Ball-MilDot guide:Layout 1 6/9/08 10:29 AM Page 1

EXAMPLE: FROM 100 YARDS AND WORKING UP

Target size @ Yards to Target size @ Yards to

the Target the Target
Table 2
One Mil = 3.6” @ 100 yards 21.6” @ 600 yards Mil-Equivalent of Inches or Yards at Various Yardages
7.2” @ 200 yards 25.2” @ 700 yards
10.8” @ 300 yards 28.8” @ 800 yards approximate examples
14.4” @ 400 yards 32.4” @ 900 yards
18” @ 500 yards 36” @ 1000 yards
Size of
Object Fox Coyote Antelope Deer Deer
Avg Large Bull
Elk Cattle
Bull
MIL-DOT Riflescopes
Being 9" 12" 14" 16" 18" 24" 36"
Measured (.25 yard) (.33 yard) (.39 yard) (.44 yard) (.5 yard) (.67 yard) (1.0 yard)
2. Mil-Dots in a Burris scope represent 1 Mil only when your scope Congratulations on choosing a premium riflescope that contains
is set on it’s highest power setting--for example at nine power on a Mils Mils Mils Mils Mils Mils Mils one of the most precise but least understood aiming systems ever
3X-9X. The exception is the 8X-32X scope or scopes with a 100 yards 2.5 3.33 3.89 4.44 5.00 6.67 10.00 made - The Mil-Dot reticle.
Ballistic Mil-Dot™, both of which needs to be set at the power
200 yards 1.25 1.67 1.94 2.22 2.50 3.33 5.00 “Mil” does not stand for “Military”. Rather, it stands for milliradian
ring calibration mark at roughly 14X-16X for proper measuring.
which is a proportional measurement. A Mil means 1/1000 of any
300 yards 0.83 1.11 1.30 1.48 1.67 2.22 3.33
distance you measured. The most common example is one Mil
3. The distance from center to center of each 400 yards 0.63 0.83 0.97 1.11 1.25 1.67 2.50 equals 1 yard at 1000 yards.
Mil-Dot is one mil. The thickness of one Mil-Dot
500 yards 0.5 0.67 0.78 0.89 1.00 1.33 2.00 Unlike other reticles, the Mil-Dot system will allow you to
is 1/4 Mil and the distance between Mil-Dots
1 mil

3/4 mil

compute not only your range-to-target, but also hold over/under

1 mil

is 3/4 Mil, therefore the distance from the top 600 yards 0.42 0.56 0.65 0.74 0.83 1.11 1.67
of one dot to the top of another dot is also for ballistic compensation and windage compensation.
700 yards 0.36 0.48 0.56 0.63 0.71 0.95 1.43
1/4 mil

one Mil.
800 yards 0.31 0.42 0.49 0.56 0.63 0.83 1.25
900 yards 0.28 0.37 0.43 0.49 0.56 0.74 1.11
What is a Mil-Dot?
1000 yards 0.25 0.33 0.39 0.44 0.5 0.67 1.00 There are a few technical facts about the Mil-Dot reticle that you
need to understand.
4. The distance from the center of the 1. One Mil = 1 yard (36”) at 1,000 yards or any mathematical
crosshair to the center of the first Mil-Dot component of this base figure. For example, one Mil equals 3.6’’
is also one Mil. The distance from the edge at 100 yards, 7.2” at 200 yards, 14.4” at 400 yards and so on.
1 mil

of the “fat” part of the crosshair to the

center of the closest dot is also one Mil.
5 mils

EXAMPLE: FROM 1000 YARDS AND WORKING DOWN

5. The distance from the center of the Target size @ Yards to the Target
1 mil

crosshair to the edge of the “fat” part of

the crosshair is 5 Mils. One Mil = 36” @ 1000 yards
18” @ 500 yards
©2006 Burris Company, 331 East 8th Street, 9” @ 250 yards
Greeley, CO, 80631 4.5” @ 125 yards

