Leupold MIL DOT, Mil Dot Reticle Instruction Manual

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The Leupold Mil Dot Reticle uses two distinct dot shape variations—round and “football.”
Both styles employ a system based on the subtension of one milliradian (mil) from the
center of one dot to the center of the next. This is also the distance between the crosshairs
and the first dot.

The subtension of 1 mil equals 3.6 inches at 100 yards or 36 inches at 1,000 yards.
In metric units, the correspondence is 1 mil equals 10 centimeters at 100 meters or
1 meter at 1,000 meters. Knowing this subtension and knowing the size of the target
(or a reference object near the target) allows the distance to the target to be estimated
with considerable accuracy.

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IRSTVERSUSSECONDFOCALPLANE

In variable-magnification optics, the magnification setting for the use of the mil dot reticle
is determined by whether the reticle is in the first or second focal plane. The easiest way to
determine if the mil dot reticle is in the first focal plane is to view the reticle through the

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scope while changing the magnification setting. If the size of the reticle appears to change
as the magnification setting is changed, the reticle is in the first focal plane. If it does not
appear to change size, it is in the second focal plane.

If the reticle is in the first focal plane, no specific magnification setting is required to
obtain the proper subtension to yield accurate range estimating results.

When the Leupold

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Mil Dot reticle is installed in the second focal plane of an optic, it
is calibrated to a specific magnification for range estimating purposes. In a variable­magnification scope, this is generally the highest magnification setting and all range
estimating must be performed at this setting. However, in certain scopes it may be
calibrated for a different setting. If you are uncertain to what setting your scope is
calibrated, contact Leupold Customer Service.

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To use the mil dot reticle, you must know the actual size of the target.

1. View the target through the scope

2. Place the edge of one post against one edge (top, bottom, or either side)

of the target so that the crosshair extends along either its width or height

3. Using the dots, measure along the crosshair to the opposite edge of the target

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If the center of the crosshair is against one edge of the target and the opposite edge of the
target is positioned behind the center of the second dot, the target measures 2 mils. If it is
exactly between the second and third dot, it measures 2.5 mils, etc. The more specific you
are in your estimation of the size of the target in mils (2.75 mils, etc.), the more accurate
your results will be. This is especially important in estimating the range of a small target or
in estimating the range of a target at a great distance (i.e. beyond 500 yards).

Once the measurement of the target has been determined in mils, the range can be
estimated. This can be done in two ways—either by consulting the charts in this manual
or by using the following formula:

(Height of Target in Yards x 1,000) ÷Height of Target in Mils = Range of the Target in Yards

This formula will also give results in metric terms if meters instead of yards are used
in the equation.

For your convenience, Leupold has included range estimating tables (see Tables 1-6).
Four of these tables are calculated to the nearest 0.5 mil and two (a special sub-yard and
a special sub-meter target size tables) are calculated to the nearest 0.25 mil. To use these
tables, locate the actual size of the target along the top of the table and the apparent size
of the target, as measured in mils, along the side of the table. Follow both until they
converge. This is the estimated distance to the target.

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