Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Mil reticle ranging, how many use it?

I have a Vortex Viper 2.5x10. Like the scope, and am using the reticle to practice ranging. IF I am doing all correctly, formula used to figure yards, it or I are not close, not by the lazer RF anyway. What should I expect for accuracy? +/- yrds?
Thanks

Well, got my answer from another source...I`M not precise enough in using the mil reticle system...so I need to practice some more on a field full of deer.
Thanks

Correct Mil ranging on living targets is an exercise in frustration.

I use the mil-dot system with my NightForce scopes fairly often. With practice it can be pretty accurate. The formula I use requires you to know the height of the target in inches, so a little homework is required before hand. Its fun to play around with, and it works, but a laser range finder is quicker.

So, how much error is introduced when ranging live targets like deer, the size of which varies?

Seems like a GIGO situation.

Here is what I came up with, using the first yardage no. as the base line:

6" x 27.8 ( constant rounded up) divided by no of mils seen (.5) = 333 yrds.
Now change the mils seen by just 1 tenth mil and you get,
6 x 27,8 divided by .6 mils= 279 yrds, or
6 x 27.8 divided by .4 mils= 417 yrds, and so forth...So the closer you can divide a tenth mil, like into half or quarter tenth mil, as I under stand an experienced Sniper can do, the closer the correct yardage will be.
I as yet can`t do it, and live animals do move, even those at 3-4-500 yrds...so the LRF is quicker and more accurate.
I didn`t understand how close one needed to measure a "known" object. I do now. But if your in to it, it`s fun stuff, and if you do have a field full of deer, it`s funner!

I do it all the time on known sized steel plates just to retain the mental ability to do it. During down time while afield I also try it on deer, totes, rocks etc just to see how close I can get to my lrf. I physically don't have the skill to do this on live game so it's all in fun.

Yes,it is a challenge, but does help to keep you sharp. I`m always looking for backup if something goes south with electronics. And it`s something new to learn. I`ll be working on it again this wkend.