[ShaiVong]

The 'Building up a Low-Cost Precision Rifle' thread has reminded me about this question.

Whats the difference between a Mil-dot Reticle scope and a normal scope reticle? I've never used anything but an ordinary scope myself. ATM the only thing i know about them is that they're pricey ;)

[cratz2]

The difference is many people that don't know the difference between them are willing to pay the difference because it is soo much cooler on a tactical rifle. ;)

Actually, the Mil-Dot allows range estimation on objects of known size. A neat feature but though it's been recommended on the low budget 1,000 yard thread, I'm not sure how it would be of an advantage when shooting an known distances. :confused:

But they're cool, I tell you, cool!

[Fed168]

Mil dots are another type of reticle. You have duplex (probably the most common), post, all sorts that range from simple to confusing.
The dots are aligned on the vertical and horizontal wires in increments that allow for range estimation.
Cratz, I found them useful while shooting movers out to 300 yards on a known distance range.

[Art Eatman]

Horizontal mil-dots can be useful on a running deer, if you've done your homework and done a bit of practicing.

Figure a deer running directly across your path. He's moving some 30mph for round numbers, or 44 ft/sec. At 100 yards, it'll take the bullet 0.1 seconds to get there, so you figure four feet of lead, about half a deer in front of his nose if you're using regular crosshairs. 200 yards, eight feet. With a mil-dot setup, you put the appropriate dot where you want the bullet to go.

And don't forget to follow through with your swing, just like you do with a shotty-gun. :)

Art

[SIGarmed]

And just in case you're wondering mil dot doesn't mean military dot. The "mil" is short for a unit of measurement reffered to as a milliradian. Its smaller than a degree.

[Triad]

There's a program that shows you how to use a mil dot reticle. The company has a demo you can see here (http://www.shooterready.com/lrsdemolow.html) . This may help you understand better. HTH.

[Art Eatman]

I guess the confusion comes from the military's use of "mils" in field artillery.

Isn't a mil one-one/thousandth of a circle? (I'm gonna guess from "memory" before following the link.)

:), Art

[Skullboy]

This article on Sniper Country's websight explains mildots pretty well.
http://www.snipercountry.com/articles/RealTruthAboutMilDots.htm

HTH. SKBY.

[Fed168]

Leupold had two versions: Army and USMC versions. The army version were circular dots with the marine version being oval or football shaped.

I had a Tasco Super Sniper and the dots were round.

[gun-fucious]

heres a cool mil dot training demo:
http://www.shooterready.com/lrsdemo.htmlhere

[Gewehr98]

The Mil-Dot Master pocket slide rule is a handy thing to have, too.

[ShaiVong]

Thanks guys, LOTS of good info!

[Watchman]

Another good example of the value of a mildot in a scope...

My friend and I were shooting our .300 Mags and our .50's at a 9" plate at a known 600 yards.

We have identical setups, a Remington Sendero with 4X14 tatical mildot scopes.

It was pretty windy, windy enough that it took him 2 shots to hit the plate.

I asked him where he held, he said 2 mildots to the right.

I held 2 mildots to the right and slapped the target on the first shot.

I beleive that one of the main advantages of a mildot is the abilty of communication between one shooter and another, rather than saying about a foot and a half to the left, one uses the mildots and its more accurate as there is no quesstimation.