Learning to use mils.

[Alex Wheeler]

I have a new scope that is in .1 mils. I have always used moa. Moa is easy, 1 moa at 600 is about 6'', I can do that easily in my head, not so with mils. Does anyone have a simple way of doing mils in your head?

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I go by 1 mil being a meter at a thousand meters. .1 mil at a thousand meters is 10 centimeters. At 100 meters 1 mil is 10 cent and .1 is one centimeter. Decided a while back to just switch everything over to mil mil mil or MOA MOA MOA. THat being mil sight mil adjustment mil distance measurment. Using a mil reticle with mil turrets and then measuring in yards is what makes it challenging for most. Just use meters then everything is multiples of 10.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

See, thats the problem. I dont use metric anything. I can't visualize 10cm, I have no idea how big that is. Say I miss by a foot at 600, I know thats 2 moa, but I have no idea how many cm that miss was.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

It's actually supper easy to start using mils you just have to use it and not think about using it. In fact it is easier to use than moa just because it's all units of 10. You can imagine 1cm? I just carried around a 6 inch machinist rule with me that also had cm on it and would measure things that I see while shooting such as targets, groups, wooden target stands, and anything else I usually encounter while shooting.

 

[Hal]

One mil is 3.6" @100 yds.

Hal

 

[kyreloader]

If you have an ffp scope(or a sfp scope on correct power), don't think in anything.

For example, take your example above. You miss by a foot at 600 yards, don't measure that in feet, use your scope and measure in mils. Then, just use your mil adjustments on your mil/mil scope and turn in what you see for a miss and shoot again.

I use MOA scope on MOA targets (HP/Fclass), but use mil/mil scopes on everything else(ffp). I like being able to see what I need to adjust then either hold/adjust to center punch if repeat shot is needed. I no longer think I missed by 6 inches low, I adjust/hold what I see in the reticle and shoot again.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[cdparker]

The answers that folks have given are right on for what they are trying to tell you. Think in meters--or nothing at all! Mil/mil is used by the "Tacti-cool" guys for target's at unknown distances and of unknown size. If you really want to learn about it--Brownell's sells a Mildot Master Calculator part #889-100-000AK see p.375 of the big catalog. Just to be quick and dirty a .10mil is about 1/3 min. Your enemy is 1 meter from the bottom of his crotch to the top of his head. If he subtends three mildots, he is 333 meters away. 100 meters is 109 yards.
Does that help?

 

[Quinc]

www.shooterready.com

 

[BoydAllen]

A mil, at the target, is one thousandth of the distance to the target, So whatever units you like can be applied. For example, if your target distance is 1,000 yards, a mil, is 1 yd. If you are at 600 yards, it is .6 yards. 100 yards is 3,600 inches, so (moving the decimal over three places to the left) at that distance a mil is 3.6 inches. You can use whatever units you like. The ratio is 1,000 to one.

Mil stands for milliradian, which is a thousandth of a radian. If you take the radius of a circle and measure that distance around the perimeter of the circle, the angle that you get, with the vertex at the center of the circle, is one radian, and since the circumference is two times the radius times pi (3.1416...) there are two pi radians in the full circumference of a circle, or approximately 6.28 radians. Radians, or milliradians are units of angular measurement, that can be converted into degrees if needed.

Another commonly used unit of angular measurement is a minute of arc, or angle. For a little review, angles may be measured in degrees. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute of angle can be divided into 60 seconds. To find the value of a minute of angle, you double the distance to the target, multiply that by pi (3.14...), divide that by 360 and then divide that by 60. At 100 yards you get approximately 1.047 inches, which is usually rounded to 1" in in discussions relating to shooting. As an aside, the commonly used 20 MOA scope base is inclined one third of a degree, 20/60 = 1/3.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I guess I just need to get out and use it. Thanks for all the help guys. I guess my main problem is I have used moa so long when I am judging wind (first shot for hunting) I look at the conditions and say hmm, thats about a 2 moa wind. I will make up a chart and just try and get used to it. If I look at a condition I have no idea how many mils to click in. I will give it a go. Thanks

 

[BoydAllen]

Just remember that a mil is roughly three and a half times larger than a MOA.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

A mil, at the target, is one thousandth of the distance to the target, So whatever units you like can be applied. For example, if your target distance is 1,000 yards, a mil, is 1 yd. If you are at 600 yards, it is .6 yards. 100 yards is 3,600 inches, so (moving the decimal over three places to the left) at that distance a mil is 3.6 inches. You can use whatever units you like. The ratio is 1,000 to one.

