On either side of each circle are + marks for windage or lead. These provide hold-over points to compensate for bullet drop out to medium range. Nikon’s Advanced BDC reticle is located in the second focal plane and consists of a crosshair with center dot plus four circles below it on the lower vertical stadia. Intensity is bright enough, when turned all the way up, to clearly see it in bright daylight. A center aiming dot, rather than the entire reticle, is illuminated. A button on the left side decreases intensity while one on the right increases it. Instead, Nikon incorporates a microprocessor-controlled illumination system above the eyepiece. Unlike most of its competition, the Monarch 7’s illumination system does not feature a conventional rheostat located on the mechanism block. This is a useful feature, especially for hunting. Pushing it back in locks it in place so it cannot be accidentally rotated. Pull it straight out to unlock it and then rotate it to the desired position. This allows parallax to be eliminated and is more conveniently placed than a traditional adjustable objective. On the left side of the mechanism block is a side-focus knob. You simply pull up the knob until it moves freely, adjust to zero and release. Nikon’s Spring-Loaded Instant Zero-Reset design requires no tools and is hassle-free. What I love about this turret system is how easy it is to zero compared to traditional European turrets, which are typically a pain to zero and require a fine screwdriver. ![]() The turrets are clearly marked, and full turret revolution lines allow you to easily keep track of how much elevation/windage you’ve dialed in. One full revolution provides an impressive 24 m.o.a. Nikon’s low-profile finger-adjustable turrets feature precise audible and tactile 1/4 m.o.a. So it’s not overly rotund and is considerably lighter than models built on 34mm tubes. It is 14.3 inches long, but even with that fat 56mm objective, it weighs in at only 25.8 ounces. But what does it actually bring to the table? Built on a 30mm tube, it has pleasing lines and is an attractive optical device. The 3-12X magnification range and large 56mm objective is a traditional European style. ![]() The sample I tested was the 3-12x56mm IL Advanced BDC with Dot. Nikon currently offers five models in the Monarch 7 line: Plus, it doesn’t force you to think in mils or centimeters as it features traditional MOA adjustments. While this scope is packed with features, it doesn’t require a 10-pound manual to explain the reticle. The Monarch 7 was designed for the American rifleman looking for an upper-crust scope, but who didn’t want mil/metric adjustments or a reticle out of a video game. These are the first such reticles offered by Nikon, and while these new Monarch 3 scopes will appeal to many, I was frankly more impressed by Nikon’s new flagship Monarch 7 line of hunting scopes. It has been shaking things up lately with its recently introduced front-focal plane reticles on the Monarch 3 line. One manufacturer to recognize this trend is Nikon Sport Optics. Many modern riflemen embrace whatever practical technology can give them an edge. “ Today’s refined rifleman demands modern reticles featuring holdovers for elevation, wider magnification ranges, improved optical systems, better lens coatings, improved turret designs and illuminated reticles.
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