator 12-52x56
Illumination red center dot
Grid reticle for long range (IOR also refers to it as SHX). The MOA version has a 1 MOA grid and a ⅛ MOA dot; the mil version has a 1 and 0.5 mrad grid and a 0.1 mrad dot. On the Recon 4-28x50 the lines are numbered up to 10 mrad, with bars below the center at 2.5 / 5 / 7.5 / 10 mrad.
The 4A S (Titanium HD 1-6x24, 2.5-10x50/56, 2.5-15x50/56) is a four-post reticle with a fine center and an illuminated dot, for driven, long-range and night hunting. The MilDot of the Classic 3-9x40 is calibrated at 9x and is designed for sport shooting and airguns. Delta does not publish reticle dimensions.
LPVO for driven hunts. The D²BR has a red circle with BDC and wind references; the D²MR has an mrad tree. Delta does not publish dimensions or BDC distances: the references must be verified at the range with your own ammunition.
Sightmark publishes the data in its manuals but no separate reticle images: open the manual for the drawing.
Sightmark Latitude 10-40x60 Benchrest and F-Class
Reticle drawing in the official documentation (link below).
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP
Illumination red/green
Turrets ⅛ MOA
Long-range competition reticles. The Benchrest has hash marks every 1 MOA up to 10 MOA and a very fine crosshair. The F-Class has a 0.06 MOA dot at maximum magnification, which covers about 1.5 cm at 1000 yd.
Sightmark Core TX 1-4x24 AR-223 and Citadel 1-6x24 CR1
Reticle drawing in the official documentation (link below).
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP – holdovers at maximum magnification
Turrets ½ MOA
BDC for carbines in .223/5.56 55 gr. On the Core TX AR-223, with a 100 yd zero, the 1.34 MOA dot covers 0 to 200 yd. The tip of the vertical post is the reference for 300 yd, followed by those for 400, 500 and 600 yd, to be used at 4x. Range is estimated by comparing the shoulders of an IPSC silhouette with the horizontal hash marks. The Citadel CR1 has an illuminated BDC (11 levels) calibrated for .223 55 gr.
Reticle drawing in the official documentation (link below).
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP – references exact at maximum magnification (9x, 12x or 18x)
Turrets ¼ MOA
Hunting BDC. Group A calibers: 100 yd zero, references from 200 to 600 yd. Group B: 200 yd zero, references from 300 to 700 yd. The VHR lets you estimate range using the shoulder height of a deer. On the HBR the tip of each bar corresponds to a 10 mph crosswind and the midpoint to 5 mph, to be used into the wind.
The Vector MPR-4 and COM-25M spec sheets are in the main guide.
Vector Optics VCT-34 FFP and VEC-MBR (Continental 5-30x56 FFP)
Official image: Vector Optics (vectoroptics.com)
Unit MIL
Focal plane FFP – values correct at every magnification
Illumination 6 levels
Turrets 0.1 mil, zero stop
Reticles for PRS, including rimfire and airgun. The VCT-34 FFP has a 0.155 mil dot, hash marks every 0.2 mil and a Christmas-tree beyond 9 mil. The VEC-MBR has a 0.03 mil dot, 0.2 mil hash marks, a tree and a ranging scale at the top right.
Focal plane SFP – VCT-20 at 20x · MPX1 and MPR-V10 at 10x
Turrets 0.1 mil
VCT-20 (Continental 5-30x56 SFP): 0.1 mil dot and a Christmas-tree down to 8 mil with dots every 0.5 mil, for fast long-range corrections.
MPX1 (Tauron/Taurus): 0.1 mil dot, 0.25/0.5/1 mil hash marks and a vertical scale numbered up to 10. BDC references for .223 with a 200 yd zero and for .308 with a 100 yd zero.
MPR-V10 (Veyron 6-24x44 SFP): 0.18 mil dot and a tree down to 10 mil, for field target and airguns.
Hunting BDC with ranging out to 650 yd. The VOW-10BDC has references at 1.5 / 4.5 / 7.5 / 11 MOA below the center and hash marks every 2 MOA. The VOI-10BDC (Hugo GT) has a 0.75 MOA illuminated dot and references at 1.8 / 4.3 / 7.5 / 10.5 MOA. The reference load is not specified: verify the distances with your own ammunition.
Benchrest and field target reticles. The VETD-LR has a 0.12 MOA dot and very fine 0.02 MOA lines. The VEMP-LR has a 0.15 MOA dot and hash marks every 1 MOA, numbered at 5 and 10.
VictOptics VI-CTSIX (S6 1-6x24) and VMD-2 (ZOD 1-4x20)
Official image: VictOptics (victoptics.com)
Unit MIL
Focal plane VI-CTSIX: SFP, values at 6x
Illumination VI-CTSIX: red/green, 5 levels · VMD-2: no
The VI-CTSIX has a 0.25 mil dot, a 3 mil circle and graduated arms. Example from the manual: with a 100 m zero and 1 m of drop at 500 m, aim 2 mil higher. The VMD-2 has mil references for ranging, no illumination, and ½ MOA clicks.
Hawke: all Hawke reticles (SR Pro II, FFP Mil Pro, Half Mil, Mil Dot, .223/.308 Marksman, .22 LR Subsonic, AMX and others) are collected in a dedicated guide. Open the complete Hawke reticle guide →
Other Konus reticles
Konus 550 Ballistic
Official image: Konus (konuscopes.com)
Focal plane SFP
Ballistic hunting reticle. Between 50 and 100 m it works at any magnification; for longer distances it must be used at maximum magnification. The references run from 100 to 550 m in 50 m steps and there are lead hash marks for moving game.
Konus Ballistic Circle, German-4, 30/30 and Fine Crosshair
Official image: Konus (konuscopes.com)
Illumination depending on the model
Ballistic Circle (Sultan 1-10x24): etched reticle with two-color illumination and ¼ MOA clicks, for driven hunts and medium-range shots.
German-4 (Wild 3-9x40 and 4-12x40): three posts for classic hunting; the 4-12x40 is illuminated.
30/30 (Konuspro): classic duplex, suited to dawn and dusk.
Fine Crosshair (Konuspro-Plus 6-24x50, Glory, Armada): fine crosshair with an illuminated dot for precision shooting. On the Konuspro-Plus the clicks are ⅛ MOA.
The other Vortex reticles (EBR, VMR, Dead-Hold and others) are in the main guide.
Vortex Golden Eagle HD 15-60x52: ECR-1 and SCR-1
Official image: Vortex Optics (vortexoptics.com)
Unit MOA
Focal plane SFP – values at 40x
Turrets ⅛ MOA
Reticles for F-Class and benchrest. The ECR-1 has a 0.095 MOA floating dot and MOA hash-mark scales. The SCR-1 is a very fine 0.016 MOA crosshair at 40x.
Values and tables come from the manufacturers' official documentation and apply to the ammunition and zeros stated: always verify the references at the range with your own rifle. For mounting, leveling and calibration of your optic, you can turn to our workshop.
