Mil-Dot and Distance calculation with Hawke 3-9x50 Scope

murphyc106 · 16-03-2012 11:43PM #1

Hi can anyone explain to me how to calculate distance to target using a Hawke 3-9x50 scope.
The formula of (Height of object in m x1000)/number of mil-dots= distance in m's wont work because I have a zoom power scope (or at least I dont know how to make it work).

I believe that there is a particular zoom setting but I dont know what the setting is. I have the Hawke BRC but I am finding it exceptionally un-user friendly..

Any suggestions would be welcome....

kildare.17hmr · 16-03-2012 11:46PM

Normally one of the power numbers is a different colour or has a dot or something.

Have you checked the hawke site?

EWQuinn · 17-03-2012 04:35AM

I checked quickly and could not find it on Hawke's site or in their online (pdf) mildot scope manuals. As kildare says twould be nice if it was marked on the scope with index and/or color. Perhaps they will have to tell you in an email or phone call.

Interesting article from the net written by a cop trainer. This guy says its a normal convention to have it set for the highest power. Scroll down to the paragraph on vari power scopes.

http://www.mil-dot.com/articles/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-mil-dot-reticle

session savage · 17-03-2012 07:35AM

Any hawke scopes I have had with mil dots have the mil accurate at 10x.
Set your scopes zoom at 10x and leave it there.

You need to know the height of your target to work out the distance.
the formula is height of target X 1000 divided by mil reading. remember whatever unit of measurement you use as the height of the target will give you the distance in that unit. Ie if you say the target is 12 inches high your distance will be in inches!!

Easy way to check it out is to try it with those plastic electric fence stakes, they are 1 yard high. So go prone, get the stake in your sight and count the mil dots it measures. lets say 4. So its 1 x 1000 /4 = 250yds

easy :cool:

browning 12 bore · 17-03-2012 11:17AM

very good i have a swift premium scope with mill dot i always tried to make it work so in stead i use the mill dots for long rang example 300 yards 1 mil dot down and 400 yards is 2 mill dots down and so on handy enough but one small problem if your shoting long range rabbit shooting very hard to measure the mill dots for that maybe im wrong

Grizzly 45 · 17-03-2012 12:15PM

Thinking of getting one of these. www.mildot.com/
mildot master
Belive there is an app now as well for the whole system,from your load,scope height,wind direction etc.Great stuff,however learn to use the formula or get the mildot master as then it wont fail if your phone hasnt been charged or took a dive into a mud puddle somwhere while you were out shooting.:)

kildare.17hmr · 17-03-2012 12:42PM

Iv 2 apps on the iphone that are good. Mildot rangefinder and istrelok which is a ballistic calculator. Great for "zeroing"

clivej · 17-03-2012 01:35PM

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Thinking of getting one of these. www.mildot.com/
mildot master
Belive there is an app now as well for the whole system,from your load,scope height,wind direction etc.Great stuff,however learn to use the formula or get the mildot master as then it wont fail if your phone hasnt been charged or took a dive into a mud puddle somwhere while you were out shooting.:)

$40 is a bit steep

Grizzly 45 · 17-03-2012 05:46PM

Could try the UK distributor..But they looklike they sell very Law enforcement type stuff.So they may or may not deal with "mere civillians".
OTOH,you could buy one,alter it slightly,call it the "mil dot calulator"get it copied in China and flog it off to all and sundry for 20 quid.:rolleyes:;)

De_Tomaso · 17-03-2012 08:23PM

I would be nice to know which series this scope is, but I would guess that mils are "accurate" at max magnification. You can also use this article for help:

http://www.optics-trade.eu/shop/en/articles/miliradians/

In general I also have to say that most of SFP scopes are npot accurate enough for mil-dot use.

extremetaz · 20-03-2012 10:14AM

session savage wrote: »

Any hawke scopes I have had with mil dots have the mil accurate at 10x.
Set your scopes zoom at 10x and leave it there.

murphyc106 wrote: »

Hawke 3-9x50 scope.

:rolleyes:

SS is correct though in so far as every scope has a sweet spot, but the sweet spot for your scope is more likely to be at 4x or 6x. You'll have to check the hawke site to find out which I imagine.

Alternatively, line yourself up on paper, put a group in, adjust by 4 clicks and put another group in. Adjust your mag until the mil-dots line up with the PoI shift.

extremetaz · 20-03-2012 10:16AM

De_Tomaso wrote: »

I would guess that mils are "accurate" at max magnification.

Nope - although this is true on some high mag, target scopes, it's rarely the case overall.

My Nite-eye 6.5-20 is true at 10, the MTC Taipan 6-24 is true at 12 (which is pretty clever really)... there's no hard and fast rule or guideline I'm afraid - you just have to know your scope.

De_Tomaso · 20-03-2012 07:47PM

extremetaz wrote: »

Nope - although this is true on some high mag, target scopes, it's rarely the case overall.

My Nite-eye 6.5-20 is true at 10, the MTC Taipan 6-24 is true at 12 (which is pretty clever really)... there's no hard and fast rule or guideline I'm afraid - you just have to know your scope.

If we are really exact, SFP scopes are never totally accurate.

J.R. · 20-03-2012 11:17PM

Looks like its at 6X

see end of page on this site where it describes reticules

http://www.opticsbrands.com/product/hawke-optics-panorama-3-9x50-1-2-mil-dot-ir-hk5161/

MAP 6A Reticle
Glass etched version of the popular MAP 6 reticle, featuring aim points deigned to work with your rilfes trajectory.
Hollow bars are calibrated for 3, 6 and 9" bracketing when set on 6x magnification

Mellor · 21-03-2012 03:47AM

J.R. wrote: »

Looks like its at 6X

see end of page on this site where it describes reticules

http://www.opticsbrands.com/product/hawke-optics-panorama-3-9x50-1-2-mil-dot-ir-hk5161/

MAP 6A Reticle
Glass etched version of the popular MAP 6 reticle, featuring aim points deigned to work with your rilfes trajectory.
Hollow bars are calibrated for 3, 6 and 9" bracketing when set on 6x magnification

Nope. Afraid you're wrong there. You're reading the specs for the MAP 6A reticle, not the mildot.
That one looks like this,
432062_273664662710531_236604473083217

The other reticle is 10x half MD, which true at 10x, which is obviously the one of the 4-12 but not the 3-9. Just check the hawke website for the exact scope and reticle. A quick browse and i've seen 6x, 10x and 20x

Here's another, check out what it says at the bottom
http://www.hawkeoptics.com/rifle-scopes/sport-hd.html

Mil Dot Reticle
11 Aim Points for elevation & 11 Aim Points for windage.

Can be used for accurate range finding at 10x magnification, ideal for long/short shooting

Except the sport HD only comes in either 3-9 or 4x mag.

The reticle info page says that the mildot half mildot are correct at 10x mag, an exception being the 20x mildot, which is obvious correct at 20x

cavan shooter · 23-03-2012 01:48PM

murphyc106 wrote: »

Hi can anyone explain to me how to calculate distance to target using a Hawke 3-9x50 scope.
The formula of (Height of object in m x1000)/number of mil-dots= distance in m's wont work because I have a zoom power scope (or at least I dont know how to make it work).

I believe that there is a particular zoom setting but I dont know what the setting is. I have the Hawke BRC but I am finding it exceptionally un-user friendly..

Any suggestions would be welcome....

Go to Hawkes website and download the BRC

http://www.hawkeoptics.com/apps/brc.html

and never look back;)

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Mil-Dot and Distance calculation with Hawke 3-9x50 Scope

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