Thread: Errors in visually estimating range.

Originally Posted by thedrunkfish

Yup as long as u know exactly where you are ie 8 or 10 figure grid from gps. Then use compass and good map reading. Takes a while

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No GPS needed either, not allowed.

Deer will be gone by the time ya do a resection

Originally Posted by thedrunkfish

Deer will be gone by the time ya do a resection

Maybe, maybe not. Still a good skill to have. No?

Originally Posted by R93

Anyone know how to accurately Judge distance with just a map, compass and protractor?

Not accurately enough for me to shoot any real distance. After triangulating my position and taking a bearing to the target I could use the contour lines to estimate the targets position.
What Am I missing here R93?

Agreed.

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Yeah, resection your own position then you still have to guesstimate where the target is anyway, if you could accurately do that you could probably accurately estimate it's distance from you without resection. But might be a good way of double checking yourself while practicing if you don't have a range finder.

IE have a guess how far a prominent feature is from your position, (like a road junction, bridge, something that will be on the map), resection your position then the point you guessed and simply use the scale rule on your compass to see how far off or on you were!

I don't think this method would be practical while actually hunting though.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Not accurately enough for me to shoot any real distance. After triangulating my position and taking a bearing to the target I could use the contour lines to estimate the targets position.
What Am I missing here R93?

Your onto it Cam. A prismatic compass is what you would need for greater accuracy but it can be done with almost any compass. You may also have to convert your mag bearing to a grid bearing to plot the back bearing from your target on the map.

Yup good way to make map to ground easier is shoot brg to target convert and plot the bearing an your target will b somewhere along that line

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Originally Posted by Dougie

I don't think this method would be practical while actually hunting though.

Its all we had to go on for years before range finders. It has worked for me. Even for getting ranges within 500 right. Your nav has to be of a high standard, but as long as you are within 15% you will hit your animal in the kill zone at ranges too 600.

Originally Posted by R93

Its all we had to go on for years before range finders. It has worked for me. Even for getting ranges within 500 right. Your nav has to be of a high standard, but as long as you are within 15% you will hit your animal in the kill zone at ranges too 600.

I hope I can afford to have something accurate up to 600m

I was pretty shocked and stunned to know how little even some of my CPLs and SGTs know about nav. It's pretty handy stuff!

Originally Posted by Dougie

I hope I can afford to have something accurate up to 600m

I was pretty shocked and stunned to know how little even some of my CPLs and SGTs know about nav. It's pretty handy stuff!

I hope they were not infanteers. Navigation would be one of the most important skills to have as a functioning soldier.