Ever wondered why veteran hunters prefer the best Mil-Dot scopes over other kinds of reticle features? No? Ever experienced a perfect shot that was so manually aimed that you didn’t even have to touch the turrets? No? That is why!
The Mil-Dot is basically a feature attributed to the reticle of a scope. It is a standard design that makes use of duplex crosshairs, placed with four small 0.25 Mil Dots on each of the four axes. So, what are these dots there for? Well, you could say mostly range estimation.
Top 5 Best Mil Dot Scopes
| Name | Specs | USP | Today's Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leapers UTG SWAT | 3-12x44 | Budget Scope | Click Here |
| Vortex Viper | 6.5-20x50 | Best Optical Features | Click Here |
| Primary Arms | 4-14x44 | FFP Mil-Dot Scope | Click Here |
| Burris MTAC G2B | 6.5-20x50 | Best Tactical Scope | Click Here |
| NcSTAR Gen 3 Mark III | 3-9x40 | Accuracy Scope | Click Here |
But that is a really loaded word. It would help you estimate the distance between you and the target, effectively aim over the distance and keep an accurate target on even a long distance, moving object. It is surely one of those features that will leave you with a lighter mind while shooting cause it will do half of your work for you. An added advantage is its decipherable crosshairs.
A Mil-Dot scope has thus an added advantage of being user as well as beginner-friendly. Its reading is in meters and has less of fractions and calculations involved. Which means it is mostly in a mathematical language that easily works with a normal individual. That way, your mind will not have to jump between the meter and yard conversions!
So many advantages are right here at your fingertips. All you need now is a suitable scope to make your hunting expedition as soft and relaxing as a breeze. Yet, accurate. Let us not forget that. Anyway, you need not boggle your mind on that. Cause, we have a listicle all set for you. Here goes the best Mil-Dot Scope for a better hunting experience.
1. Leapers UTG SWAT 3-12×44 Illumination Enhancing Rifle Scope
This is one scope that is totally worth the money being put in. And to be more specific, the money isn’t too much. It is a good quality budget scope.
This Leapers UTG SWAT scope has a 44mm objective lens that is meant for good light transmission. The fully multi-coated Emerald lens coating further assures good light absorption and image clarity. The magnification range of the scope is 3-12x, which means that it is well fit for small and medium-range shooting.
The reticle feature, as already known, is a Mil-Dot reticle placed in the Second Focal Plane. What makes it unique is the illuminated nature. This illumination enhances 36 colors and makes sure that the reticle reading is clear and evident even in low lit conditions. For precision, the scope has sharp 1/4 MOA clicks for windage and elevation adjustments. The easy and sharp zero stoppable and zero resettable feature is also commendable and adds to the precision of a shot.
The scope is made upon the True Strength platform, and hence it is shockproof. Filled and sealed with Nitrogen, the scope becomes weather resistant. That is, it is water and fog proof.
Pros
Cons
2. Vortex Viper 6.5-20×50 PA Rifle Scope
Have you ever come across a Vortex product that wasn’t reliable? Me neither. This one surely has one of the best optics in the market and will surely take your Mil-Dot reticle to another stage of enhancement.
The optical features of the scope are unique and effective. To start with, it has a 50mm objective lens, which is undoubtedly good for light transmission. To top this, the XD lens elements combine with the XR lens coating, which is fully multi-coated to give you features like high image clarity, low light dispersion, color fidelity, and increased brightness.
Combine this with the 6.5-20x magnification range, and you have for yourself the best long-range shooting, Mil-Dot scope. The Mag-bar attached to this makes it incredibly easy for you to make magnification adjustments, even if it is at the time of the hunt. So if you are going with wider applications of shooting in mind, then this feature will serve you well. Further, the ViewMag feature ensures that you do not have to keep your eye off the scope while adjusting the lever.
The Mil-Dot reticle placed in the Second Focal Plane is best for precision. The scope has features that enhance the precision of your targets like a Glide Erector System and a Spring Force System. The side focus and Fast Focus eyepiece are also helpful in the wider and faster acquisition of targets.
Made of aircraft-grade Aluminum, the scope is strong and durable. It is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.
Pros
Cons
3. Primary Arms 4-14x44mm Rifle Scope
‘This scope stands out from the rest in our list, owing to its First Focal Plane reticle. This provides enhanced magnification prowess. Also, the scope has some desirable precision features. There are only a handful of scopes in the market like this one, Burris XTR II, etc. which offers FFP at such a low rate.
