Quick aim reticle

An assembly includes a rifle and a rifle scope housing, defining an eyepiece. An optical train includes a reticle. When a user looks through the eyepiece, a display is presented having a set of first horizontal lines, each marked by an indicium and a set of second horizontal lines, each marked by an indicium. A pair formed of a first and a second horizontal line is spaced apart by a distance that fits an adult black-tail buck from back to the brisket if the buck is at a range that results in a bullet drop. The first horizontal lines is labeled with a first indicium. Also, a set of marks includes a first mark which will, if placed on a target, result in an elevation angle, relative to the target, that will compensate for the bullet drop, and wherein the first mark is also marked with the indicium.

BACKGROUND

Hunting for deer requires quick decision making. Time required to make calculations can be time that a deer uses to move on to more inviting forage, leaving the hunter's field of view. Accordingly, a system that can be used in a brief moment, and without needing to take one's eye from a scope eyepiece, is advantageous.

Also, increasingly common timed shooting competitions require participants to navigate a course, while shooting at targets, some of which are human shaped. If a participant uses a laser range finder, the time to read the laser range finder and adjust the elevation knob accordingly is time lost in negotiating the course. A faster way of ranging and aiming would provide a competitor with an advantage, in finishing the course quickly.

SUMMARY

A rifle and rifle scope assembly include a rifle and a rifle scope housing, attached to the rifle, the housing defining an eyepiece. An optical train is in the housing and a reticle lens is in the optical train. When a user looks through the eyepiece, the reticle lens presents a display having a set of first horizontal lines, each marked by an indicium and a set of second horizontal lines, each marked by an indicium. A first one of the first horizontal lines and a first one of the second horizontal lines form a first pair of lines, spaced apart by a distance that fits the distance on an adult black-tail buck from the top of the back to the brisket, as seen through the scope, if the buck is at a range that results in bullet drop of a first known amount. Also, the first one of the first horizontal lines is labeled with a first indicium and the first one of the second horizontal lines is marked with a second indicium indicating an aspect of an adult black-tail buck. Also, a set of marks includes a first mark which will, if placed on a target, result in an elevation angle, relative to the target, that will compensate for the first known amount of bullet drop, and wherein the first mark is also marked with the first indicium. Using this assembly, a user can determine that an adult black-tail buck fits the first pair of lines, from back to brisket, read the first indicium, find a mark marked with the first indicium, position the rifle so that when the user views the buck through the eyepiece, the mark is superimposed on the buck, and shoot, thereby quickly compensating for bullet drop at range to the buck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a rifle scope10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes an eyepiece12, a reticle lens14, positioned in the second focal plane, and a zoom selector or power ring16. In embodiments, scope10is attached to a rifle by a well-known method, such as by way of a Picatinny rail, to form a scope and rifle assembly (not shown). In an alternative embodiment the reticle lens is positioned in the first focal plane15. An elevation knob17permits adjustment of the elevation of the reticle marks as seen by a user, versus the actual pointing direction of the scope10(and thereby the attached rifle).

Referring toFIG. 3, a hunter viewing through the rifle scope10(attached to a rifle to form an assembly of rifle and scope) sees the reticle design110shown. For the embodiment in which the reticle lens is positioned in the second focal plane, the markings shown correspond to the highest level of scope magnification. The hunter may line up a target of known height, so that it is between, or subtends, a pair of lines, with a first line of the pair selected from a set of first lines112a, and the second line of the pair selected from a set of second lines112b, with both sets situated in the upper portion of the field of view. The set of first lines112aare each marked with an indicium114a, and the set of second lines112bare each marked with an indicium114b.

