Non electronic ways to estimate range

[Felchmiester]

Just randomly remembered some details about estimating range today and got to wondering what the smart people(not me ) on this savage shootin site might know...or not know...everyone but Scott from Kentucky ballistics that boy is a menace to himself and food especially eggplant

 

[ONE-TEN]

What are you looking for? How we do it? Well, most shooters who are into range estimation, use a Laser Rangefinder. There are inexpensive models, (mostly used by golfers), that will range 300meters, 400meters, 600meters. Better options for shooters that can range 1200+ meters. Also, more expensive, professional units which will do 2km+, (that’s 2190yds). And even some very expensive options, like this one, which can range out to 15 Kilometers! (16,400yards!)
https://www.atomicdefense.com/products/maztech-x4-lrf?variant=47218756452566

 

[SevenFan]

Decades ago I had cardboard Powley's slide rule calculator.

 

[ONE-TEN]

I actually didn’t notice before but this is “NON” electronic ways. So, yeah… well, aside from my favorite, which is having the range indicated at specific known points. Or, worst case would be walking the distance myself. LOL! But really, aside from those, the only way is to use an FFP scope in MRAD, with Ballistic Reticle. And do the math.

 

[K9TXS]

The oldest one I can remember is a 19th century range finder. I think you can still buy these on ebay.

The video below shows how the range finder works starting at approximately 2:34.

 

[Felchmiester]

I actually didn’t notice before but this is “NON” electronic ways. So, yeah… well, aside from my favorite, which is having the range indicated at specific known points. Or, worst case would be walking the distance myself. LOL! But really, aside from those, the only way is to use an FFP scope in MRAD, with Ballistic Reticle. And do the math.

That's one way of doing it an it's pretty darn effective if you know the size of the target and it's even more effective if you have the ability to read the wind speed and direction from other environmental indicators like smoke or the mirage between the shooting position and the target light comes into play as well regular shaped objects look bigger and closer in bright direct light than subdued or cloudy conditions.

 

[Felchmiester]

So

The oldest one I can remember is a 19th century range finder. I think you can still buy these on ebay.

View attachment 458

The video below shows how the range finder works starting at approximately 2:34.

Someone had mentioned that tool on another shooting forum months ago I had forgotten about it, thanks for the video

 

[ONE-TEN]

So

Someone had mentioned that tool on another shooting forum months ago I had forgotten about it, thanks for the video

Oh yes! The old Civil War Stadia! Never even dawned me they could be used. I think of them as just Civil War trinkets. But they actually WORK fairly well!

Here’s a decent video explaining the two different models & their use.


Can get a simple Stadia here.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303882709766

 

[CFJunkie]

The Mil Dot reticle is reasonably effective if you know the size of an object that you can see well enough to estimate how many Miliradians it is wide or high.
I have always found that technique difficult with distant targets like 10 inch plates at over 500 yards.
You have to admire the spotters that snipers use for their ability to suggest hold over or under or left or right without checking tables.

 

[MS50]

I agree that spotter skills are impressive. I spent a couple of days attempting to range targets of known distance and size, using a mildots reticle. I was OK to around 300 yards. Beyond that, the calculated results got progressively worse the farther the target. I'd like to blame it on my vision and ability to discern distances between mildots. Whatever it is, I'll leave it to those with better skills.

 

[ONE-TEN]

You know, in today’s world, any Smart Phone can show exact distance using APPs like Google Earth. And any decent Ballistics APP can give correct dope for said distance, with whatever cartridge being used.

Not saying a shooter should be ignorant of more simple techniques. Just that technology has put precise tooling in the hands of ANYONE today.

 

[Felchmiester]

You know, in today’s world, any Smart Phone can show exact distance using APPs like Google Earth. And any decent Ballistics APP can give correct dope for said distance, with whatever cartridge being used.

Not saying a shooter should be ignorant of more simple techniques. Just that technology has put precise tooling in the hands of ANYONE today.

Yeah I guess I was just curious if anyone else besides me uses the non electronic ways just to keep from becoming reliant on them ,batteries run down or hard to find things break or just planned obsolescence happens. Simple things like remembering the temperature etc when you zero your scope, what load you were using or what brand ammo it all comes into play with the other skills guess I've never really bought a ticket for electronic train that night vision/thermal scope I bought is probably the most high tech firearms related thing I've ever bought.

