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Sig BDX Scopes

Actually here in Colorado, the law states "no electronic equipment shall be used in the taking of big game" I don't know anyone who doesn't use a range finder but that seems like it would be against the law.

Where in the big game regulations do you see this. I looked through the 2018 regs, and searching for electronic, this is the only thing of relevance that I found. This line is basically stating that you can't use electronics to do something illegal. IE telling your buddy to shoot a bull when he has a cow tag and you will come tag it. They specifically call out electronics for muzzleloaders and archery when attached to the bow or muzzleloader, but nothing else that I can find.


"For two or more people on the ground, in a vehicle or vessel to use electronic devices to communicate information that violates any wildlife law
or regulation"
 
Sorry, I am just seeing this. I do have both the BDX scope (4.5x14) and a 2400 RF. You can check out the review I did on the 2400 to see about the RF, working on a review of the scope now.

I actually got the scope on a rifle days before an Aoudad hunt in Palo Duro Canyon. It was a one time opportunity for my son and I to do this, but as I did not have time to run it through the paces as I would have liked, I just checked it vs his VX3i. In a brief look in the dark outside my house, they appeared pretty much equal, so we took it. I won't go into the details now, but it worked beautifully. My 16 year old son hammered a ram at 571 and a surprise shot at two more at 271 immediately after while away from me, so he had to handle ranging and shooting by himself under severe time pressure to get the shot. The BDX system let him get a range and just shoot, and then range again and shoot when the range changed dramatically. The system is really very fast!

I have not had time to actually test it on eye charts yet etc. so I can't say much empirically concerning acuity. I have looked through it well past sunset vs a VX3i and a Zeiss HD5. In that case, none would have been able to take game when another could not, but that's not very scientific.

One thing I was concerned about was flare. So far, in my tests, it has done exceedingly well.

Got a little more work to do with the scope before finishing the review, but so far, pretty impressed. My son was impressed enough that he sold his Leupold and bought the Sig. This was not because the scope was 'so much nicer' than his Leupold, but because the system is so efficient and fast for hunting.

Hope that helps, please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions, or anything you would like me to test.
 
Was that your review of the rangefinder I read that is 4 parts I think....incredibly long and detailed? If so, that's what finally had me go ahead and make the decision to get this. I was looking for a scope review but makes sense now, you hadn't got there yet.
 
Yeah, that was mine. I am working on the scope part, but my real job and sick kids keep getting in the way! Hope to finish it in the next couple weeks.
 
Where in the big game regulations do you see this. I looked through the 2018 regs, and searching for electronic, this is the only thing of relevance that I found. This line is basically stating that you can't use electronics to do something illegal. IE telling your buddy to shoot a bull when he has a cow tag and you will come tag it. They specifically call out electronics for muzzleloaders and archery when attached to the bow or muzzleloader, but nothing else that I can find.


"For two or more people on the ground, in a vehicle or vessel to use electronic devices to communicate information that violates any wildlife law
or regulation"
I don't guess I've paid that much attention in the last few years, you are correct the brochure no longer says that. Although the printed big game brochure is not an official list of all the laws, for that you have to go to the web site and it in fact still says you can not use a scope with a ballistic computer which is what the Sig system is. It is pages upon pages of laws so I'm sure it still says you can't use electronics for big game. It does say you can use them for small game, and if it was legal for big game it would state that.
 
I don't guess I've paid that much attention in the last few years, you are correct the brochure no longer says that. Although the printed big game brochure is not an official list of all the laws, for that you have to go to the web site and it in fact still says you can not use a scope with a ballistic computer which is what the Sig system is. It is pages upon pages of laws so I'm sure it still says you can't use electronics for big game. It does say you can use them for small game, and if it was legal for big game it would state that.
In my conversations with Sig, they told me that the BDX system is Colorado legal because there is no ballistic computer in the scope. That is actually done externally either by the RF or by a Kestrel. The lighting up of the right point is not illegal the way the law is written. The new Swaro scope, though, looks to be.

Im no lawyer, but that is what they tell me and they were confident enough to have the BDX press kickoff hunt in Craig this fall. Boy, wouldn't that have been embarrassing to get all the writers ticketed!
 
Yeah, that was mine. I am working on the scope part, but my real job and sick kids keep getting in the way! Hope to finish it in the next couple weeks.
That was one of the most thorough reviews I have ever read. Like I said, that's what finally helped tipped the scales fo me to make the purchase.
You mentioned finding where the sensor was relative to the reticle on the rangefinder, how exactly did you do that?
 
Basically, use something like a flag pole that is skylined. Then you range from one side of the reticle to the other until it reads...then you know the horizontal placement. Turn the RF on it's side and do it again to get the vertical placement. You can do it from both sides and then you should have a pretty good idea of where your sensor starts and end, both horizontally and vertically, within the reticle.
 
In my conversations with Sig, they told me that the BDX system is Colorado legal because there is no ballistic computer in the scope. That is actually done externally either by the RF or by a Kestrel. The lighting up of the right point is not illegal the way the law is written. The new Swaro scope, though, looks to be.

Im no lawyer, but that is what they tell me and they were confident enough to have the BDX press kickoff hunt in Craig this fall. Boy, wouldn't that have been embarrassing to get all the writers ticketed!

I was really curious about this and I believe I found the Regulations that state this. If you look at the big game guide under Methods of Take Line 2 it says smart rifles are prohibited. Then if you look at the General Provisions as updated in 2016 you get the following definition for Smart Rifles. The key being part 2.c which states the rifle cannot have a ballistics computer. From a legal standpoint, I can see how the BDX system does not meet this definition as Catorres1 already said. Very interesting though.

D. Smart Rifles
1. All firearms used to take or attempt to take wildlife shall be fired only by humanly controlled, manually-operated mechanical triggers. No person shall use a smart rifle to take or attempt to take wildlife.
2. "Smart Rifle" means any firearm that is equipped with one or more of the following: a. A target tracking system;
b. An electronically-controlled, electronically-assisted, or computer-linked trigger;
c. A ballistics computer.

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Commission/2016/June/Ch_W-0-General_Provisions-As_Approved.pdf
 
Scopes and RF came in today, bedding the savage now, wifes bergara is next. Cant wait to shoot now. Too bad I only have 100 yard shot at my house.
Told the wife I took care of both of our Valentine's Day presents Haha
 
The scope and rangefinder are legal to use in Oregon you just cant have them connected. The scope can be configured with a custom illuminated BDC reticle based on your rifles exact ballistics. Obviously ballistically enabled LRFs are legal in Oregon as well.

@Cobus28 something is wrong with your LRF. Send it in and they will get it fixed for you.[/QUOTE

So we just tell the nice game warden hey they are not connected so I'm good? Hey judge, I know it says I can't use this scope but it's not connected. Honest, and that drunk guy only had one beer. Go read the rules. Your going to get someone fined or arrested.
 
So we just tell the nice game warden hey they are not connected so I'm good? Hey judge, I know it says I can't use this scope but it's not connected. Honest, and that drunk guy only had one beer. Go read the rules. Your going to get someone fined or arrested.
 
@Bigfishonafly I am just echoing what was said by the OSP officer in charge of training for wildlife violations. OSP enforces all of the game regulations in Oregon.
 
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