Greetings,
How do zoom scopes affect mil-dot usage?
I’m thinking about a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42SF for a bolt rifle and I like the idea of mil-dot but how does zoom work into the math? Please help this total scope noob.
Thanks.
If the scope has a front focal reticule the mildots can be used at any magnification.
Non front focal the mildots are only usable at a certain magnification specified by the manufacture.
How to use mildots http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/RealTruthAboutMilDots.asp
you can also do a google search there is a lot of info on how to use mil-dots.
That’s what I figured but I didn’t know the terminology.
I’d like to be able to have the ability to estimate distance. I asked the reps at optics planet, we’ll see what they say. I could live with the calibration at max zoom or something like that. If it is some arbitrary in between the stops zoom point I’m not sure if I even want mil-dot.
IIRC the distance between mildots is 3.6" at 100 yards and 1 yard at 1000 feet (Basically the distance between crosshair to mildot two is the height of the person at 1000 yards).
The scope I have is also 4-16x, but there’s a audible ‘click’ at 10x which is what the mildot functions at.
More commonly referred to as 1st focal plane vs. 2nd focal plane. 2nd focal plane optics, I have yet to hear of any in which measuring with a mil-dot reticle is done at any other than max mag (which means exactly what it says; I haven’t heard about anything like that). I suppose it could be possible to be some middle setting, but I don’t think so.
As for measurements, correct, 1 mil = 3.6 inches per 100 yards or 10 centimeters per 100 meters. 1 Mil = 3.438 MOA at any distance, therefore .1 mil = about 1/3 MOA.
However, one should be careful when tossing around general phrases like “height of a person @ xxxx distance.” Though the conversions generally work, if one intends to use a mil-dot to the extent of the precision it’s meant for, one will get their best mileage out of metric, as it groks with the whole “divisible by 10” aspect.
For example, using yards, “height of a person” @ 1000yds means 72" or 6’. Average American male is around 5’10". If you’re talking 1000 meters, that “height of person” reference had better be talking about somebody that’s 6’6-3/4" tall, or you may miss whatever shot you plan on taking. If one isn’t concerned with that level of precision, no big deal, of course, but a precision optic calls for the same level of precision in the way you think about and factor judgments for the unknown.
Seems nitpicky (only because it IS, I know; apologies), but I beat my head against this stuff a lot. According to DRS, who makes the AN/PAS-13D thermal weapon sight, their range estimation lines on the reticle are based on judging the height of a man for a particular distance. What isn’t generally known is the constant they use is a 5’ tall man. So, one may surmise that some lab-coated dorks at DRS thinks we’re going to be slugging it out with Austrailian aboriginals…
Thank Crom that thing’s primarily made for use on area weapons.
Excellent advice. Thank you. It did cross my mind that if the range is out there past even 500 yards or so, getting an estimated reference incorrectly can really toss the calculation off into the weeds.
I want to do this just for fun, no real usage in mind at this time. If I prove myself with it I may eventually try my hand at long range hunting but for now, everything is just paper and frozen jugs of water. Maybe if I find a place, some tannerite, if I’m lucky.
Thanks again.
I stand corrected. Thanks for the excellent advice. I have no idea what zoom the Nikon Monarch mil-dots function at, but I just wanted to point out that some scopes do have a mid-zoom setting that functions w/ the mil dot.
Gotcha. I thought it possible, even likely, that such would exist. No way the military would want them in the inventory. Mid-range mag, you’d need a distinct or hard stop on the control feature or depend on lifting your head to look at the dial to make sure you have the right setting.
Question occurs to me: what “focal-plane” would an optic with a mid-mag mil-dot be, if not 1st or 2nd?
:sigh: Now I have to remember to talk to one of the shudder engineers when I get back from Kalifornia.
I’d assume 2nd focal plane. From what I understand, a 1st focal plane reticle would -zoom- along with magnification. 1st focal plane, the dots and spacing would get larger as magnification increases?
No, 1st focal, the reticle size does NOT change. Shooter can use it to measure for unknowns at any mag setting as a result.
2nd focal, reticle size changes with mag, shooter needs to have it at max-mag to measure correctly.