Miliradian (Mil)
Definition
1/1000 of a radian. Equal to 10 cm at 100 m, 1 m at 1,000 m. Used as the angular unit in mil-dot reticles and turret adjustments for military and law enforcement snipers worldwide.
- Definition
- 1/1000 of a radian
- Value at 100 m
- 10 cm
- Value at 1000 m
- 1 m
- Applied in
- Mil-dot reticles and scope turret adjustments
- User base
- Military and law-enforcement long-range shooters
Common questions
Why is an angular unit more useful than a fixed distance unit for scopes?+
An angular measurement scales automatically with range, so the same mil-dot spacing or turret click represents a proportionally larger physical distance at longer ranges, letting a shooter range targets and correct for drop or wind without recalculating for every distance.
How does the mil differ from minute of angle (MOA), the other common reticle unit?+
A mil equals roughly 3.4 times an MOA in angular size, and scopes are built around one system or the other; mixing mil reticles with MOA turret adjustments, or vice versa, is a common source of correction errors.
Related terms
- 4DOF Model
- A four-degree-of-freedom ballistic model that adds aerodynamic pitch and yaw to the standard 2DOF (gravity + drag) model, accounting for spin drift...
- BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator)
- Elevation turret or reticle markings that encode the required elevation correction for a specific load at preset ranges. Allows rapid correction without...
- Coriolis Effect
- Apparent deflection of a moving body due to the rotation of the Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere, deflects projectiles to the right...
- Eötvös Effect
- The vertical component of the Coriolis effect on a bullet. Increases impact elevation for eastward-fired shots, decreases it for westward-fired shots. Typically...
- Fire Control System (FCS)
- An integrated optic, rangefinder, and ballistic solver that computes and displays a real-time firing solution. Examples: TrackingPoint PGF, Elbit FALCON, Rafael MARS....
- Laser Rangefinder (LRF)
- A device that measures range by timing the return of a laser pulse from the target. Typical accuracy: plus or minus 1...
- Magnus Effect
- A force on a spinning body in a crosswind perpendicular to both the spin axis and the crosswind direction. Produces a vertical...
- MOA (Minute of Angle)
- 1/60 of a degree of arc. Equal to approximately 2.908 cm (1.047 inches) at 100 m. Used in civilian and some law...
- Spin Drift
- Consistent lateral drift of a bullet in the direction of rifling twist, caused by gyroscopic precession of the bullet's nose around the...