If you use your reticule to range this will not be correct and will give you false readings. You can complicate the math and create more error by mixing yards and meters or you can stick with what the unit of measurement is based off of and keep it simple and accurate. While the measurement isn't too far off at 1000 the farther out you go mixing units the worse your error will be.

 

[BoydAllen]

While I agree about sticking with the same units throughout, I disagree about the need to use the metric system. I was not suggesting mixing units, I was demonstrating that the 1,000 to 1 ratio applies to all units, and in doing so, I used meters with meters, yards with yards, and inches with inches. I did not mix, but rather showed that any system could be used.

This is one example of a handy tool that makes using mildots much easier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adTdOtsL-Dw
You may note that target size is given in inches, probably because that is the system that most shooters in this country are most familiar with.

In another example, Leupold's instructions for using their mildot reticules, if you scroll down to page 15 they have a table where target sizes are given in inches and yards. http://www.leupold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tactical-Milling-Reticle-Man.pdf

 

[brian427cobra]

Don't convert MIL's to any unit of measurement, 1 mil is 1 mil at any distance, use the reticle to measure corrections, after all it is a calibrated ruler, very accurate and fast holds can done with MIL's, ranging can be done with MIL's, but do not assign a hard value to them, it's a simple system that requires only a open mind.

 

[mikecr]

zfastmalibu, why buy a scope in MIL when you can get em in MOA or IPHY?

I use laser ranging binocs and a field click card, and while I'll dial any standard, I hold-off for wind in IPHY..
It's just easiest for this American.
I don't hold-off for elevation, or bracket range. I prefer a simple, and still the best(IMO), crosshair reticle.

 

[timeout]

zfastmalibu, why buy a scope in MIL when you can get em in MOA?

Being an old fart not brought up with the metric system, this was the question in my mind. I just purchased a NF with the MOA reticle. Probably won't fool with it until closer to spring. I kind of dislike too much "clutter" in a scope, so that may be a strike against the MOA reticle versus just dialing. I'm going to give it a try, if I don't like it, I'm not married to it.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I feel switching between the two, would be a pain. And costly if you decide you like mils.

 

[Milo 2.0]

zfastmalibu, why buy a scope in MIL when you can get em in MOA?

Being an old fart not brought up with the metric system, this was the question in my mind. I just purchased a NF with the MOA reticle. Probably won't fool with it until closer to spring. I kind of dislike too much "clutter" in a scope, so that may be a strike against the MOA reticle versus just dialing. I'm going to give it a try, if I don't like it, I'm not married to it.

I bet when you're on target, the only part of that reticle you'll see is the crosshairs you're used to. My first one, I thought, wow this is busy, if you're that low, or high, I'll bet you still dial. The only thing I think you may not like, is the thickness of the reticle, if it's the MOAR.

 

[jelrod1]

zfastmalibu, why buy a scope in MIL when you can get em in MOA or IPHY?

That is funny. I actually think the opposite but they both work and it's good to have choices.

It has been said in this thread but is worth saying again. Mils are not metric. They are a unit of angular measure just like MOA. They work with yards, meters, miles, kilometers or whatever. It is a 1000th of a radian. The debate should be if you like Radians vs degrees/minutes/seconds not yards vs meters. I dial elevation and hold wind and I find them easier and simpler for me to use. That's just my preference.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I did not buy the scope. I acquired it. It is a very nice scope, and I'm not opposed to learning how to use it. I doubt I will ever use it to range as I have a laser and wouldnt want to chance a wounded animal. I ordered one of those mildot mastgeters, I think I will get used to it after using it for a while. Thanks.