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First Focal Plane Scopes

Many manufacturers of Rifle Scopes have a range finding reticle of one form or another. Perhaps the most common of range-finding reticles is the Mil Dot Reticle. This article will describe how to use a Mil Dot Reticle. Using other range finding systems on rifle scopes is similar and usage can be inferred from this description.

Geometry of the MilDot

A MilDot Reticle consists of crosshairs with dots evenly spaced across the horizontal and vertical axes. Each dot in the reticle is one milliradian in diameter. Without getting too bogged down in geometry, a radian is an angular measurement of a circle where the radius of the circle equals the length of the arc of the circle. A milliradian is one one-thousandth of a radian.

Using the above geometry, we can then understand how the mil dot applies to range finding. If we understand the scope to be the center of a circle, and we consider the distance to the object to be the radius of the circle, then we will understand that the dot covers an arc of the circle. Now, knowing that the milliradian is one one-thousandth of the radius then we can use the simple formula that a mil dot equals one unit per thousand units. That is, one yard at a thousand yards; one meter at a thousand meters, one inch at a thousand inches, etc.

Focal Planes

Rifle Scopes have two focal planes, called the First and Second focal planes. Reticles can be placed in either the first or second focal planes. When the reticle is placed in the first focal plane of variable magnification scopes, the mil dot reticle can be used at any magnification as the reticle will shrink or grow with the magnification level. When the reticle is placed in the second focal plane of rifle scopes, the reticle size is fixed regardless of the magnification level. If this is the case, the mildot is usually calibrated for the highest magnification level. It usually helps to contact the manufacturer or look at the information that came with the rifle scope to be sure; however testing the rangefinding system against a know target size will reveal the calibration.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Speaking of testing the range finding system, using a mildot reticle for rangefinding takes practice and a lot of it. Other than understanding the use and size of the mildot, you must know the size of the target for comparison purposes. It is important to set targets of known sizes at distances you think you may want to use the mildot rangefinder and observe them through the rifle scope. Then test what you see. Does it work? Does it make sense? It does? Great; now practice some more.

Stephen Fischer is co-owner of MBS of New Orleans, LLC, the parent company of ClearlyOptics.com. Clearly Optics is dedicated to providing quality shooting accessories, including Binoculars, Rifle Scopes, Red Dot Sights, and Laser Sights at affordable prices.

To find quality Rifle Scopes, Laser Sights and other shooting accessories, Please visit us at ClearlyOptics.

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