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Milling

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stork23raz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stork23raz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Milling
    Posted: June/28/2010 at 09:37

Just curious  if there are any people that still practice milling on a regular basis. I know in this day range finders are able to found at a somewhat reseonable price, and can be more accurate.  Do people practice it regulary anymore?

I dont have range finder and would like to have one for them pesky varmints. But for paper punching I do enjoy practicing it. I hate missing so it, helps me to try as be a precise as possible. I have only been working on millling targets for little over a year now. It is definitly an skill that must be practiced alot to keep sharp.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/28/2010 at 11:35
I'm a SHTF kinda guy.. With that said, milling is a necessity. I believe there are many out there that subscribe to this philosophy.
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stork23raz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stork23raz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/28/2010 at 11:47
I believe that too. I personally am not  a fan of electronics. I buy gizmos here and there. this is a bad example but i hate the idea of going out and spending a 1000 bucks on tv(that is going to last probno more than 5 years, maybe more) very spending a grand  on agun that Ill be able to enjoy for the rest ofmy life.
 I know techonology gives speed, precision, accuracy. But that mildot reticle doesnt require batteries.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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stork23raz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stork23raz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/28/2010 at 11:56
i know they make all different types of reticles,  varmint, bdc, this that, Its a convenience thing. and ive had some different ones, ive had bdc(didnt like), duplex, etc. But I think that good mildot, tmr, some sort of milradian system, is all u really need. You can range, holdovers, wind doping, what more do ya need. The mildot  reticle is all a shooter will really ever need.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/07/2010 at 09:07
I range with it out of interest more than anything else. The things I've found are that:

1) It's hard to range at all unless you can hold the scope steady
2) The farther away and the smaller the target the less useful it becomes although getting an accurate range is even more critical since bullet drop is so drastic

So I use my laser rangefinder when I can. However, if I have time I'll range through the scope first just to see how close I can get. Honestly, I don't do great at it. I ranged a mule deer doe last year before I shot her and got 300 yards with the scope and 330 (a 10% difference, but not much more drop) with the rangefinder.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/08/2010 at 00:38
+1 Jono. Have to agree with you. I range gongs in the field with a scope. No rangefinders permitted. Due to shaking and mirage, scope ranging is not an exact science. It is better then nothing though.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote helo18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/10/2010 at 09:31
I am with Jono on this one too.  I milled the elk I shot at 450 yards, but it was really only 430.  I like the practice and then hit it with a rangefinder to get the real range.  The more you practice the easier and more accurate you get with the scope.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/13/2010 at 19:36
Milling is only as good as your guess as to the size of the object you are measuring. Good for a known target size. If you think you are looking at a 10' target and it is a 12"target you will be 20% off on your range when milling. It is better than a guess but not as good as a laser. Keep in practice, save milling for a backup.

Edited by 3_tens - July/13/2010 at 19:38
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graysteel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/23/2010 at 10:56
Milling was never really intended to be a precise way to range, it is a good field expedient. I practice a bit from time to time, but the real trick to milling is finding a large object to range off of. In other words, you don't have to mill the critter you can mill something near it that is larger (of a known size) then estimate + or - to the target that is generally more accurate than trying to measure something that is smaller than a meter. But sometimes you have to work with what ya got... 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sscoyote Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/23/2010 at 04:26

I get the opportunity to range deer and antelope quite a bit while hunting coyotes in the winter, and have been quite successful at it to about ~500 yds. or so. Did some reticle ranging for prairie dogs couple of months ago with a MOA reticle in a spotting scope and was surprised just how well it worked...most of the time.

Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/23/2010 at 07:58
Originally posted by jonoMT jonoMT wrote:

I range with it out of interest more than anything else. The things I've found are that:

1) It's hard to range at all unless you can hold the scope steady
2) The farther away and the smaller the target the less useful it becomes although getting an accurate range is even more critical since bullet drop is so drastic

So I use my laser rangefinder when I can. However, if I have time I'll range through the scope first just to see how close I can get. Honestly, I don't do great at it. I ranged a mule deer doe last year before I shot her and got 300 yards with the scope and 330 (a 10% difference, but not much more drop) with the rangefinder.


I would add one additional note: ranging is an extremely perishable skill, use it frequently if you wish to do it well.

I do it to keep the skill from going away.  Always nice to check with the laser.  Of course, I assume the laser must be wrong when there is disparity. Of course.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/23/2010 at 08:45
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sscoyote Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/23/2010 at 21:33

One thing that may be of interest is the system that i use for ranging reference. I was able to range 2 coyotes this year at 400-something and 500-something. Don't remember the exact ydgs. but i remember the lasered ranges were compatible for a successful shot. I put the data on a sticker that goes on a thin piece of cardboard that goes into a Butler Creek Blizzard style objective cover. If u look at the Blizzard system you'll see that it is a thin piece of clear plastic that is held in place with a ring and can be disassembled, cardboard insterted, then reassembled. I also do the same for downrange zeroing in the ocular cover. This way i have downrange zeroing and reticle-rangefinding available at a glance without having to get out of position for the shot once the tgt. is acquired. Just a glance up is all that's needed. I'll post a couple pics tomorrow--

Reticle-rangefinding for 11" tgt. (coyote back to brisket) using Darrell Holland's HUMR reticle--
 
ready to go--
 
 
 


Edited by sscoyote - August/24/2010 at 16:59
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