I have a new scope and need some help

N

nathaniel

New member
Ok I bought a scope with mildots and I just can't figure out how to use them I'm sure its easy as pie but I'm just getting a brain fart. Here is the information that I have if you need more info just let me know.

Range in yrds - value in inches
100 - 3.6
200 - 7.2
300 - 10.8
400 - 14.8
500 - 18
600 - 21.6
700 - 25.2
800 - 29.6
900 - 32.4
1000 - 36

Now this is the ammo I'm using and the amount it drops
30-06 pointed soft point with a 100 yard zero

yards inches of drop
100 - .6
200 - 9.3
300 - 19.3
400 - 39.2
500 - 69.1

How many mills high will I have to hold at how many yards? Thanks for the help. And just so you know I will be shooting in competition this summer and I cant find any fmj ammo around here, I know thats the best to use for comp. but I have no access to any.
 
I cant find any fmj ammo around here, I know thats the best to use for comp.
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Really? I don't know that. What kind of "comp"? If you are thinking about the ranges tabulated, most of us use hollowpoint or plastic pointed match bullets from Sierra, Hornady, Lapua, or Berger. FMJ is way out of date, even if you have some 173 gr military match .30-06. Walmart softpoints will disappoint you beyond about 300 yards.

I am not really qualified to train you on the use of Mil Dots for holdover, somebody will be along. I shoot known distances and set my scope for the range and hold center.
 
The competition is for hunting rifles, the local sportsmans club puts it on and they shoot out to 500 yards using the three shooting positions off hand, sitting, and prone. I was always told that using fmj's were the way to go when it came to long range shooting, but I guess I was told wrong.
 
I shoot Mid and LR, High Power and know what my bullet drops are from 100-1000 yds. Ref FMJ's. Use a target bullet for target shooting. You will do better as the range increases.

Mil Dots are used to range a target (figure out the distance) using the reticle. Your list appears to be the standard space between dot centers. the space between the two is one milliradian. 1 Mil = 3.6 inchs at 100 yds or 36 inches at 1000 yds.

What all that means is it allows you to determine the range to a target of a known size. It's kind of easy but you have to use a formula to figure it.
It is the height of target in yds divided by the height of target in mils (dots) X 1000 = distance in yards.

If the average male is 6 ft tall and you know that a mil dot is 36 inces at 1000 yds then 2X36 inches = the 6 ft tall guy or 2 yards tall (let's keep it in yards). You look at the guy through your scope and the top of his hat to the bottom of his shoes = 4 dots. Take the 2 (yds) divide by 4 (dots) = 2.

2 yds X 1000 yds gives you a distance of 500 yds.

Now that you know the distance you can determine your drop. Like Jim I would just dial in the in the drop in MOA and aim dead on, allowing for wind, if any. Wind is a whole other story. Then again so is drop. And speaking of drop, it's a good idea to know just how many clicks of up your scope is capable of. The average drop at 600 yds is around 16 inches. With a 1/4 MOA scope turret that = 16 X 4 or 64 clicks of up. Many scopes will do 50 clicks but few 60+ and if you need to put in windage that might cut down on the number of clicks "up" that you have available. if you don't have it you need to get a 20 MOA mount or Burris Zee Rings with 20 MOA inserts. I use those because they won't harm (mar) the scope tube.
 
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I recommend using tactical-style knobs for elevation compensation.

However, to answer your question:

To convert inches of drop at a distance to mils:

MILS = 27.8 * INCHES / RANGE

So your 500 yard dope would be MILS = 27.8 * 69.1 / 500 = 3.8 mils.

To convert data in MOA to data in MILS, simply divide by 3.43.
 
Thanks Zak Smith I'm on a budget so I can't buy a better scope but your info is what I was looking for thanks again.
 
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