Can anybody post any info on the Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 BDC ? And also , which mount it requires ? The LaRue LT-104 or the LT-104-Extended for the perfect fit … The Monarch has a eye relief of 3.5" to 4" It would go on a AR-15 16 barrel flat top . I know it is a big scope , but I like as much magnification as I can get . I will apreciate any info on it … Thanks so much josey88
i have the mil-dot, side focus version. i think Damascus has the BDC version.
i’m using the LT SPR 1.5 mount and i am using a ARMS 40L, because a Troy will not fit underneath. didn’t have irons when i took this picture.
good scopes for the money. made in the philipines suprisingly. glass is decent. predictable adjustments. holds zero.
parabellum9x9mm : That is an impressive cannon you have there … I was going to put a TR20-2 scope , but I decided to go with the Nikon . I too think that for the money is a good scope and that I made a good choice . I have a MI flip rear sight (I had it from before, so I will use it, what the heck) , which I can clear perfectly with 3/4" high , but my concern is , besides clearing the rear sight , in putting the scope around 1.5" centre so it will be OK with the front sight . I do have the standard forged front sight , so it is a concern. I though in using the Larue LT-104 regular, not the extended version . My question is : 1) Will this mount fit ? 2) How high the scope will be with the mount , and 3) Will I have enough eye relief or will I need the extended version to put the scope forward ? those are my concerns… please, I will apreciate your tips on this before ordering the mount . I do not want to make mistakes and keep returning things. I have been racking my brains trying to do measurements … Thanks so much Jose
After studying your pic , I think that you have the LT-104 mount . I also think that I will have to go your way with the rear sight … if the Troy did not fit , the MI most surely will not either, so I will go with your solution , the A.R.M.S. 4L . My main concern is the height of the scope, and , when you said that you were using the LT 1.5 , you meant 1.5" high … So, if the LT-104 has a height of 1.5" , that is what I need. Am I correct on this ? Thanks Jose
Mine’s also the mil-dot version. If it were me, I’d use the regular LT-104 mount, it’s got plently of eye relief, I wouldn’t think you’d need to mount it out that far.
Mine’s mounted using normal 1" rings mounted directly to picatinny rail, but I did have it mounted using a JP mount, which is similar to the LT mount, although it’s a bolt on mount, not a QD. However, the dimensions on the JP and the LT104 should be roughly the same, eye-relief-wise anyways, and I never had a problem of needing more ER.
Great choice on that optic. IMO, it’s the best “bang for your buck” scope on the market… however I’m not a fan of Nikon’s BDC reticle. Is there a reason you don’t want to learn to use a mil-dot?
You may wish to consider the SPR-E mount if your a NTCH type shooter and given the ER of your Nikon it may be a real possibility. Call LaRue tactical and ask (A lot of the time “The Man” himself picks up the phone to field a call 
). Good luck.
lettersFromEarth : I think that I will have around 4 inches of distance between my eye and the scope with the LT-104 so , no problem there.
damascus: There is not a particular reason for the BDC…It looks very convenient . you don`t think that it is easier than the mil-dot ? why not ? Also, what about the height of the scope with the LT-104 … Will I need a riser or the mount is enough ? Thanks
It’s only a 42mm scope, the mount itself is enough. On my rifle, I have a quad rail handguard, which is the same exact height as my upper’s rail. If you have normal handguards, they may or may not be a tad higher… look into that.
mil-dot is way more flexible. for example, i zero for 300 and then hold down for my 100 and 200 yard shots. you’d have to dial in new dope with a BDC if you wanted to do the same thing, as all the hold reference points are in the bottom half of your sight picture.
the BDC probably wont match up perfectly with your loads and rifle, so might as well go for the mil-dot
Thats all well and good but 4 inches of ER is alot, Josey. Thats why the EER mounts are there for use. But if your shooting style compensates for the extra ER then thumbs up. What are you putting this Nikon on again?
I am putting it on a 16" barrel flat top M4L6 Charles Daly. I know, it is a big scope, but I want as much magnification as I can take , and I am getting a nice price , so I am ordering . I like to do some precision target shooting , like 200 or 300 yards , etc and now I realize that I should have bought a 20" or a 24" barrel, but, maybe later on I will get me an upper with a longer barrel, if this guy Obama let me … The eye relief on a Nikon, it says it is 4 to 3.7 inches. I believe will have enough space for the eye relief . My main concern was height on the mount , because I am keeping the front forged sight so it looks like the LT-104 will solve the problem of the scope at 1.5" .
