Thread: mil-moa

I did this article for the gun club I used to belong too. It's pretty much cut and tucked from a magazine article (apart from the example and I hope the math is right) so I don't deserve any credit. Fun to muck around with though.


Milliradian dot scopes were developed in the late 70's for U.S. Marine snipers to estimate distances.
They have a designated magnification for ranging which is normally the highest setting (i.e. 9x). The distance between the dot centres at 100 yards should be 3.6 inches or 10cm at 100m for metric scopes.
You can confirm this by putting two pieces of tape on a fence post 100 yards away, centres exactly 3.6” apart.

To range find for targets in inches:
((Target size in inches/39) x 1000) / (number of mil-dots)= distance in yards.
Example: You spot a rabbit at an unknown distance through your scope, assuming most rabbits in the “sit” position is probably around 9” from chest to tail, you see
that it measures about 1.25 dots in your scope so:
9/39 x1000 /1.25 = 184.6 yards… simple.

For larger targets ((Target size in yards or meters) x 1000)
/ (number of mil-dots) = distance in yards or meters.
As game tends to be malleable, distances given may be more ball park figures.

As to why the max is listed in moa , when the scope has mil knobs , EASY , its listed that way so Yanks can understand them un Godly european metrics , ie most Yanks know you need approx 44moa to get a 308 out to 1000yds , and have NO idea how many mils they need for the 308 at 1000yds .

Originally Posted by hunter308

Simple I do not understand using mil. Ok if there was a simple way of understanding and how to use mil then I would probably look into it but every time I see it referred to it does my head in as I just plainly don't understand what the heck everyone is talking about and I never bother asking about it as I have never had the need to use something like that as I have never been into long range shooting. so if you would like to explain in in simple terms so thick shits like myself can understand it then be my guest instead of giving me a WTF



each cross hair on my scope is in 100 yard increments so easy for me to use if I know the distances I am shooting at.

How is your scope in 100 yard increments ?
Was the recticle made for your load? In your cal?

Originally Posted by hunter308

Simple I do not understand using mil. Ok if there was a simple way of understanding and how to use mil then I would probably look into it but every time I see it referred to it does my head in as I just plainly don't understand what the heck everyone is talking about and I never bother asking about it as I have never had the need to use something like that as I have never been into long range shooting. so if you would like to explain in in simple terms so thick shits like myself can understand it then be my guest instead of giving me a WTF



each cross hair on my scope is in 100 yard increments so easy for me to use if I know the distances I am shooting at.

1MIL=10cm at 100m....

1MIL=100cm at 1000m...

Most scopes with .1mil turrets.

.1MIL = 1cm at 100m
.1MIL = 10cm at 1000m

Pretty easy

@hunter308, i'll start a new thread on mil/moa basics...

feel free to ask any questions you have

Originally Posted by ebf

@hunter308, i'll start a new thread on mil/moa basics...

feel free to ask any questions you have

@ebf that would be great and really appreciated

Originally Posted by BRADS

How is your scope in 100 yard increments ?
Was the recticle made for your load? In your cal?

My bushnell trohpy XLT has the DOA600 reticle on it and has been designed to work with most calibers and has had me banging gongs out to 320 meters using the extra cross hairs with my current load I am using in the 270 so yes has been pretty much spot on

When you look at it closely, Mil radians makes more sense like all 10 divisible measurement systems (metric).

Gets spazzy when you are going back and forth from yards and inches though.

That being said I like MOA and find it very easy, but that may just be from my days as a land surveyor.

Scopes with mismatched reticles and turrets are the most dumb arse idea ever I can't believe they were ever made. I have one and can manage with the math but it is slower.