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How to Read & Use Mil-Dot Rifle Scopes

The "Mil-Dot" rifle scope has ranging marks, or dots, along its cross-hairs. These marks can be used effectively to estimate your range to a target in meters, using a simple mathematical equation. In order to determine your range you must know the height of your target in meters. If you desire your range in feet or yards, having a conversion table handy is extremely helpful. To help you make a quick estimation of range, you may wish to also use a pocket calculator.

Things You'll Need

Mil-dot rifle scope
Distance conversion table
Pocket calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Aim your rifle scope at the target and align the horizontal cross-hair with the bottom of the object. Count the number of mil-dots along the vertical cross-hair to the top of the object; if the top falls between mil-dots, estimate the percentage of the interval (for example if the top is halfway between mil-dots, count it as 0.5).
- 2
  Divide the object's height by the number of mil-dots and multiply your answer by 1000. For example, if your object is two meters high and the mil-dot count is four, your equation would read: (2 ÷ 4) x 1,000 = 500. Your range to target is 500 meters.
- 3
  Use your conversion table to change the range to feet (if desired). For example, 500 meters equals 1640 feet.

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