I would like to know why some folks are not fond of the BDC reticle… Isn`t easier than the mil-dot ? Maybe I am stupid…!!!
The deal with the BDC is that you are limited to a narrower choice of rounds that (hopefully) will come somewhat close to matching your optic and weapon. So since you were looking to do “small holes into small hole at extended range” type of shooting going with a BDC reticle will start you off behind and below the curve so to speak.
Going with a Mil Dot type reticle will make it possible to get the most from your weapon as you are able to zero, range, and shoot a target using a round your rifle likes best and NOT be dependent on the round your optic likes best as is the case with a BDC type reticle. Does that help?
It makes sense … It is great to be able to receive advice from people that have more experience and avoid mistakes and frustrations… Scrap the BDC . I will get the Mil-dot and will even save $10.00 …!!! Thanks so much … josey88
Also, the reason I prefer the mil-dot, the reason it was designed, the ability to range your target. See, the little dots on the reticle aren’t there to look pretty, as a lot of the wanna’be’s will buy them because “mil-dots are what snipers use, so if I put a mil-dot scope on my rifle, I can shoot as good as they do!”… which is, of course, laughable. The dots are distanced in 1 mil increments. There are 2 versions of basic mil-dot reticles, the Army style which has round dots, and the USMC style which has oval “football” shaped dots. Some people prefer different types. I prefer the Army style, because for one, that’s what I was trained to use, and second, I find that the larger USMC dots take more math to use. Now, there’s a few ways to use this reticle, first, you have to be looking at a target of known size. You either have to be able to accurately estimate the target in either inches or yards. Then, let’s say you’re looking at a target that you know is 18" high. You set your scope to it’s magnification that it is set to range at, and the 18" target perfectly fills from the center of one mil-dot to the center of another mil-dot. The target’s mil-reading is 1.0 mil. Now, using simple math (I’ll get into this later) you can find exactly how far away it is, in either yards or meters. Now, look at your “come-up card”, and see how much your caliber/rifle will drop at that distance, adjust your scope, dope for wind, and fire. It’s that simple. Mil-dot ranging is not super-fast… it’s best used on a target that you have time to range, then wait on the target, but using tools available and range cards such as the “mil-dot master”, this process can be sped up quite a bit. Since this process all depends on your come-up card data, the mil-dot system can be used with any rifle, any caliber, as long as you know the trajectory data for your round.
i dont use the ranging, mine’s just a fun gun. always shooting a known range for me.
for tactical use id rather use an easier ranging reticule. (1-4x PrideFowler looks cool)
i still find the mil-dot more useful for holds.
I wonder if the Monarch 4-16x42 will come with some sort of mil-dot data card …
it comes with a coupon for the free “mil-dot master” that Damascus alluded to in a previous post.
Free ? That card cost $30.00 so , if it is free that will be great … Where do you send the coupon to get the free card ?
Trust me, you will want to obtain a Mil-Dot Master. It’s indispensable for beginners. Another thing you need to do is figure out the bull drop data on your weapon. You need to know the caliber, barrel length, bullet type, and velocity. Once you make this card (with 2 columns, the first column you’re drop data, the second column you’re wind drift data), you can either tape it to the side of your rifle (like I do), or just keep it in a little book and keep it with your rifle.
I normally zero my rifles at 200 yards. Once I’m zeroed, I’ll reset my turret to “0”. Then, if I range a target that happens to by 560 yards away, all I have to do is look down at my card, see what the drop is at that range, for example it’ll say 9.25 MOA. You can put the data in MOA (Minutes of Angle, 1 MOA = 1" @ 100 yards) or in inches. I prefer to keep it in MOA, the card is less cluttered with numbers, and it’s just simpler for me, but a lot of people prefer to use exact inches. Do what’s best for you.
BTW, I know it’s sort of off-topic, but just wanted to add, since it concerns Nikon ; Today I got to handle one of the Monarch Tactical scopes… Nikon’s big flagship model, with the 30mm tube and everything… and let me just say that I was extremely impressed. My advice is that anyone in the market for a high-end tactical scope such as the Leupold Mark 4’s or Nightforce scopes, be sure to check out these as well! IMO, the glass was better than Nightforce’s, and rivals Leupolds. The unit was heavy, but it looked TOUGH… I just can’t get over how clear and sharp the images was looking through it… but yeah, I’m done, I’ll shut up now lol.
Damascus,
Forgive my ignorance on the Nikon Tactical scopes. It’s their Monarch X line right?
Rich