Dot Size for Prone Scope

[matchguy]

I noticed Leupold has some larger reticle dot sizes, 1/4 or 1/3min. Any comments about larger dots for 50 & 100 yd smallbore prone?

Thanks

[HPitts]

I like a dot in the .270 to .300 size at 100 yards. This is at 25 power. Leupold just put one in my scope I use for prone.
Howard

[tenring]

Does that mean 1/4 min? .25 ???

tenring

[justadude]

Hi there 'ring,

When folks talk about the minutes of a scope dot they are talking about minutes of angle. 1 degree of angle = 60 minutes of angle.

Now, since the lines that form the angle get further apart the further you get from the point of the angle, 1 minute of angle will cover a larger distance at 100 yards than it will at 50 yards. (The point of the angle is kind of assumed to start at the scope)

Now, sparing a further trig lesson crunching the numbers 1 minute of angle = 1.0472" at 100 yards, 0.5236" at 50 yards and if you really care 0.5726" at 50m. For what we are doing here, call it 1 inch at 100 yds and 0.5 inch at the midrange distances.

So a scope with a 1/4 minute dot will cover about 1/8" at 50 yards, this means if you have a really good hold the dot will remain inside a bullet hole. The same dot will cover 1/4" at 100 yards or pretty much just cover the bullet hole.


As for the general question about dot preference, years ago, late 1970s there was a strong preference for 1/4 and 3/8 minute dots so you could easily hold on a bullet hole at 50 yards. I don't really shoot scope anymore except for tuning exercises so I don't know what the current line of thinking is.

Cheers,
'Dude

[WesternGrizzly]

I shoot a 1/8th min dot in my scope. I used to shoot a 3/8 dot. I much prefer the 1/8th, as the 3/8th dot would obscure a lot of the ISSF target.
I would just go with a 1/8th if your eyes are good and call it a day.
Matt