Rifle Scopes To mildot, or not?

[garandman]

Didn't find any other threads that helped, so...

Intended use is a 1,000 yard benchrest gun in 6.5Creedmoor. Scope will have full turret knobs. (Not sure WHICH scope yet, but turrets are fer sher.)

On the one hand, I want to get proficient with "dialing in" my scope for range. On the other hand, ranging with mills is good to know too.

But using the dots as a "holdover" seems like it would obscure the target too much.

Please help clarify my thinking.

 

[Grizzdude]

Re: To mildot, or not?

I like the MLR reticle on my nightforce.

http://nightforceoptics.com/reticles/MLR/

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: To mildot, or not?

Depends on if you want a dedicated BR scope or one that will fit many roles.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: To mildot, or not?

Well IMHO you should always pick the best tools for for the job, you stated 1000 yard BR, since MOAs are a finer unit of measurement I would recommend to you a 8-32x56 Nightforce, NPR1 reticle, 1/4 MOA knobs, if for any reason you think MOAs are superior to MRADs think again, in your situation or at least as stated MOAs would be a better choice because there is 21600 MOAs in a circle, hence the finer unit of measurement, for static position shooting known distances a scope with MOA reticle and adjusts in MOAs is perfect, on the MRAD side it is a courser unit of measurement 6283 in a circle, and is well suited for fast action shooting at varying distances, where hits are hits and misses may cost someone there lives, MRADs are a dead simple system, IMHO the secret to either system is not to convert either to inches feet whatever, 1 MOA is 1 MOA, and a Mil is a Mil, the reticle is the ruler, use it, as for ranging I recommend a Mil-Dot Master, you can use it to range targets on the RH side in MOAs, and read the distance on the LH side, Mils are on the LH side, and with a slight mod IPHY is possible with the Mil-Dot Master.

 

[Downzero]

Re: To mildot, or not?

I think mildot scopes are somewhat pointless on SFP scopes. So unless you're looking at FFP scopes, just get whatever (other) reticle will work for you and move on.

I use my mil dots mostly for ranging at unknown distances rather than for holdovers, but perhaps I'm in the minority. I figure I can always just dial; the knob is right there.

 

[BobD]

Re: To mildot, or not?

Take a look at:

Sightron SIII 8-32 & 10-50

Nightforce BR : couple models. New, improved one came out this year but is a bit more expensive.

I would leave out the idea of a traditional mil reticle if I were in your shoes, there are choices that will be better suited and provide a finer point of aim and less obstructive markings for hold overs etc.. There are options in MOA, Mil and Target type reticles.

Good luck-

 

[Chris@InterstateGuns]

Re: To mildot, or not?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: garandman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Didn't find any other threads that helped, so...

Intended use is a 1,000 yard benchrest gun in 6.5Creedmoor. Scope will have full turret knobs. (Not sure WHICH scope yet, but turrets are fer sher.)

On the one hand, I want to get proficient with "dialing in" my scope for range. On the other hand, ranging with mills is good to know too.

<span style="font-weight: bold">But using the dots as a "holdover" seems like it would obscure the target too much. </span>

Please help clarify my thinking. </div></div>

I think your thinking correctly. We've had great success setting up customers with either the nxs or benchrest 8-32 with the NPR-2 reticle for f class or ftr work. 1/8 moa adjustments in my opinion would be the way to go. I think that you would find that the finer adjustments would be an advantage over mil and 1/4 moa adjustments.

 

[Sako man]

Re: To mildot, or not?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: garandman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Didn't find any other threads that helped, so...

Intended use is a 1,000 yard benchrest gun in 6.5Creedmoor. Scope will have full turret knobs. (Not sure WHICH scope yet, but turrets are fer sher.)

On the one hand, I want to get proficient with "dialing in" my scope for range. On the other hand, ranging with mills is good to know too.

But using the dots as a "holdover" seems like it would obscure the target too much.

Please help clarify my thinking. </div></div>

First off it really depends on the dots vs magnification and if your going FFP? That said the mildot however popular is old hat. I agree about the MSR or the TMR or really anything that gives you long slashes at every mill and then shorter hashes at half mills. Some other great reticles would be the MP8, P4 and P4f, or Vortex EBR.

Now if your really interested in holdover just jump right to the TREMOR2, its busy but one of the most effective retices made.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: To mildot, or not?

For this application, I don't see a major disadvantage to a second focal plane (SFP) scope, as it would seem that most of the shooting will be done at maximum magnification. Just make sure that the scope is set up to scale the reticle properly at max mag (as a counter-example, the NF NSX 8-32x ranges at 22x, not 32x).

Next, you'll need to pick your adjustment type based upon your desired accuracy and resolution at maximum range. 1/8 MOA knobs will be about as fine as you can get and will yield about 1.3" per click at 1000yds. My preference now leans towards MRAD/mil adjustments, but 1/10 MRAD clicks are going to be 3.6" at that range.

For daylight shooting at paper targets (which provide decent contrast) at that range, I'd be inclined to go with a fine "hash" reticle. Alternatively, you could select a mil-dot with hollow dots (like the NF reticle) in hopes that it will not obscure the target as much as solid dots. A "christmas tree" reticle such as the Horus offerings or Vortex EBR-2 may make life easier when holding off for elevation and wind (options vary widely - I like 'em, a lot of well-respected people do not).

 

[garandman]

Re: To mildot, or not?

Perhaps to clarify, max budget for this scope is $1200.

But LOTTA good info thus far, thanx.

 

[steve123]

Re: To mildot, or not?

I like having reference points in the reticle to measure holdoff with, whether that be mildots, hashmarks or grid systems.

 

[BobD]

Re: To mildot, or not?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: garandman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perhaps to clarify, max budget for this scope is $1200.

But LOTTA good info thus far, thanx.

</div></div>

Both Sightron models will fit that budget, and maybe enough for mounting as well (both models range in price dependent on reticle/and or illumination from ($800-$1,200). You should be able to find the regular Nightforce BR models for close to that, within $75 or so.