mildot scopes

cubsfan · 03-20-2008, 07:40 PM

Just wondering what you all think. Do mildots just make hunting difficult if you don't have time to use the little converter tablet? I bought my buckmasters scope with mildots because I thought they were to help with elevation and windage estimations. Kind of like my bow sights. I dont know much about decent scopes. I have always had Bushnell Banners or Tascos. I think I will bring it back to Sportsmans as I read more about the mildots and how they are used. Can anybody tell me if they help the average hunter who doesn't sit in a blind or on a stand? I have about a millisecond to get a shot at my deer or elk. I hunt public land westside and eastern oregon canyons. Thanks in advance for any help.-Cubsfan

tyeallen · 03-20-2008, 07:57 PM

The mil dot probably wont help the aveage shooter. To be effective with the mil dot you need to get rounds through your rifle at long distances to make it effective, and if your the average hunter you will not put but maybe twenty rounds throuogh your rifle.

jmshave · 03-20-2008, 08:21 PM

Mil Dots take a fair amount of study and use to become proficient with. Unless you are really reaching out there, they would likely not be much help with your average big game shot.

Ol' KL · 03-20-2008, 08:36 PM

I personally like them.

I don't know how they slow you down? They don't have a duplex, so it may be harder to find the cross hairs esp. in timber.

If you think about how you sight in your rifle, you can make them as good as a bullet-drop compensation reticle. You can arrange the dots for various distances and then use the dot itself to measure how much to hold over at ranges that fall between your points. If you practice using it a little bit, you can use it to estimate range in a pinch. If you have target turrets and time, you can still dial-in.

If I never planned to shoot more than 300yrds, why bother. A duplex is just fine. I think I'd just as soon have a Mil-dot vs. most other reticles I've seen.

Flatfish · 03-20-2008, 08:41 PM

On big game inside 500 yards, I never felt the standard duplex was lacking.

Small critters, or real long range wants for mil dot.

EvilD · 03-20-2008, 10:15 PM

Mildot scopes can be effective if you've put in the time. Most mil dot scopes work well with military like 30cal trajectories. The dots create good reference points if you map them out at a range with known distances. I have a 6.5x20 varmint on a 223 rem. that only sees bench and squirrels where sighters and "practice" shots can be taken. I don't think in a high speed hunting situation I could use a mil dot type scope. However some people I've shot with can use the mil dots to estimate range

D

cubsfan · 03-20-2008, 10:18 PM

Thanks everybody. I think that I won't be shooting over 300 yards and I have a very, very flat trajectory rifle. I may just buy the other buckmasters that was 75 dollars less. I just dont shoot enough to become proficient. Thanks again to EVERY person who replied here. Thank you, also, for giving me the proper name I was looking for "bullet drop compensation reticle." I think I compared this to "bow sights" earlier, as I did not know how to say it. I learn something everyday on this website.

Cornbread · 03-21-2008, 05:31 AM

You need a lot of practice with mildots to be effective with them and they are really for long range shots. To estimate distance using them the formula is (size of the target in meters * 1000) / size of target in mils = range to the target in meters. When you start getting into moa adjustments of hold over or hold under and windage it starts to get more complicated. I like mil dot reticles but for the average hunting shot especially on the west side I think they are probably overkill.

MossyOarReelCreek · 03-21-2008, 06:13 AM

The mildot is great for range estimation. But, you need to know the exact (as close as you can) size of an object at the distance you are measuring.

If an you measure with 1 mil ( from middle of one dot to the next) and the object is 36inches high (example elk chest to back). Then that elk is 1000 yards away. A blacktail deer is approx 18 inches chest to back. It would be 500 yards away.

1 mil-36 inches = 1000 yds

It takes a little practice.. it's not hard. What is hard is finding 36 inch or 18 inch objects to look at when hunting

MORC

Hunt'nFish · 03-21-2008, 07:40 AM

I'm with everone else......Mil-Dot reticles "had" thier place in range estimation but with todays laser rangefinders that has all changed.

IMO, when you take out the ranging aspect of mil-dots your better off with a BDC, B&C, varmint reticle or some other ballistic reticle.

All that said, the man who takes the time and commitment to learn and understand the mil-dot system does not need any technology to know range & put bullets on target at long range.
Fascinating stuff, but outdated.
Hunt'nFish

ajfishfinder · 03-21-2008, 09:19 AM

I have them on several 10-22's. They are the best for sage rat shooting. I site it dead on at 100 yards. Knowing this I can hold up or down a dot or 2 or 3 and drop them back in the hole. For the real long shots in the 200 to 300 yard zone they pretty much become a great estimator. Once you shoot rats with them for a day your mind learns the size of the target in the scope and tells you how many dots to hold over or under. Even if your first shot splashes the dirt, now you have an even better idea on how many dots to hold over or under and this usually means lights out for the rat. For the nay-says that don't think a 22 is capable of turning off a rats lights at 300 yards, just invite me to your favorite rat spot and I will demonstrate. It might take 2 or 3 shots to range them, but a 22 can still be deadly or at least make them dance out this far.

WoodShampoo · 03-21-2008, 05:13 PM

Here's another question to hijack the thread... If I have to use my 3rd mil dot at 500 yds and my scope is set at 21x... what if I turn my power down to 7x? Will I still get away with using my third mid dot, or does this change things? It seems to me that if I change my power adjustment on my scope that it change my point of aim. Experts??? What do you say???

Brian

eric_in_or · 03-21-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

I'm with everone else......Mil-Dot reticles "had" thier place in range estimation but with todays laser rangefinders that has all changed.

IMO, when you take out the ranging aspect of mil-dots your better off with a BDC, B&C, varmint reticle or some other ballistic reticle.

All that said, the man who takes the time and commitment to learn and understand the mil-dot system does not need any technology to know range & put bullets on target at long range.
Fascinating stuff, but outdated.
Hunt'nFish

My thoughts exactly. A laser range-finder and a Ballistic Plex reticle (or pins when flinging broadheads) is perfect. Realistically, for big game at reasonable distances, the duplex is just fine.

MossyOarReelCreek · 03-21-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodShampoo

Here's another question to hijack the thread... If I have to use my 3rd mil dot at 500 yds and my scope is set at 21x... what if I turn my power down to 7x? Will I still get away with using my third mid dot, or does this change things? It seems to me that if I change my power adjustment on my scope that it change my point of aim. Experts??? What do you say???

Brian

For mildot range estimation...it is best to use a fixed power scope. Most common is 10x. There is a whole bunch more math involved when you start changing power magnification with mildot measurements. Yes changing the power will effect your aimpoint reference. I am by no means an expert. I have read quite a bit about it. I have one and use it. I like the old school thing. But, I am sure I will join the darkside soon and get a laser ranger finder. You know how we all love toys!