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The differences between the Mil-Hash and the MOA Field Target scopes by Sightron

12/10/2015

4 Comments

 
I received a request from a very good friend to publish in this space the main differences between the FT scopes made by Sightron.
Sightron is one of the few companies that sets out in very clear terms what the specifications for each scope are, but I understand that some specialized terms and maths may need some further clarification, so let's see them side by side:
Picture
Specs for the Mil Hash FT Scope
Picture
Specs for the MOA FT Scope
On the left you can see the specs for the Mil Hash scope , on the right you see the spec for the MOA scope. As you go down row by row, you see that the first difference is the reticle type. Up until that point, both scopes were identical.
BOTH scopes are "true" to the units their reticle is designed at 24X, and our analysis will be done at that magnification. Because BOTH scopes are Second Focal Plane (SFP), it is important to compare them at the same magnification.
The Mil-Hash scope has a click value of 0.05 mrads and the MOA scope has a click value of 1/8 MOA, so, how can we compare one and the other?
Remember that a milrad is 3.438 MOA's, so 0.05 mrads= 0.172 MOA's, while 1/8 MOA is 0.125 MOA
In essence, 1/20 mrad (or 0.05 mrad) is ABOUT 1/6th of an MOA, which is 37½% LARGER than 1/8 MOA

Some shooters think that they NEED the finest possible division of the complete turn to sight-in their rigs, but the reality is that in FT that is not so important:
1/8 MOA at 55 yards is 0.072" =((1.047" x 0.55)/8), or in other words, one click is less than one half a pellet diameter.
1/20 mrads at 55 yards is 0.099", or in other words, one click is a little more than one half a pellet diameter.

Not even the best target paper will resolve these differences, it will be one slightly enlarged hole. The slightest wind, the slightest difference in the pellets will present a much larger deviation.
To be perfectly clear: the current state of the art in pellets, rifles, barrels and shooters could not detect these differences. Many real good shooters shoot fantastic scores using scopes with ¼ MOA clicks (about a 0.177" pellet diameter at 55 yards).


Now, If each click is larger, does this mean that one turn will have a larger excursion?
Not necessarily.

Coming back to our scopes, we see that the Mil Hash scope has a total excursion of 2.5 mrads/rev. The MOA scope has 10 MOA's /rev. so, converting both to MOA, we get that the Mil Hash scope has a revolution with an excursion of 8.6 MOA's (= 2.5 x 3.438), while the MOA scope has a full 10 MOA's in a revolution.
​
This is one case where the finer division ALSO entails a larger excursion in the elevation of one revolution.
For those that click the elevation for each shot, and shoot under WFTF rules (12 ft-lbs maximum muzzle energy), it means that the MOA scope MAY accommodate their full trajectory from 9 to 55 yards in one revolution, but for the same trajectory, the Mil-Hash scope may not.

Does this mean that one scope is superior to the other? not necessarily, it all depends on how YOU shoot. YOUR habits, wants and needs.

Once you move past that point, the rest of the specs tell you that the scopes are almost identical with the exception being that the MOA scopes have caps that protect the turrets, while the Mil Hash scopes have open turrets.

Now, for those shooters that do NOT CLICK, OR for those that use the reticle to hold off for wind; understanding the reticle is vital.

Let's see the two reticles side by side:
Picture
Picture
Again, on the left is the Mil-Hash scope, on the right is the MOA scope.
The TOTAL side to side subtension of the whole reticles is marked in the diagrams as dimension "A".
For the case of the Mil Hash scope "A" is 10 milrads at 24X, for the MOA scope dimension "A" is 20 MOA's.
Converting the milrads to MOA, we get that the Mil-Hash scopes have a total subtension of 34.38 MOA's, while the MOA scopes have "only" 20.
The REAL problem for FT shooters comes not at 24X, because 20 MOA's of wind is quite a lot, BUT if shooters drive their scopes to 50X for ranging AND for shooting, then having 9.6 MOA's (=20 x 24/50) MAY not be enough.

Here again, the specific shooter wants and needs and habits creates a substantial difference between shooters using IDENTICAL EQUIPMENT.

Shooters that shoot at AROUND 33X +/- 3X (that means from 30 to 36X) will generally be able to use all the advantages of the MOA scopes, but shooters that shoot at 50X will NEED the Mil-Hash for holding into the wind, and that MAY entail having to use MORE than one revolution to accommodate ALL the trajectory.

Personally, I use my FT MOA-H scope (different reticle, but all the maths hold the same) at 29X, which is the magnification at which the "2 MOA" divisions actually become ½ mrads in reality. This allows me to check my ranging using stadia-ranging (or miling, or bracketing, same thing different name). And helps me in using my ballistics app (PP-Calc) with confidence.

Here is the lit MOA-H reticle in a Hector's Special Sightron 10-50X60 FT scope:
Picture
As you can see, with this reticle I can hold off PRECISELY for elevation and windage using ONLY the reticle. Once the gun is zeroed, my only concerns are to range well and consult my tablet.

Hope this has made clear to most what are the real differences between the two models. EACH shooter must decide for himself what he can use best.
​
Good luck, keep well and shoot straight!






​Héctor Medina
4 Comments
Poly
12/11/2015 05:53:49

Thanks! Hector

Reply
Neal Okerson
12/15/2015 12:08:09

This is off-topic, so feel free to delete: (Just did not know where to send or post)
Hi Hector, I read your blog (here) and see your comments on the green FT forum often, and I want to thank you for being so informative and helpful. I have been tuning my Diana 48 to increase accuracy. Weighted shroud, spring/vortek kit, built my own stock and tweaked the trigger. As things started coming together with the gun, I realized that I had issues with barrel droop and extreme left windage. My scope rail was very out of line with the barrel. So, I followed your advice on bending the barrel. It now shoots great! There are few people who I would trust enough to talk me into bending my barrel, but I had read a lot of your post. Your post always makes sense, and are presented in a friendly way. Thank you again for your help!
Neal

Reply
Hector Medina
12/15/2015 13:04:05

Nothing is out of topic here, Neal! THANKS for your kind words.

They are greatly appreciated.

And, just to show how one good thing leads to another, let me tell you that I am designing a special piston head for the OEM Diana pistons that will re-create the benefits of the HMO Int'l. Piston AND add some more benefits on top.

;-)

Stay tuned here : http://www.ctcustomairguns.com/products-blog because I can no longer post on "The yellow" or "The Green" notes that relate to products.
And, please spread the word.

Thanks again!






Héctor

Reply
Neal Okerson
1/4/2016 10:13:46

I will be watching, Hector.




Leave a Reply.

    Hector Medina

    2012 US National WFTF Spring Piston Champion
    2012 WFTF Spring Piston Grand Prix Winner
    2013 World's WFTF Spring Piston 7th place
    2014 Texas State WFTF Piston Champion
    2014 World's WFTF Spring Piston 5th place.
    2015 Maine State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 Massachusetts State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 New York State Champion WFTF Piston
    2015 US National WFTF Piston 2nd Place
    2016 Canadian WFTF Piston Champion
    2016 Pyramyd Air Cup WFTF Piston 1st Place
    2017 US Nationals Open Piston 3rd Place
    2018 WFTC's Member of Team USA Champion Springers
    2018 WFTC's 4th place Veteran Springer
    2020 Puerto Rico GP Piston First Place
    2020 NC State Championships 1st Place Piston
    2022 Maryland State Champion WFTF 
    2022 WFTC's Italy Member of TEAM USA 2nd place Springers
    2022 WFTC's Italy
    2nd Place Veteran Springers

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