How To Use Vortex EBR-2C MOA Reticle For Long Range Shooting

In this informational guide, we are going to take a look at the how to use the Vortex EBR-2C MOA reticle with some visual illustrations. At the end of this article, you will understand why this is a flagship reticle design from Vortex for accuracy long range shooting.

Who Is This Aiming Reticle Made For?

Ruger-Precision-Rifle-Vortex-RAZOR-HD-GEN-2-Precision-Scope

The reticle is easy to use once the shooter understands the basics and the purpose for each dot and line on the reticle. It's great for beginners, hunters and long-range shooting students that want to use a fast and intuitive reticle for without too much complication.

Shooters who use this reticle are still required to do a little bit of precision rifle related math when using this reticle. To learn more click here

Before you just jumping and purchased a Vortex scope with the EBR-2C reticle, be sure to read the rest of this guide to see if this is the right reticle for you.

Break Down Of Vortex EBR-2C MOA Reticle

The EBR-2C MOA is a Chrismas tree style reticle designed to maximize long-range shooting accuracy, the vertical lines with harsh marks ARE NOT bullet drop compensators.

You know you picked a scope absolutely correct for long range shooting if it isn't a BDC reticle.

Let's explain what they are for and how to use them.

MOA & MRAD Subtension

Vortex EBR 2 C Reticle — Referenced Vortex Optics

Open center aiming point (.25")
Ranging capability
Holdovers
Windage corrections
Moving target leads.

The EBR-2C reticle is also available in MRAD subtensions.

The EBR-2C MOA reticle measurement are based on degrees and minutes: 360 degrees in a cirlce, 60 minutes in a degree for a total of 21600 minutes.

The angular measurements are used to estimate range and correct for bullet trajectory drop.

The Vortex RAZOR HD line scopes have .25 MOA / click adjustment, which subtend about 0.26 inches at 100 yards. 0.52 inches at 200 yards, 0.78 inches at 300 yards...etc.

For first focal plane Vortex rifle scopes, the MOA & MRAD subtensions of the EBR2-C reticle are valid at all magnification levels.

For high stress situations, the benefit of a first focal plane reticle eliminated the need for the shooter to remember specific holdover points at a particular magnification, which is something necessary for second focal plane scope users to do a lot.

To learn more about first focal vs second focal plane scopes, please click here.

How To Use The EBR-2C MOA Reticle

The EBR-2C reticle is made for precision shooting, it's not a practical reticle for fast action style shooting gear towards DMR type rifles. For that, we recommend checking out the EBR-9C reticle for the Vortex RAZOR 1-10X or the Primary Arm's ACSS HUD DMR reticle.

For long range shooting, the EBR-2C 's MOA ranging scale allows the shooter to estimate range with a known target size on a very steady hold.

Things Shooters MUST Know By Heart

For MOA

The only downside to the EBR-2C is that the shooter still need to do the math to figure out the distance, and two biggest things the shooter who use the MOA system are:

Target sizes
conversion factors

[Target Size (Inches) X 95.5] / Measured MOAs = # Yards

(Do not over estimate by using factor 100, which may produce 5% error. Yes just that 0.5 cheating in the interest of speedier calculation will cause huge error down range)

[Target Size (CM) X 34.37] / Measured MOAs = # Meters

Highly recommend the shooter to stick with one system, either yards or meter to avoid confusion.

For MRAD

[Target Size (Meters) X 1000] / Measured MRADs = # Meters

[Target Size (Inches) X 27.8] / Measured MRADs = # Yards

Same concept as the the MOA, and working with meters is WAY EASIER and FASTER to calculate.

Establishing Zero First

Establish the zero at 100 yard as the base line first.

How To Range Estimate

The EBR-2C reticle features an MOA & MRAD ruler alike crosshair reference lines to help range the target distance.

The biggest error shooters have in the field is incorrectly estimate target distances. Example, thinking a target is at 400 yards, but it’s actually 560 yards.

MOA

How to use it – Place the reticle on the target of known target size

Have a super steady hold (Use sling, bipod, tripod...etc you name it)
Read out the MOAs spanned
Obtain maximum accuracy down to 0.25 MOA if possible
Use above formula to calculate the distance.

Tip: Have a formula written on a card and stick it to the side of the rifle so you always have it next to you.

Get a small calculator with only necessary functions to do the math helps alot.

To make life easier without math - Get a laser rangefinder to get distance data instantly, just aim, hold and get the distance without any effort.

MRAD

While most shooters are familiar with the MRAD system, the MRAD is easier for people who works well with the metric system, and also familiar with the mil dot system.

How to use it - Same as the MOA, and just different measurements.

Elevation Holdover Estimation

ebr 2 c reticle elevation holdovers — Referenced Vortex Optics (MRAD hold at 7.7 MRAD)

For example - 7.7 mrad hold for 800 yard shot

How to use it - Once the distance has been calculated, the EBR-2C reticle can be used for rapid holdover correction for bullet drop of the cartridge being used.

This is also the interesting part, where you can either hold or dial the knob to re-zero. In this example, we gonna just talk about hold.

If you're not sure to dial or hold, please check out this article here to learn the pros and cons for each technique.

Important Lesson - Highly recommend shooters learn bullet drop numbers in MOAs or MRAD rather than inches or meters, which makes life way easier.

The benefit of the MOA system - The shooter can quickly place the reticle on the target using the correct drop reference line if they know the bullet drop distance in MOA.

Same for MRAD if your brain works faster in metric system.

How To Use The Moving Target & Wind Hold

Wind is always a factor in any long range shooting, and it’s one of the biggest reason for missed shots.

It's important for the shooter to learn their weapon system performance, windage correction in MOA or MRAD, and also master the ability to read wind and target speed.

Always hold the reticle into the wind.

How to use it – Confirm windage correction in MOA or MRAD, the place the correct windage hash mark on the lead. When using the reticle for elevation correction rather than dialing, the windage dots will be used for windage and moving lead corrections.

ebr 2c reticle with wind hold — Referenced Vortex Optics (Dialed)

For example - Full value 15 mph wind at 90 degrees from the left. Wind correction is 2.6 MRAD, so place the reticle at 2.6 MRAD hash mark for the wind lead.

For moving targets - It's important to correctly estimate moving lead by knowing the distance, wind speed, target moving speed, total bullet flight time, rifle lock time via ballistic calculator. (It's one of the hardest thing to do in long range shooting)

Which Rifle Platforms Benefit From The EBR-2C Reticle

It's not caliber specific. As long as you know your hold in MOA or MRAD, target size & wind correction, it can be used for any caliber platform rifles.

You can choose to hold or dial based on your preference.

The EBR-2C is great for long-range precision rifles, it's not a practical reticle for fast action shooting.

For that, it's better to go with a low power variable optic with ACSS reticle or the EBR 9C for the Vortex RAZOR 1-10X24

What Scopes Use EBR-2C Reticle

EBR-2C reticle is only available for first focal plane rifle scopes.

You can check out:

Vortex has recently upgraded the EBR-2C reticle to the better EBR-7C, so until optics with EBR-2C are sold out, you can only get EBR-7C reticle, which is a better option with tons of improvement.