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Customer Service: (503) 526-1400
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Leupold products are manufactured under one or more of the following patents—U.S.: 4,393,595; 4,395,096; 4,408,842; 4,643,542;
5,035,487; 5,231,535; 5,671,088; 5,866,048; 6,005,711; 6,359,418; D347,441; D420,807; D421,286; D427,658. Foreign Patents: 374359; CA88472; CA1,253,381; DE69216763.3; DE-M9304093.8; EP0540368; SE55201. The ARD (anti-reflection device) is manufactured
by Tenebraex Corp. (U.S. Patent No. 4,929,055) under the name KillFlash, which is a trademark of Tenebraex Corp.
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P/N 54517
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.
F
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
[
T
he
L
eupold
®
M
il
D
ot
R
eticle
]
1
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
®
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.
T
HE
U
SE OF A
M
IL
D
OTRETICLE
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
2
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.
3
4
[
U
sing the
D
ata
O
btained
W
ith the
M
il
D
ot
R
eticle
]
Once you have estimated the distance to the target with the mil dot reticle, there are two
primary methods of using this information. Both require that you know the specific bullet
drop of the ammunition you are using.
D
IALING THECORRECTION INTO THESCOPE
The most effective way to use the estimated distance is to dial the necessary correction
into the scope using the elevation adjustment. (If your scope features a bullet drop
compensation dial, simply dial the correction directly according to the distance marked
on the elevation dial.)
1. Calculate the “drop to adjustment increment” ratio of your scope.
To do this, use the equation:
Distance to the target in yards ÷100 = Inch value of each minute of angle
2. Determine the correction necessary for the target using:
Known bullet drop for distance to target ÷Inch value of each minute of angle =
Correction to be dialed in minutes of angle
5
H
OLDINGOVER
U
SING THE
M
IL
D
OTS
Sometimes there isn’t time for correction using the scope’s adjustment mechanisms.
In these cases, holding over the target and using the reticle’s mil dot markings as an
aiming point is useful. It must be remembered that holding over is not as exact as
dialing elevation.
For ease in calculation, assume that the distance from the center of one mil dot to the
center of the next is 3.6 inches at 100 yards.
1. Calculate the hold over value of each dot for the distance to the target:
(Distance to the target in yards ÷100) x 3.6 =
Inch value from the center of one mil dot to the center of the next at that distance
2. Calculate the correct hold over:
Known bullet drop at target distance
÷
Inch value from the center of one mil dot to the center of the next at that distance =
Correct hold over for target distance
For quick reference on the value of mils at different distances, consult Tables 7 and 8.
1 mil = 3.600" 0.5 mil = 1.800"
@ 100 Yards 0.9 mil = 3.240" 0.2 mil = 0.720"
0.8 mil = 2.880" 1 mil = 3.438 Minutes of Angle = 3.600"
R
ETICLE
M
EASUREMENTS
6
7
0.25090.333120.444160.500180.556200.611220.667240.778280.889
32
333 444 500 556 611 667 778 889
200 267 356 400 444 489 533 622 711
167 222 296 333 370 407 444 519 593
143 190 254 286 317 349 381 444 508
125 167 222 250 278 306 333 389 444
1.00 MIL
1.25 MIL
1.50 MIL
1.75 MIL
2.00 MIL
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN INCHES OR YARDS
INCHES
YARDS
APPARENT SIZE OF
THE TARGET IN MILS
250
Table 1
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE IN
Y
ARDS
8
0.25090.333120.444160.500180.556200.611220.667240.778280.889
32
167 222 250
100 133 178 200
83 111 148 167
71 95 127 143
63 83 111 125
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN INCHES OR YARDS
INCHES
YARDS
125
74 99 111
50 67 89 100
45 61 81 91
42 56 74 83
38 51 68 77
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
5.5 MIL
6.0 MIL
6.5 MIL
56
48 63 71
33 44 59 67
31 42 56 63
29 39 52 59
28 37 49 56
7.0 MIL
7.5 MIL
8.0 MIL
8.5 MIL
9.0 MIL
36
26 35 47 53
25 33 44 50
278
222
185
159
139
123
111
101
93
85
79
74
69
65
62
58
56
306
244
204
175
153
136
122
111
102
94
87
81
76
72
68
64
61
333
267
222
190
167
148
133
121
111
103
95
89
83
78
74
