Thread: RECOMMEDATIONS FOR A VERY GOOD NAVIGATION / MARCHING COMPASS

Thought so , I am familar with the old prismatic compass , and have not seen anything to match it ever , its a shame they are so expensive .

I use the Silva Type 15TD-CL Sighting compass, graduated in mils, with adjustable declination. You crank in the current magnetic variation, using the brass key on the lanyard and then ...:

NO MORE MGA - mag to grid add OR GMS - grid to mag subtract!

N.B. You will have to specify ... Sighting compass with mils and adjustable declination. Yes it costs more BUT it is a great deal easier to use, especially at the end of a day.

Originally Posted by ZG47

I use the Silva Type 15TD-CL Sighting compass, graduated in mils, with adjustable declination. You crank in the current magnetic variation, using the brass key on the lanyard and then ...:

NO MORE MGA - mag to grid add OR GMS - grid to mag subtract!

N.B. You will have to specify ... Sighting compass with mils and adjustable declination. Yes it costs more BUT it is a great deal easier to use, especially at the end of a day.

Yep great compass, it is essentially the new version of the older Ranger (curved lid rather than square) that I carry as a back up and like you have the MV pre-loaded on to it to assist with those end of day or rapid setting of bearings.

I think the multiply region compasses work because, like a Yacht compass the "needle" can move on two axis, however a yacht compass is so large, it counter balances via gravity. The pivot of the needle for 5 zone compass is a lot more complicated. The cheaper compasses only spin like a watch as they are weighted for the region to counter balance the magnetic field... If you use them in another region they may potentially touch the housing.

I.E if you used a NZ compass in Canada expect problems.