VE6AB Technical
Tactical View
I recently discovered a monocular built by Vortex that I decided I couldn't live without and purchased one.
The SOLO R/T 8 X 36 monocular built by Vortex is a monocular with a difference, as it is a tactical monocular that includes a ranging reticle based on a form of angular measurement called the milliradian (mrad for short).
I won't get too detailed in explaining milliradians to you as I don't want to put you to sleep, however the basic explanation is this....
A radian is the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc that is equal in length to the radius of the circle. So, a milliradian is 1/1000 of a radian.
Now, because a milliradian is 1/1000 of a radian, it doesn’t matter what linear distance you use is, the reticle or adjustments subtends 1/1000 of that number. So you have a milliradian equaling:
•1 mile at 1000 miles
•1 meter at 1000 meters
•1 yard at 1000 yards
•10 centimeter at 100 meters
•3.6 inches at 100 yards (3600 inches)
These angular measurements allow a you to calculate ranges when comparing the reticle to objects of known dimensions.
The key to effective ranging using this reticle is knowing common objects in your vicinity and their measurements.
Included in the view through the SOLO are silhouettes for the human form allowing you to quickly range similar sized objects.
They range in 4 different sizes indicating distances from 300 meters through to 600 meters.
Using either the vertical or horizontal mrad scale, you place the reticle on the target of known dimension and read the number of mrads spanned.
Another example of how I can use this ranging monocular is with a topo map in my pack while out hiking.
I can measure the distance to a distant mountain by reading the height of the mountain off of the topo map, and using the same formula I can measure the distance in miles or kilometers to the mountain, allowing me to estimate the time it will take for me to hike to the base of the mountain.
There are no end to measurements that you can make with this device, and it is a lot of fun to use as well as having very good optics with a 8 times magnification for distant viewing.
This device has become my new favorite tool, and I don't leave home without it.
Oh, just so you know, I didn't like the lanyard that came with the monocular, so I braided up the one you see here from 550 paracord..
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
