I am 65 and after 50 years of shooting MOA scopes; I’d like to learn to shoot one of the Christmas Tree Mill reticle. I can see the benefit. Some appear to be too busy so I thought someone could help me out. All my scopes are first focal plain Tangent theta, S and B, NF, etc. i Have no problem learning on a lesser scope if the reticle is better for someone making the transition...any help appreciated...Semper Fi..
Rifle Scopes What is best mill dot reticle to learn mills on?
- Thread starter Baer45
- Start date
The Vortex EBR-7C is a great reticle if you're looking for a Christmas tree. Its available in various scopes including the Razor Gen II. If you are looking for a budget scope the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x is available with the EBR-2C reticle which is nearly identical to the -7C.
Using a Christmas tree is dead easy if you have accurate drop data for your rifle/load and an accurate range. You can also estimate range with a reticle like this but it requires knowing the target size.
Using a Christmas tree is dead easy if you have accurate drop data for your rifle/load and an accurate range. You can also estimate range with a reticle like this but it requires knowing the target size.
An EBR-7C is pretty much a standard of sorts. A no frills, straight up, christmas tree reticle used by quite a lot of people. You could do far worse.
And yeah, run a hold over drill with yours when you get it set up. These type of drills builds confidence, and helps you prepare mentally, for using the tree under pressure.
And yeah, run a hold over drill with yours when you get it set up. These type of drills builds confidence, and helps you prepare mentally, for using the tree under pressure.
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I suggest you Pick up a used Bushnell DMR with a G2 or 3 reticle. Likely Get it for $600-800. Dependable. Good enough glass. Fine platform to learn how to think in Mils. Will retain the used value if you upgrade. You do not need the latest greatest most popular PRS reticle. Once you learn to think properly you can use any mil based reticle. I would not buy a Vortex. Clearly with your historic scopes you will upgrade. You stand to lose less when you upgrade the Bushnell than the Vortex. Also, at your age and likely intended use, I suggest you avoid the more complex reticles.
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don't mean to interrupt the post but hoping you might elaborate on what a hold drill constitutes....thanks
Nothing to really "learn". Same as MOA but with different graduations. If you had to hold 2 MOA you would go to the 2 MOA mark right? Guess where you go when you need to hold 2 mils? 
Don't over complicate it like it's a total different language. Run your data in mils and hold or dial what you get. Simple.
As mentioned the Vortex 7C reticle is a good option as it has good markings and easy to read.
Don't over complicate it like it's a total different language. Run your data in mils and hold or dial what you get. Simple.As mentioned the Vortex 7C reticle is a good option as it has good markings and easy to read.
It's usually a drill where you have to use the reticle for all shots so you are holding all elevation and windage. It is where a christmas tree style reticle shines. Practicing this at home helps build your confidence in your ability and reticle use.
What Rob said! ? Just pick 5 or more targets going out at distance. Set your timer with a stupidly short amount of time (45secs for 5 targets) and force yourself to use the reticle instead of the knobs.
When stage times are short, a full (or partial) holdover strategy can be used to get many more rds on target than a traditional dial-to-range/wind method. Practice holdovers, and hold unders, and get used to counting dots under pressure, as well as comfortable having a target picture that doesn't include the cross hair being centered on the target.
You can also practice split holdovers as well (dial once in between a group of targets, for two different sets of hold overs/unders).
When stage times are short, a full (or partial) holdover strategy can be used to get many more rds on target than a traditional dial-to-range/wind method. Practice holdovers, and hold unders, and get used to counting dots under pressure, as well as comfortable having a target picture that doesn't include the cross hair being centered on the target.
You can also practice split holdovers as well (dial once in between a group of targets, for two different sets of hold overs/unders).
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i think i understand.....i have a mil/mil scope
...so i would take a blank target and measure out/mark out dots at various mil measurements
then see if i can hit all the dots only using the reticle and not turning the turrets.
thank you.
...so i would take a blank target and measure out/mark out dots at various mil measurements
then see if i can hit all the dots only using the reticle and not turning the turrets.
thank you.
MOA has some drills to help with this. They also have a video on their Youtube page that explains the drill in greater detail.
Leupold Precision Hold Over Challenge MILS/MOA | Max Ordinate Academy
www.maxordinate.com
ExactlyNothing to really "learn". Same as MOA but with different graduations. If you had to hold 2 MOA you would go to the 2 MOA mark right? Guess where you go when you need to hold 2 mils?
As mentioned the Vortex 7C reticle is a good option as it has good markings and easy to read.
It’s super simple and the smaller numbers (10 versus 34 something) and tenths versus quarters is really clean.
It’s a no brainer.
No not really. It would be having targets at 200, 300 etc and then leaving your 100 yards zero on and holding over for all the data. Or if shooting farther and closer you can dial on a mid range like your 400 yard data and then hold under for closer and over for farther.
You can do it at 100 yards if that is all you have and make marks and hold over or under but the drills at matches are on farther steel.
thanks everyone...that helped a lot, i'll work on that skill. appreciate it
also, thanks for the link for the target....just downloaded. also noted they have a school/class a few hours away.
also, thanks for the link for the target....just downloaded. also noted they have a school/class a few hours away.
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Horus has a fairly good interactive demo on their website, sort of like playing a video game. It will give you the general idea of how to use a christmas tree reticle for both elevation and wind holds. I would suggest you choose the H59 reticle for the demo, since it doesn't use wind dots like the T3. Here is a link.
horusvision.com
Reticle Demo
horusvision.com
Dude, thats awesome!Horus has a fairly good interactive demo on their website, sort of like playing a video game. It will give you the general idea of how to use a christmas tree reticle for both elevation and wind holds. I would suggest you choose the H59 reticle for the demo, since it doesn't use wind dots like the T3. Here is a link.
Reticle Demo
trying to get it to work on my apple, supposedly doesn't support something called WebGL... even tried to allow pop ups to see if the was the problem to no avail.
- Apr 23, 2019
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Making the switch is super easy to do going to MOA to MRAD, I agree with the rest of the guys on the EBR-7C, not an insanely busy reticle that allows you to really learn the holdovers and gives you a lot of options whether you want to dial more or hold over in that christmas tree part itself!
- Apr 23, 2019
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That Horus simulator is fantastic! I made the switch to Mils not long ago myself, and this really helps being able to see the effects and get limitless reps on it.
