NRA
Probationary Course
Unit 8
The Rifle Sights
Compiled by Dave Burton
NRA
Probationary Course
Unit 8
Introduces:
Minutes of Angle
Vernier Scales
Elevation & Wind Settings
Different types of sighting system
Elevation And Distance
When the rifle is close to the target
the bullet hits the centre providing
the sights are correctly set to the
bore
Elevation And Distance
But:-
further away, the bullet
drops due to gravity
and air resistance
Elevation And Distance
To hit the target the front of the barrel must be raised
The longer the range, the more the barrel must be raised
ELEVATION
• The further the distance from firer to target,
the greater the angle ‘x’ has to be.
trajectory
x
Firer
Target
‘x’ is
the angle measured on the sight.
Target
ELEVATION
• Only a small change of angle is needed at
the rifle end to make a big difference at the
target end
• The angle is measured in MINUTES of
angle - (one minute is 1/60 of a degree)
• At 100 yards, changing the sight by 1
minute, changes the fall of shot on the target
by 1 inch
Minutes Of Angle
A minute of angle is:
The adjustment of the REARSIGHT
that will cause the POINT OF IMPACT
to move 1 Inch per 100 yards
ELEVATION
• Therefore:
Distance
1 minute at the target is:
100yd
1”
200 yd
2”
300 yd
etc.
3”
ELEVATION
3 inches
2 inches
1 Minute
1 inch
100 yds
200 yds
300 yds
Approx elevation To Allow For
Bullet Drop Over Set Distances
CHANGE
(yards)
RISE BETWEEN RANGES
(minutes)
100 - 200
2.0
200 - 300
2.5
300 - 400
3.0
400 - 500
3.5
500 - 600
4.0
Elevation
This gives us the standard rises between ranges:
DISTANCE (yds)
200 – 300
300 – 500
500 – 600
600 – 900
900 – 1000
RISE (mins)
2.5
6.5
4.0
16.0
7.0
Standard Elevation Table for
7.62mm
Rise
from
To
300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
200
2.5 5.5
9
13
17.5
23
29
36.5
300
—
3
6.5 10.5
15
20.5 26.5
34
400
—
—
3.5
7.5
12
17.5 23.5
31
500
—
—
—
4
8.5
14
20
27.5
600
—
—
—
—
4.5
10
16
23.5
700
—
—
—
—
—
5.5 11.5
800
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
13.5
900
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
7.5
19
The Elevation Vernier
Elevation Vernier Settings
40
40
20
5
0
0
0
40
5
5
20
20
0
0
0
0
1
4
The Elevation Vernier
Set at 6 minutes of elevation
The Elevation Vernier
Set at 9 minutes of elevation
The Elevation Vernier
Set at 13 minutes of elevation
The Elevation Vernier
Set at 31 minutes of elevation
The Wind Vernier
The Effects Of Wind On The Bullet
Target
Target
Still
Air
Still
Air
FP
FP
Range Flags/Wind Speeds
Light
2 mph
Gentle
4 mph
Moderate
8 mph
Fresh
12 mph
Strong
16 mph
Very Strong
20 mph
The Wind Scale
The Wind Scale
20
0
20
5
0
5
0
20
5
0
0
2 LEFT
20
5
20
20
0
5
0
3 RIGHT
5
The Wind Scale
Set at 8 min left
Sight Systems
Different target shooting disciplines
may involve different types of sights
eg.
• Telescopic sights (F and Match class)
• Leaf sights
(Older military rifles)
• Buckhorn sights (Gallery rifles)
“Service” Rifle Sights
Note the different method of
sight adjustment
Telescopic Sights
Telescopic sight adjustment may be in the
opposite direction to that of target sights
Leupold Sight
Telescopic sight
adjustment may be
in the opposite
direction to that of
target sights
Tasco Sight
NRA
Probationary Course
Compiled by Dave Burton