Hey, guys. Brand new to the forum and first post. I'm brand new to using a Mil Dot scope and was hoping you had a source to learn more. On forum, off forum, any suggestion is appreicated. Thanks.
Rifle Scopes New to Mil Dots
- Thread starter FireandForge
- Start date
I think he may mean using the reticle in general not the units. Could be wrong but thats how I read it.
If thats the case here is a good place to start http://www.mildot.com/testdrive.htm
If thats the case here is a good place to start http://www.mildot.com/testdrive.htm
So what are you looking for exactly? Just how to range? That's not a mildot specific operation as you can do it with MOA reticles as well. Again there is nothing special about a mildot reticle either. It's just fixed points to help with holds or corrections.
Mainly how to calculate holdover. I've been reading up on how to range with it but it always gets vague on what to do from there.
Mil dots are only a reference for holdovers or wind. With FFP at all mag or SFP at ranging magnification the distance between dots is 1 mil. Knowing how much to hold over comes from your DOPE or ballistic program; or from the shot correction called by your spotter or seen by you thru the scope .Windage correction is similar but a large dose of experience reading wind is also needed.
If your shot splash is 1/2 mil to right of target your correction is to hold another half mil ( half the distance between 2 dots) from your previous hold.
As with all reticles there' iis a mildot learning curve. The scopes i use are all NF SFP mil-dots. Have initially tried FFP and the Christmas tree reticles which are extremly popular, but for me mildot works for LR and ELR.
If your shot splash is 1/2 mil to right of target your correction is to hold another half mil ( half the distance between 2 dots) from your previous hold.
As with all reticles there' iis a mildot learning curve. The scopes i use are all NF SFP mil-dots. Have initially tried FFP and the Christmas tree reticles which are extremly popular, but for me mildot works for LR and ELR.
There is nothing to calculate. You have your data that you dial on correct? Now instead of dialing that in you just use the reticle and hold it. So you need 1.1 mils to hit at 300 yards then you just hold over 1.1 mils with the reticle and you will hit.
What you need need to do is practice breaking down the reticle to .1 mil. Which reticle do you have? If it has .5 mil marks it makes breaking down much easier. It's all about practice. Go out and try to figure holds and use them. Works with wind as well. Corrections to missed shots as described above also.
Ranging is down the list of useful reticle uses but it's no diffeeent than above. You break down the reticle when miling the target to the closest .1 mil mark and then use the mildot master or formula to get the range. Just takes practice to learn to break down reticle.
Ok, thanks guys. Sounds like I'm over complicating things. I spent too much time yesterday trying to understand the geometry of it and just getting confused. I'm still working on the rifle so I haven't had a chance to work up a dope card for it. Just trying to do my homework in the mean time. I appreciate your comments.
A couple of articles here that should help you get started:
http://www.mil-dot.com/articles/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-mil-dot-reticle
http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/MilDot_MOA.asp
http://www.mil-dot.com/articles/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-mil-dot-reticle
http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/MilDot_MOA.asp
Ryan at NSSF has a pretty good vid
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5AGsHSIsVo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5AGsHSIsVo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Yup that's a common problem. People come into this and get all wrapped around axle on the linear measurements and what equals what and where etc. And you can read a ton of long, dry drawn out articles on mildots and mils etc and the plain simple fact is that a mildot reticle is nothing more than a reference point like the knobs. You hold what you dial and vice versa. Learn your reticle and how to break it down to .1 mil and how to hold a quick correction and you will be doing just fine in actual use.