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Ball-MilDot guide:Layout 1 6/9/08 10:29 AM Page 2

Measuring Distance:
Ballistic Compensation:
Tables:
So, based upon what you’ve read so far, measuring distances The key to calculating ballistic compensation is understanding Now translate the trajectory and/or wind drift information
should be fairly simple. Take a look at Table 2. Let’s take a your shooting system. on to your reticle and hold over or under the target. By
Mule Deer as an example. Each barrel length, caliber and ammunition combination is using this method, you will be able to accurrately engage
unique. All of these factors, as well as the altitude and environ- your target without adjusting the zero of your rifle scope.
Lets say that the average distance from shoulder to brisket mental conditions, effect external ballistics. So, a simple series
on a large buck mule deer is about 18", or 2.5 Mils at 200 of charts lends limited help and poses a dilemma. How can you Below, and on the reverse, are a couple of tables that can
yards as illustrated below: create a chart that is custom tailored for your specific rifle and help you to use the Mil-Dot without using formulas and
ammunition. calculators to estimate the distance to the target. Good luck
and good shooting!
The best way is to fire test groups at specific distances, under
expected field conditions so as to you create your own
customized chart. Table 1
If this is not practical, there is are numerous sources that publish Inch-Equivalent of Mils at Various Yardages
bullet trajectory and wind drift data that will get you very close.
Another good example would be a standing prairie dog. At 9" If you’re using factory produced ammunition, obtain the infor- 1/4 Mil = 3/4 Mil = 1 Mil = 2 Mil = 3 Mil = 4 Mil = 5 Mil =
tall, it would span 1 1/4 Mils at 200 yards or 1/2 Mil at 500 yards. mation from the manufacturer. Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches
If you’re hand loading, most bullet, and powder manufacturers 100 yards 0.9" 2.7" 3.6" 7.2" 10.8" 14.4" 18"
Formulas: provide external ballistic information in their handloading 200 yards 1.8" 5.4" 7.2" 14.4" 21.6" 28.8" 36"
Tables are great for easy of use and usually gets you “close manuals. You need to base your calculations on the velocity of
enough” to make a clean shot. If you want even greater your load and the bullet’s ballistic coefficient. 300 yards 2.7" 8.1" 10.8" 21.6" 32.4" 43.2" 54"
precision, here are a couple of handy formulas which you 400 yards 3.6" 10.8" 14.4" 28.8" 43.2" 57.6" 72"
Once you have the basic information, you can create your own
can use to calculate distances. You may want to take a pencil
MIL-DOT CHART listing trajectory and wind drift information 500 yards 4.5" 13.5" 18" 36" 54" 72" 90"
and paper into the field, or better yet, a hand held calculator
for your rifle/ammunition combination. A sample of this would 600 yards 5.4" 16.2" 21.6" 43.2" 64.8" 86.4" 108"
or watch calculator.
look something like:
700 yards 6.3" 18.9" 25.2" 50.4" 75.6" 100.8" 126"
Object’s Height or Width in Yards x 1000 = Range in Yards
308 Win168gr, 2700fps,.447 Ballistic Coefficient 800 yards 7.2" 21.6" 28.8" 57.6" 86.4" 115.2" 144"
Target’s Measured Height or Width in Mils
900 yards 8.1" 24.3" 32.4" 64.8" 97.2" 129.6" 162"
Object’s Height or Width in inches x 27.77 = Drop 10 MPH 1000 yards 9" 27" 36" 72" 108" 144" 180"
Range in Yards
Target’s Measured Height or Width in Mils Dist. (yards.) Mil Inches Mil Drift
100 - .55 +2.0” .19 .7”
To calculate how much (in Mils) you must “hold over”, 200 0.00 0.0” .43 3.1”
(or under), you simply switch around the equation: 300 + .79 -8.6” .69 7.5”
400 +1.72 -24.8” .95 13.7”
Bullet Drop at the Target in inches x 27.77 = Hold Over in Mils
Range in Yards

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