Mil Dot scopes are optics which allow users to easily calculate distances to a target without fancy equipment. Originally used by submarine periscopes, it has been scaled and re-implemented for military and recreational rifle marksmen to determine distance objects or to allow for bullet drop compensation. Once the basics are learned, calculating distances can be quick and painless using Mil Dots.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Background

  1. 1
    Binocular and periscope Mil Dots are not the same as rifle scope Mil Dots. They measure the same type of angular distance, but is actually 10 Mils instead of only one, which is more suited for marksmen use.
  2. 2
    A Mil is 1-6,175 of a circle. But to simplify calculations, the U.S. military calculates them as 1-6283 of a circle[1] (previously 1-6400 on older scopes). Russian-based scopes are set to 1-6,000 of a circle. This means there is up to a 3% error in distance calculations.
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  3. 3
    When looking at Mil Dots through a scope, one Mil is the distance from the center of one dot, to the center of the next dot (not the space between the dots).[2] Each dot is .2mil and the space between the dots is .8mil for the round army type mil dot reticle.
  4. 4
    Mil distances on rear-plane cross hairs on a variable-power scope usually are only accurate at the highest power.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Measuring Distance

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Calculate as accurately as possible, and any "added error" (by yourself) is error in distance that may not be acceptable.[4]
  3. 3
    Use a calculator if needed. Some equations might get pretty complex, and accuracy is key, but the speed of a calculator may also help in some situations.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Why do you multiply by 1000 in the formula?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Mil stands for milliradian, so to get it to radians, you must multiply by 1000.
  • Question
    Is a bullet drop not part of the mil dot ranging?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Bullet weights and loads vary, so you might need to do a little of your own math and keep a record for height adjustments.
  • Question
    Can I use a normal mobile phone or camera to do this?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, if your mobile phone has a calculator, and you have the formula. Calculator apps are also available and are free to download on Google play and in the Apple play store.
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Warnings

  • Sloppy range estimate comes from sloppy estimation of size of the target and span of Mils.
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  • Be sure to follow all state and local laws while shooting. Note that many laws on firearms change drastically from state to state, and can even change between counties or even cities.
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  • Firearms can be very dangerous and even lethal. They should only be used by experienced firearm users or under the direct supervision of an expert firearm instructor.
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 481,538 times.
99 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 16
Updated: July 18, 2019
Views: 481,538
Categories: Rifles
Article SummaryX

To calculate distance using a mil dot rifle scope, multiply the object’s height or width by 1000, then divide that number by the number of mils the object spans in your scope. For example, if you know a tree is 6 feet tall, but appears to be 8 mils in your scope, the object is 750 feet away. Since a mil is exactly the distance between the centers of the dots, you can compare an object to these dots to determine how many mils it is. Keep reading to learn how to account for error and be more accurate in your estimates!

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