In use of the scope10having reticle design110, a shooter chooses a line from the set of second lines112bbased on pre-knowledge of the vertical height of the target. For example, it is well known that an adult Black Tail Deer measures 15″ from back to brisket (the bottom of the rib cage), as does an Antelope, a Coues Deer and a Texas White Tail Deer. Accordingly, if the shooter were taking aim at one of those creatures, he would choose the second line112bthat is marked with a “15” indicium114b. Then, he determines which one of the first lines112aforms a pair with the selected second line112bthat brackets the buck from back to brisket (the bottom of the rib cage).FIG. 4ashows a Black Tail Buck115aat 300 yards, subtending the pair of lines formed by the line112bmarked with a “15” indicium114band the line112amarked with the “4” indicium114a, indicating that 4 minutes of angle are required to compensate for bullet drop to the target, which is at about 300 yards. InFIG. 4ba Mule Deer Buck115bis shown subtending the pair of lines formed by the line112bmarked with an “18” indicium114band the line112amarked with a “6” indicium114a. The indicia114aand114b, each reflect a target measurement made from the top of a second line112bto the bottom of a first line112a, as opposed to a measurement from the center of a second line112bto a center of a first line112a. With this innovation none of the target is blocked by either line112aor112b, both of which have some finite width, which would otherwise introduce uncertainty to the process of fitting a target to a pair of lines.

Notably, the reticle design shown also permits aiming at a mule deer, using a line selected from the second set of lines112b, and marked at “18” by the indicium114b, reflecting the 18″ distance from the back of a mule deer to the bottom of the brisket. Similarly, the second lines also permit ranging a cow elk, by using the line marked with indicium114bas “24,” reflecting the distance in inches from the back to the brisket of an adult cow elk.

A set of third lines130, are provided for quickly measuring the range to a target that is 18″ in width, such as a man shaped target that may be present in a shooting competition. This is indicated by the “TAC 18” icon at the very top of the reticle pattern. Third lines130are each marked by the range in yards to an 18″ width target that fits the line width, and the minutes of angle of bullet drop that will occur over that range, in a format of “range/bullet drop”. To use lines130a shooter determines which line best fits the 18″ width target and reads the bullet drop indicium in the middle of the line130that best fits the shoulder width.FIG. 4cshows lines130being used to range a man117, or a man-shaped target, as is often used in shooting contests. A man is typically 18 inches across at the back, with the top line of lines130indicating that the figure is at 400 yards.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4d, a set of marks116, below the horizontal line118, in the embodiment shown taking the form of a set of lines, crossing a vertical line120, but which could also be some other shape, and marked with indicia122, that match indicia114a. So, in the Black Tail Buck example presented above, the shooter places the mark116bearing the indicium “4” on the target, thereby lifting a rifle attached to the scope up by 4 minutes of angle, enough to compensate for the bullet drop to the target. In the Mule Deer example, the hunter would place the mark116bearing the “6” on the target.FIG. 4dshows the reticle being used to aim at the humanFIG. 117, with the center of the line116that is marked with a “6” by an indicium122, placed over the heart location of theFIG. 117, as was indicated by the ranging performed inFIG. 4c.

Referring toFIG. 5, zoom selector ring16is marked with two marks140and142, as shown “30” and “36,” respectively. When the numeral 30 is chosen (the zoom selector ring16is moved so that the number is aligned with alignment mark144, providing a lower level of magnification), and thereby calibrating the line “24” (FIGS. 3, 4a,4b,4c) as a “30” or “36” inch target size indicating line. Then the line112bmarked with a “24” can be used to range a larger target, that is 30″ high. But if the numeral “36” is chosen, then the line112bmarked with a “24” can be used to range targets that are 36″ vertically, for example a bull elk, in the same way that the same line can be used to range a cow elk when the zoom selector ring16is turned to “24”. In the instance of using these lower magnification levels, the indicia of the marks116do not reflect the minutes of angle necessary to correct for bullet drop. Some hunters may be knowledgeable enough to correct for the lower magnification level in the use of marks116. Alternatively, a hunter may turn the zoom selector ring16to the highest level of magnification, and then use marks116, which will accurately compensate for the bullet drop determined in the previous step, or he can use the elevation knob17(FIGS. 1 and 2) to correct for bullet drop. If the reticle lens14(FIG. 2) is in the first focal plane, zoom adjustments do not affect the spacing of the reticle lines, relative to images in the field of view. The user may use marks116to compensate for bullet drop, or the elevation knob17, informed by the minutes of angle markings of lines112a.

Finally, in an additional feature, a legend130permits those using a laser range finder to quickly convert the range provided by the range finder to minutes of angle, which may then guide the usage of marks116, in the pointing up of a fire arm that is attached to scope10, to a degree that compensates for bullet drop, to the range of the target.

Generally speaking, a user may alter the position of horizontal line118relative to the boresight of the rifle, to compensate for the type of cartridge being used, according to well-known techniques.