 

[Frontiersman]

I like scopes with the graduated scale below the center crosshairs.

 

[Felchmiester]

I believe what really got me thinking about this was several power outages in our area recently, I'm not a doomsday person or anything but I do definitely see the full value of keeping an analog of the key systems in your life whether it is skills set or equipment like a scope or iron sights, even things like a vehicle or even a tractor if you are from a rural area an farm ground, bale hay, feed cattle, you understand what I mean. a vintage farmal may not have a closed in air conditioned/heated cab or GPS field guidance but it will run long after the overpriced jd that John deer will charge you half the purchase price of the machine just to diagnose the issue and then repair it. that rough looking old pickup from 1976 can be repaired with simple tools and provide many more years and miles of usefulness.
Look at the kids these days so many of them can't read a normal clock, use a manual can opener, write in cursive or even chicken scratch a questionable note they're digitally dependent on the screens and even then they're having problems with the technology not working right, an example would be this boy (?) that put a short video on the YouTube about how he couldn't read a clock without the numbers (?!) and he had a app on his(?)I pad that would tell him the time...he held it up in front of the clock and yeh it was a hour off and wrong time of day...https://youtube.com/shorts/caTu3Y4LQqM?si=rqDpRTEsmofrFa50
The human species is on the path to extinction...move over T rex that's my spot.

 

[ONE-TEN]

I believe what really got me thinking about this was several power outages in our area recently, I'm not a doomsday person or anything but I do definitely see the full value of keeping an analog of the key systems in your life whether it is skills set or equipment like a scope or iron sights, even things like a vehicle or even a tractor if you are from a rural area an farm ground, bale hay, feed cattle, you understand what I mean. a vintage farmal may not have a closed in air conditioned/heated cab or GPS field guidance but it will run long after the overpriced jd that John deer will charge you half the purchase price of the machine just to diagnose the issue and then repair it. that rough looking old pickup from 1976 can be repaired with simple tools and provide many more years and miles of usefulness.
Look at the kids these days so many of them can't read a normal clock, use a manual can opener, write in cursive or even chicken scratch a questionable note they're digitally dependent on the screens and even then they're having problems with the technology not working right, an example would be this boy (?) that put a short video on the YouTube about how he couldn't read a clock without the numbers (?!) and he had a app on his(?)I pad that would tell him the time...he held it up in front of the clock and yeh it was a hour off and wrong time of day...https://youtube.com/shorts/caTu3Y4LQqM?si=rqDpRTEsmofrFa50
The human species is on the path to extinction...move over T rex that's my spot.

Here, I fixed it. When you post a link, there can’t have be any letters or characters touching the URL link. Need a space in front and after the link. Not even a period.

 

[Felchmiester]

Oops my bad I usually hit the space bar a few times to make sure there's a big gap.
Thanks for fixing it I'll go slap myself on the fingers with a ruler now

 

[ONE-TEN]

LOL! Seriously, I 100% agree with your post. I’m not that old, but I’m old enough I find myself often caught in nostalgic feelings of the 80’s & early 90’s. Now, I’m as guilty as any for being stuck to my devices, but I’m not the worst. I’m so glad I learned all the skills I have. But you are right. I look at these 20-something “KIDS” today, and they are so unprepared. I don’t know. Is it our fault as their parents? Partially I guess. But I don’t play that “Sins of the Father” garbage. While a persons upbringing shapes them, once an adult it’s up to each individual to take responsibility for themselves.

 

[chronoblip]

I have read that most...ah...bipedal engagements in the modern world at at or under 300yds, and from the height of the gap in those stadia, you can see how powerful magnified optics are to take something so small and make it visible at long range. While not a ranging device, vernier sights are another interesting piece of technology that was used in the black powder days to reach out a long ways. To my knowledge, Montana Vintage Arms is one of the few still making kit like this.

414 MOA of elevation adjustment!

https://montanavintagearms.com/product/soule-xlr/

Otherwise, a software I have used to start learning to to read the reticle even when it's subzero outside is called "Shooter Ready".

https://www.shooterready.com/

It's not a shooting video game, it's basically a dedicated training tool for reticles and estimating distance based on targets of a known size. I am not skilled enough yet to know whether it's very effective, but I can say it's cheaper than a box of match grade ammo.