Leupold MIL DOT User 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.
F IRST V ERSUS S ECOND F OCAL P LANE
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®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 variable-
magnification 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 OT R ETICLE
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.
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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 THE C ORRECTION INTO THE S COPE
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 OLDING O VER 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
0.250
9
0.333
12
0.444
16
0.500
18
0.556
20
0.611
22
0.667
24
0.778
28
0.889
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
1.00MIL
1.25MIL
1.50MIL
1.75MIL
2.00MIL
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TARGET IN INCHES OR YARDS
INCHES
YARDS
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
250
Table 1
Y IELDS E STIMATED T ARGET D ISTANCE IN Y ARDS

8
0.250
9
0.333
12
0.444
16
0.500
18
0.556
20
0.611
22
0.667
24
0.778
28
0.889
32
167 222 250
100 133 178 200
83 111 148 167
71 95 127 143
63 83 111 125
2.0MIL
2.5MIL
3.0MIL
3.5MIL
4.0MIL
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
4.5MIL
5.0MIL
5.5MIL
6.0MIL
6.5MIL
56
48 63 71
33 44 59 67
31 42 56 63
29 39 52 59
28 37 49 56
7.0MIL
7.5MIL
8.0MIL
8.5MIL
9.0MIL
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
9.5MIL
10.0MIL
APPARENT SIZE OF THE TARGET IN MILS
Table 2
Y IELDS E STIMATED T ARGET D ISTANCE IN Y ARDS