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Learn your reticle's holds before the match does it for you.

A holdover trainer that grades you against the real trajectory. Pick a scope whose reticle is drawn from the manufacturer's sheet, a load, a barrel length and a zero. A target appears at a random distance; tap the mark you would hold and fire. The shot lands where that mark puts the solved trajectory, the target scores it, and you see the mark you should have used and the error in MOA or MRAD and inches. Ten targets, a running score, and a replay link for the same course.

What the trainer grades

The correct answer is the mark whose angle is closest to the hold the trajectory needs at that distance: the bullet's drop below the line of sight, converted to an angle, for the load, barrel length, zero and 2.6 in sight height. A BDC mark labeled 400 yd only matches 400 yd for the load and zero the manufacturer cut it for; with a different load the same mark is simply an angle, and the trainer treats it that way. Your shot lands where your chosen mark really sends it, plus a group's worth of spread, and the USPSA, IPSC or steel zones decide whether it counts.

Second focal plane and magnification

Most LPVO BDC reticles sit in the second focal plane and are true only at maximum power. Turn a 1-6x down to 3x and every mark is worth twice its printed angle, which is why the trainer lets you pick the power and scales the marks to it. First focal plane reticles such as the EBR-7C, TMR and PR2-MIL stay true at any power. The range simulator shows the same reticles with a BDC alignment table for any distance, and the zeroing simulator covers the zero those holds depend on.

Scopes you can train with

Only scopes whose reticle geometry is verified against the manufacturer's sheet and prints holdover marks are playable. Each one below is drawn in the trainer at its published subtensions.

Playable optics

Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV
Optics & Sighting • $349.99

Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV

  • 1-6x magnification
  • Second focal plane
$279.99$349.99Save 20%
View at OpticsPlanet
Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6x24
Optics & Sighting • $538.99

Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6x24

  • 1-6x magnification
  • VMR-2 reticle
$599.00
View at OpticsPlanet
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen II
Optics & Sighting • $499.99

Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 Gen II

  • 1-6x magnification
  • AR-BDC3 SFP reticle
$179.99$499.99Save 64%
Shop at PSA
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24
Optics & Sighting • $329.49

Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24

  • 1-8x magnification
  • AR-BDC3 SFP reticle
$399.00
View at OpticsPlanet
Sig Sauer Tango MSR 1-6x24
Optics & Sighting • $258.31

Sig Sauer Tango MSR 1-6x24

  • 1-6x magnification
  • MSR-BDC6 reticle
$258.31
View at OpticsPlanet
Vortex Razor HD Gen II-E 1-6x24
Optics & Sighting • $1,469

Vortex Razor HD Gen II-E 1-6x24

  • 1-6x magnification
  • Second focal plane
$1499.00
View at OpticsPlanet
Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44
Long-Range Scopes • $1,999.99

Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44

  • 3.6-18x magnification
  • First focal plane
$1699.99$1999.99Save 15%
View at OpticsPlanet
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56 PR2-MIL
Long-Range Scopes • $2,199.99

Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56 PR2-MIL

  • 5-25x magnification
  • 56mm objective
$1899.99$2199.99Save 14%
View at OpticsPlanet
Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50
Long-Range Scopes • $859.99

Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50

  • 5-25x magnification
  • First focal plane
$999.00
View at OpticsPlanet
Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x44 FFP
Long-Range Scopes • $749

Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x44 FFP

  • 3-18x44 FFP
  • EBR-7C MRAD reticle
$749.00
View at OpticsPlanet

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Frequently asked questions

What is a holdover?

A holdover is aiming with a reticle mark below the center instead of dialing the turret. Past the zero distance the bullet falls below the line of sight, so placing a lower mark on the target lifts the barrel by that mark's angle and puts the bullet back on it. BDC reticles label the marks by range; MIL and MOA reticles label them by angle.

Why does the right mark change when I change the load or barrel?

A BDC reticle is cut for one trajectory, usually a named load at a stated velocity and zero. A heavier bullet, a shorter barrel or a different zero changes the drop at every range, so the mark labeled 400 may really match 370 or 430 yards. The trainer solves the trajectory for the load, barrel length and zero you pick, then grades the mark you held against that solution.

Why do the marks read differently at lower magnification?

In a second focal plane scope the reticle keeps its size on screen while the target shrinks as you zoom out, so each mark covers more angle at lower power. At half of maximum magnification every mark is worth twice its printed value. First focal plane reticles scale with the target, so their marks read true at every power. The trainer scales the marks by max power divided by the selected power for second focal plane scopes.

How does unknown-distance mode work?

The distance is hidden and the target is drawn at its true size for the range. Bracket it with the reticle: the trainer states the target's real width and height, and where the manufacturer prints ranging stadia for an 18 inch target, which hash brackets which range. Estimate the distance, hold the matching mark, and the reveal shows the true range.

Does the trainer hold for wind?

No. When random crosswind is on, each target draws a 2 to 10 mph wind and shows it. You choose elevation only, so the drift appears in where the shot lands and in the reveal. Windage holds vary by reticle and are not published as marks in the same way, so they are left to the reader.

Where do the reticle dimensions come from?

Every playable reticle is drawn from the manufacturer's reticle sheet or manual, with the sheet linked in the range simulator. Subtensions the sheet does not print are approximated for the drawing and are called out there; the holds the trainer grades against are always the printed values.

Can I share or repeat a course of fire?

Yes. Every session draws its distances, winds and group scatter from a seed, and the page address updates to include it. Copy the replay link from the summary card and anyone who opens it gets the same ten targets with the same setup.