70
67
389
311
259
222
194
173
156
141
130
120
111
104
97
92
86
82
78
444
356
296
254
222
198
178
162
148
137
127
119
111
105
99
94
89
9.5 MIL
10.0 MIL
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
Table 2
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE IN
Y
ARDS
9
1.0
36754
1.3 1.7 2.0 2.3
500 667
833
1000 1167
400 533
667
800 933
333 444
556
667 778
286 381
476
571 667
250 333
417
500 583
222 296
370
444 519
200 267
333
400 467
182 242
303
364 424
167 222
278
333 389
154 205
256
308 359
143 190
238
286 333
133 178
222
267 311
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
5.5 MIL
6.0 MIL
6.5 MIL
7.0 MIL
7.5 MIL
8.0 MIL
8.5 MIL
9.0 MIL
9.5 MIL
10.0 MIL
125 167
208
250 292
118 157 196 235 275
111 148 185 222 259
105 140 175 211 246
100 133 167 200 233
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN FEET OR YARDS
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
FEET
YARDS
Table 3
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE INYARDS
10
80
800
640
533
457
400
1.00 MIL
1.25 MIL
1.50 MIL
1.75 MIL
2.00 MIL
80
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN CENTIMETERS
APPARENT SIZE OF
THE TARGET IN MILS
CENTIMETERS
50
500
400
333
286
250
40
400
320
267
229
200
30
300
240
200
171
150
60
600
480
400
343
300
70
700
560
467
400
350
90
900
720
600
514
450
Table 4
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE IN
M
ETERS
11
80
80
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN CENTIMETERS
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
CENTIMETERS
504030 60 70 90
400
320
267
229
200
178
160
145
133
123
114
107
100
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
5.5 MIL
6.0 MIL
6.5 MIL
7.0 MIL
7.5 MIL
8.0 MIL
250
200
167
143
125
111
100
91
83
77
71
67
63
200
160
133
114
100
89
80
73
67
62
57
53
50
150
120
100
86
75
67
60
55
50
46
43
40
38
300
240
200
171
150
133
120
109
100
92
86
80
75
350
280
233
200
175
156
140
127
117
108
100
93
88
450
360
300
257
225
200
180
164
150
138
129
120
113
94
89
84
80
8.5 MIL
9.0 MIL
9.5 MIL
10.0 MIL
59
56
53
50
47
44
42
40
35
33
32
30
71
67
63
60
82
78
74
70
106
100
95
90
Table 5
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE IN
M
ETERS
12
80
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
5.5 MIL
6.0 MIL
6.5 MIL
7.0 MIL
7.5 MIL
8.0 MIL
8.5 MIL
9.0 MIL
9.5 MIL
10.0 MIL
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN METERS
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
METERS
1.00
500
400
333
286
250
222
200
182
167
154
143
133
125
118
111
105
100
1.25
625
500
417
357
313
278
250
227
208
192
179
167
156
147
139
132
125
1.50
750
600
500
429
375
333
300
273
250
231
214
200
188
176
167
158
150
1.75
875
700
583
500
438
389
350
318
292
269
250
233
219
206
194
184
175
2.00
1000
800
667
571
500
444
400
364
333
308
286
267
250
235
222
211
200
Table 6
Y
IELDSESTIMATEDTARGETDISTANCE IN
M
ETERS
13
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
5.4 7.2 9.0 10.8 12.6 14.4 16.2 18.0
5.4 8.1 10.8 13.5 16.2 18.9 21.6 24.3 27.0
7.2 10.8 14.4 18.0 21.6 25.2 28.8 32.4 36.0
9.0 13.5 18.0 22.5 27.0 31.5 36.0 40.5 45.0
10.8 16.2 21.6 27.0 32.4 37.8 43.2 48.6 54.0
1.0 MIL
1.5 MIL
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
DISTANCE TO THE TARGET IN YARDS
YARDS
3.6
18.9 25.2 31.5 37.8 44.1 50.4 56.7 63.0
14.4 21.6 28.8 36.0 43.2 50.4 57.6 64.8 72.0
16.2 24.3 32.4 40.5 48.6 56.7 64.8 72.9 81.0
18.0 27.0 36.0 45.0 54.0 63.0 72.0 81.0 90.0
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
12.6
Table 7
MILS
V
ALUE OF
M
ILS ININCHES AT
D
ISTANCES
M
EAUSURED INYARDS
14
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
15.0 22.5 30.0 37.5 45.0 52.5 60.0 67.5 75.0
20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
25.0 37.5 50.0 62.5 75.0 87.5 100.0 112.5 125.0
30.0 45.0 60.0 75.0 90.0 105.0 120.0 135.0 150.0
1.0 MIL
1.5 MIL
2.0 MIL
2.5 MIL
3.0 MIL
DISTANCE TO THE TARGET IN METERS
METERS
10.0
52.5 70.0 87.5 105.0 122.5 140.0 157.5 175.0
40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0 140.0 160.0 180.0 200.0
45.0 67.5 90.0 112.5 135.0 157.5 180.0 202.5 225.0
50.0 75.0 100.0 125.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0 250.0
3.5 MIL
4.0 MIL
4.5 MIL
5.0 MIL
35.0
Table 8
MILS
V
ALUE OF
M
ILS IN
C
ENTIMETERS AT
D
ISTANCES
M
EAUSURED IN
M
ETERS
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