This 44mm objective lens is good for light transmission. Add to this the 4-14x magnification range, and you get a good small to mid-range magnification scope.
This scope has the Mil-Dot reticle in the First Focal Plane. This means that the image stays true even when the magnification changes. This can be helpful in avoiding mistakes from range and holdover estimations. The scope also has a good parallax system, thereby preventing any unnecessary target acquisition confusion. This side-adjustable parallax and fast-focus eyepiece ensure that the image you get is accurate and crisp.
Made of 6061 T6 Aluminium, the scope is the best in terms of quality. It is water and fog resistant and also shockproof.
Pros
Cons
4. Burris MTAC 6.5-20x50mm G2B Rifle Scope
Just when you thought things couldn’t get better for the serious tactical shooters, Burris comes up with this new scope. And guess what? It is the perfect blend of good optics and high precision reticle.
The scope has a 50mm objective lens, which is best for improved light transmission. The HiLume multi-coating feature ensures better clarity and crisp images. The magnification range of 6.5-20x makes it best suited for long-distance shooting.
The G2B Mil-Dot reticle is the best in the market for precision aiming. This ensures precise holdover and holdoff at any given distance. The adjustable parallax feature further makes sure that no unwanted aiming mistakes occur. Further, the MTAC feature helps you adjust the power range through a separate unit of the power ring. This means that you don’t have to take your eyes off the scope while making these adjustments.
This scope is made of 6061 T6 Aluminum and is purged with Nitrogen. Hence it is water, fog, and shock-resistant.
Pros
Cons
5. NcSTAR Gen 3 Mark III Tactical 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
NcStar scope is rugged, reliable, and great in terms of performance. Its accuracy features are what stand out when compared with other Mil-Dot scopes.
This Mil-Dot scope has a 40mm objective lens, which is big enough for good light transmission. The fully multi-coated lens further enhances image clarity and brightness. The 3-9x magnification range is the best for mid-range shooting. With the Mark III Tactical feature, the entire structure of the scope acts as a large magnification ring. It is also provided with an adjustable reticle focus lever at the end of the ocular lens.
This scope has an illuminated Mil-Dot reticle placed in the Second Focal plane, which has five brightness options. There is an Electronic Control Panel that takes care of all these things like brightness adjustments, reticle color adjustments, and so on. The Gen 3 feature is basically all about the mount adjustments. It provides an Integrated Auto Locking Quick Release Mount.
The scope is made of a strong Aluminum body and is strong and durable.
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions:
Mil-Dot or MOA?
This question has been asked so many times that it deserves a straight forward answer by now. Again a part of it is factual and another part totally subjective. To go with the factual part – precision is a key demarcation. The Mil-Dot reticle is a tad bit less precise when compared to an MOA reticle.
This is solely based on the fact that within MOA, there is finer crosshair, which makes target aiming a bit more precise in comparison to thinker crosshairs. There is the reverse side to it, i.e., Mil-Dot is easier to read for a beginner owing to this very nature of crosshairs. Now getting to the subjective part – reading crosshair markings comes into focus.
MIl-Dot reticle makes use of readings in meters, and hence the calculations are easier that way. But there may be others who are accustomed to yard measurements. For them, MOA reading might be more comfortable.
What is 1 Mil?
One Mil is essentially a thousandth of an inch or 0.001 of an inch. It is yet another unit of measurement which caters more to the thickness of the product. It is a universal unit and not limited to the ammo world. Hence you can look up a lot of places to get more hang of the Mil-Dot calculation.
Who all uses Mil-Dot scopes?
Mil-Dot scopes are popular among tactical shooters and long-range hunters who mostly uses a 6.5 grendel. It is also used by the military for needs such as shooting down targets or directing artilleries. Many snipers use Mil-Dot scopes for better range finding. In fact, the word goes that anyone who has used the Mil-Dot scope for a while would find it difficult and unnecessary to make a transition. The scope eases you into it and is extremely comfortable. You can find this tech in many scopes like Aimpoint Comp M4, etc.
Conclusion
Enough has been said about the wide benefits of owning a Mil-Dot scope. It doesn’t make any sense to wait anymore. Mil-Dot scopes are definitely worth a try. And once you get used to the system, then there is no going back.
Well then, what are you even waiting for? Avail some offers and get yourself a decent Mil-Dot scope. And you can thank us later.
Weigh your needs against the pros and cons given in this listicle. I am sure that will guide you into making a good choice. Off you go then. Happy Hunting!