Binocular Reticle Question

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BlueyM

Joined
May 7, 2004
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I just bought a pair of 2nd hand Steiner 8X30 military binoculars (at a VERY good price :D )

The right hand tube has a reticle marked on it; a horizontal black line with short vertical lines intersecting at intervals.

Sort of: "L_L_L_L_L"
I believe these are range finding or estimating marks used by the military, unfortunately the seller did not have any info on these.
Could anyone enlighten me on how these markings are used to find ranges?
(or provide a link)

Thanks in advance.
 
http://www.binoculars.com/products/ATN_ATN_7x50_Omega_Military_Binoculars_36809.html

shows the reticule type. Ranging left and right is easy. The operator fires the mortar whilst you are looking through the binoculars. If the impact point is 3 reticules to the left, you tell the crew to aim right by 3 degrees. Under ranging or over ranging the target is more difficult and you need the distance to impact. Elevation is altered by the crew to move the impact near or further away.

I have an old pair of British range finder binoculars. Modern binoculars seem to have laser distancing.
 
BlueyM said:
Could anyone enlighten me on how these markings are used to find ranges?
(or provide a link).
Click to expand...

I would imagine that the reticule is graduated in milliradians, AKA "mils."

"[A mil scale] allows the shooter to calculate the distance to an object of known height or width. Height of the target in yards divided by the height of the target in milliradians multiplied by 1000 equals the distance to the target in yards. For example, take a 6-foot-tall man (2 yards). Let's say that the top of his head lines up with one dot and his feet line up four dots down. So: (2/4) x 1000 = 500 yards away."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/fr...url=http://www.snipercountry.com/mil-moa.html

maximus otter
 
Thanks guys,
I tried out the reticule today by measuring the height of my mailbox then pacing out 100/200/300 yards away and noting the image height against the markings.
Works a treat.
A bit of research shows there are 6400 mils in a circle, and 1 mil subtends 1 meter at 1000 meters, so the horizontal scale can be used to calculate side distance as well.
I suppose the military know what they are doing with optics. :D
 
just a note; in the military you navigate using mils not degrees, so instead of a compass with 360 degrees you have 6400 mils, which makes navigation on foot more accurate and helps to tie in with everyone else. You can also use your compass to work out the size of objects at a distance, so if you are observing a bridge you can do length height etc and thickness of pylons, which can all be used to calculate how much explosive will be needed for demolition, if need be.
 
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