The Ultimate Mildot Riflescope
Posted by Eben Brown on 5/13/2020 to
Tech Reports
The Ultimate Mildot Riflescope
by Eben Brown
- I remember my first experience with Mildot scopes was with a cheap Tasco. It was advertised as a "true" Mildot reticle and it looked SO COOL... Mildot reticles were only available on the most expensive riflescopes in those days. These Tasco mildot scopes were hot sellers for a few years but I think it was mainly due to the Cool Factor of the technical appearance of the mildot reticle.
- While the Tasco mildot was dimensionally "True", the scope itself adjusted in 1/4" per click increments at 100 yards. This has no relation to the "Mils" of a mildot reticle... At least not without some calculations. And to further complicate things, the reticle was located in the SECOND FOCAL PLANE (SFP)... So that any change in magnification would change any dimensional relationship between the reticle and the target. Original military mildot scopes were fixed power at 10X so they never had to deal with the magnification issues. Military snipers were taught to use 10X mildot reticles for range finding as well as aiming reference. A lot more mildot scopes followed, in all price ranges and the vast majority were still "1/4 inch per click at 100 yards" and SFP reticle.
- Then came the FIRST FOCAL PLANE (FFP) reticles... I think the first ones were from Shepherd Scopes and Horus Vision. "First Focal Plane" means the reticle doesn't change in its dimensional relationship to the target when you change magnification. Shephard was famous for their "One Shot Zero" capability. Horusvision was famous for their exotic FFP grid reticles and computers. But both lines of scopes were very expensive and out of the range of most hunter's pocketbooks.
- Nowadays with long range shooting disciplines like PRS, etc. there are all manner of expensive scopes with technical reticles and SFP/FFP reticle placement. Good quality FFP scopes are still darned expensive BUT they've come down somewhat in price. And, because we bought out the remaining inventory of the top quality Hawke FFP Mildot scope, the current price is downright cheap. I'm speaking of our Hawke Sidewinder 30 FFP-Mildot riflescopes... Originally $579, I think we have them marked down to $399 or less. And frankly, I believe this particular scope truly is "The Ultimate Mildot Scope".
- While the Tasco mildot was dimensionally "True", the scope itself adjusted in 1/4" per click increments at 100 yards. This has no relation to the "Mils" of a mildot reticle... At least not without some calculations. And to further complicate things, the reticle was located in the SECOND FOCAL PLANE (SFP)... So that any change in magnification would change any dimensional relationship between the reticle and the target. Original military mildot scopes were fixed power at 10X so they never had to deal with the magnification issues. Military snipers were taught to use 10X mildot reticles for range finding as well as aiming reference. A lot more mildot scopes followed, in all price ranges and the vast majority were still "1/4 inch per click at 100 yards" and SFP reticle.
- Then came the FIRST FOCAL PLANE (FFP) reticles... I think the first ones were from Shepherd Scopes and Horus Vision. "First Focal Plane" means the reticle doesn't change in its dimensional relationship to the target when you change magnification. Shephard was famous for their "One Shot Zero" capability. Horusvision was famous for their exotic FFP grid reticles and computers. But both lines of scopes were very expensive and out of the range of most hunter's pocketbooks.
- Nowadays with long range shooting disciplines like PRS, etc. there are all manner of expensive scopes with technical reticles and SFP/FFP reticle placement. Good quality FFP scopes are still darned expensive BUT they've come down somewhat in price. And, because we bought out the remaining inventory of the top quality Hawke FFP Mildot scope, the current price is downright cheap. I'm speaking of our Hawke Sidewinder 30 FFP-Mildot riflescopes... Originally $579, I think we have them marked down to $399 or less. And frankly, I believe this particular scope truly is "The Ultimate Mildot Scope".
- Ultimate Reticle Design - Hawke FFP Mil is designed for FFP scopes.
- Ultimate Reticle Technology - First Focal Plane (FFP).
- Sychronized Mil Reticle Markings with Mil Adjustment Knobs (10 clicks per mil).
- 4-16x50mm is low enough magnification for hunting yet high enough for serious PRS Competition.
- 50mm Objective is Bright Enough for 4-16X Magnification.
- 30mm Tube Gives Plenty of Adjustment Range.
- Top Quality Hawke Optics and Design.
- Was $579... Now On Closeout for Only $399 or less.
- (Brand New, In-The-Box, Full Factory Warranty)
- Click to Order Here!
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How to Find the Proper Front Sight Height
Posted by Eben Brown on 5/5/2020 to
Tech Reports
How to Find the Proper Front Sight Height
With Regard to our PeepRib® sight systems, customers often ask how high of a front sight they should order. First of all, the PeepRibs are dimensioned to work with the factory front sights that come on specific muzzleloaders. But if you want to mount on some other gun or chamber, getting the front sight height to work may be a challenge. Williams has a formula for calculating sight heights but it only works 50% of the time. On the surface it looks simple because you see mass production guns that all have the same sights and the sight heights are all the same. But actually trying to do open sights on a one of a kind custom rifle is different and can be quite challenging and expensive in range time if you are just guessing at sight heights and going by trial and error. I have done it a little easier by going out and shooting the rifle with a mock-up front sight and trimming the height until it works for that gun. Then, I can just measure the height and go out and find a finished metal front sight of the same height to install.
Our PeepRib sight system has always been offered for muzzle loaders simply to avoid getting into trying to get the right front sight for every other situation. We tested it to work with the standard front sights of the guns we make it for. Even then there sometimes comes up a situation where the standard doesn't work so we have some other front sights higher and lower that customers can go to and that usually solves any sight issue. But if you want to install PeepRib sights on a different gun, I think the best approach is a mock-up front sight and just shoot the gun and adjust the front sight height until it works.
Making a front sight mock-up. I use a piece of card stock like the cardboard from a cereal box. Cut to a shape leaving plenty of height. Then mount it on the front of the barrel with a wrap of taped from each side so that it stands straight up in the front center of the barrel. Now set your rear sight for about 25% elevation... This leaves room to adjust down if needed for different loads. Now go out and shoot at 50 yards aiming with the rear sight and the Mock-up Front sight. If you are hitting too low, trim some material off the front sight (make it lower). If you are hitting to high, make your mock-up front sight higher to lower the point of impact.
Once you've got the Mock-up front sight trimmed to a height that hits point of aim, measure the height and go shopping for a finished front sight system that is the same height.