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Rifle Scopes Mil question on targets small than 1m

JelloStorm

JelloStorm

Gunny Sergeant
Minuteman
Feb 23, 2010
1,409
4
43
Northeast Pennsylvania
#1
Ok,

So starting to tinker with my Viper PST MRAD and I get the formula:

Target size in M x 1000 / Target size in mils.

So a 2m (6ft tall man) x 1000 = 2000 / 4 mils = 500m

How do you mil targets that are smaller than 1 meter?

Say we setup man targets at unknown distances and they are partially hidden. I can only mil the shoulder width which is 20".

How do you take something that is a known-size in inches and convert that to work with the mil formula?
 
#5
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

Those meter and yard formulas are not very practical. Most things aren't full yards or meters. Is there a reason you are doing meters?

For meters, the inch formula is:
target size in inches x 25.4 / sizer in mils = distance in meters

For yards,
target size in inches x 27.78/ size in mils = distance in yards

A Mildot Master makes it even easier but it's good to know the formulas.
 
#9
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

It's all in the units. Suounds like you're trying to use both the Imperial system and metric at the same time. You're gonna' have to convert--there's really no getting around it.
 
#11
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

Or get yourself a fresh Excel speadsheet, and do all the math at home ahead of time.

A known 9" target is measured to be .45 mils. QUICK! What's the range?



milsvstarget.jpg
 
#12
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Those meter and yard formulas are not very practical. Most things aren't full yards or meters. Is there a reason you are doing meters?

For meters, the inch formula is:
target size in inches x 25.4 / sizer in mils = distance in meters

For yards,
target size in inches x 27.78/ size in mils = distance in yards

A Mildot Master makes it even easier but it's good to know the formulas. </div></div>

That's just it, I'd like to get the formulas down before I start using a mildot master. Better to know it by heart and get the fundamentals down.

I just seen the formula that I mentioned in my Viper PST book. I just don't know how USMC/Army snipers can do all that math in their head without a calculator. Or do they?
 
#14
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

Mil'ing is a not a primary means of range finding, it is a secondary option and even then it is done in a different manner.

You use 36" and just put the reticle head to balls and wing it a bit, some call it "flash mil'ing" and then you use charts liked posted above.

The long versions are just used in school, after that you use more effective means to get the answer, like this:

RULR.jpg


It has a remote activator and gives you a read out in the window above the turret, max effective range is reported at 10k meters, but I am sure that is wishful thinking, but it better than your run of the mil civilian LRF. The laser is co-located to the reticle.
 
#15
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

They do it day in and day out, Jello. When you drill on something like that you don't forget it.

A bit off topic, and I'll try to make it short.

Was working with a distributor rep down in southwest Georgia back around '98. Stopped for lunch at an Amish restaurant. There were a bunch of helicopters shut down and sitting beside an immense soy bean field beside the restaurant. The DEA was doing a drug sweep of the area. There just happened to be a National Guard UH-1H parked amongst the bunch. The pilots were lollygagging about the bird. I walk up to the pilot of the huey and ask, "Hey, if I can crank it can I play with it?" He looked at me and said, "Sure!". So, I hop in the bird, do this that and the other and am ready to squeeze the trigger to light the fire and the pilot says, "Well, I think you'd better get out of there now! You've done this before, haven't you?"

I responded, "Yes."

I hadn't started a Huey since 1971, but once I sat down in that seat, it all came back to me just as clear as a bell.

These guys that go through the sniper training are constantly doing their drills. Their lives, among those of others, depend upon their ability to do their job . . . and they know that.

I have the greatest respect for these guys.

God bless 'em and protect 'em.
 
#17
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

if they know the average size of a person it isnt that hard. 72x25.4= about 1800 and you can divide that in your head. its even easier with yards assuming the average person is 2 yards tall. 2x1000=2000/mils read its easy to divy up 2grand in your head assuming your dope is in yards which mine is not
 
#18
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

Ranger Finder,
Map / GPS
Range Card built from MAP / GPS / LASER

Then, mils if none of the above are available

As far as sitting there "drilling each other on the formula" you be better off asking them who is on the cover of Maxim last month. The drilling part I haven't seen happen beyond the classroom, it's too far down the list to worry about for most. Especially the higher Tier guys who have equipment like above.
 
#19
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ranger Finder,
Map / GPS
Range Card built from MAP / GPS / LASER

Then, mils if none of the above are available

As far as sitting there "drilling each other on the formula" you be better off asking them who is on the cover of Maxim last month. The drilling part I haven't seen happen beyond the classroom, it's too far down the list to worry about for most. Especially the higher Tier guys who have equipment like above. </div></div>

Yeah that's just it, I can't afford a rangefinder right now
smirk.gif
and anywhere I shoot will be unknown distance, as my buddy and I often go shooting with our quads and some areas are suitable one week and not the next. Usually our area depends on whether or not there's quad riders or local coal company working.

Not against taking a calculator, but I'd rather be able to shoot without one and make corrections accordingly, vs relying on something I may forget to bring with me. But to do the math above, I may need to take one or at least a mildot master and make sure it's always in my shooting bag.
 
#20
Re: Mil question on targets small than 1m

Frank,
did Burris re-engineer their laser range finding scope again????

That's a very nice set-up. Does it work like the Swarovski unit that they paired with their optics?
 
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