Tactical ranging reticle for a projectile weapon aiming device

Abstract

A reticle of a projectile weapon aiming system such as a riflescope includes a primary aiming mark adapted to be sighted-in at a first selected range and further includes a plurality of secondary aiming marks spaced apart below the primary aiming mark. The secondary aiming marks are positioned to compensate for ballistic drop at preselected incremental ranges beyond the first selected range, for a selected group of ammunition having similar ballistic characteristics. Angles subtended by adjacent aiming marks of the reticle can be adjusted by changing the optical power of the riflescope, to thereby compensate for ballistic characteristics of different ammunition. In some embodiments, the reticle includes a set of windage aiming marks spaced apart along at least one secondary horizontal axis intersecting a selected one of the secondary aiming marks, to facilitate compensation for the effect of crosswinds on the trajectory of the projectile.

1 . A reticle for a projectile weapon aiming system, comprising: 
 a primary horizontal sight line including, 
 a horizontal central portion, and  
 a horizontal post portion being at least one and a half times thicker than the horizontal central portion;  
   a primary vertical sight line including, 
 a vertical central portion, and  
 a vertical post portion being at least one and a half times thicker than the vertical central portion, and  
   wherein the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines define and extend radially from a primary aiming point;    a plurality of vertical secondary aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure and intersecting the vertical central portion; and    a plurality of vertical long range aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure, intersecting the vertical central portion, and disposed between a pair of vertical secondary aiming marks in closest proximity to the vertical post portion,    wherein an area between the vertical secondary aiming mark closest to the primary aiming point and the primary aiming point is devoid of vertical long range aiming marks.    
   
   
       2 . The reticle of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of horizontal secondary aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure and intersecting the horizontal central portion; and    a plurality of horizontal long range aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure, intersecting the horizontal central portion, and disposed between a pair of horizontal secondary aiming marks in closest proximity to the horizontal post portion,    wherein an area between the horizontal secondary aiming mark closest to the primary aiming point and the primary aiming point is devoid of horizontal long range aiming marks.    
   
   
       3 . The reticle of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of horizontal tertiary aiming marks intersecting the horizontal central portion, each horizontal tertiary aiming mark disposed between and equidistant to a pair of horizontal secondary aiming marks; and    a plurality of vertical tertiary aiming marks intersecting the vertical central portion, each vertical tertiary aiming mark disposed between and equidistant to a pair of vertical secondary aiming marks.    
   
   
       4 . The reticle of  claim 3 , wherein each horizontal and vertical tertiary aiming mark indicates 0.5 milliradians from adjacent secondary aiming marks.  
   
   
       5 . The reticle of  claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical tertiary aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       6 . The reticle of  claim 2 , wherein each horizontal and vertical secondary aiming mark indicates 1 milliradian from an adjacent secondary aiming mark.  
   
   
       7 . The reticle of  claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical secondary aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       8 . The reticle of  claim 2 , wherein each horizontal and vertical long range aiming mark indicates less than 0.5 milliradians from an adjacent long range aiming mark.  
   
   
       9 . The reticle of  claim 8 , wherein each horizontal and vertical long range aiming mark indicates 0.2 milliradians from an adjacent long range aiming mark.  
   
   
       10 . The reticle of  claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical long range aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       11 . The reticle of  claim 1 , wherein the primary aiming point is transparent.  
   
   
       12 . A riflescope comprising: 
 an elongate housing supporting an objective lens and an eyepiece lens proximate opposite ends of the housing, and further supporting an erector lens assembly between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens;    a reticle positioned between the erector lens assembly and the eyepiece, the reticle including, 
 a primary horizontal sight line including, 
 a horizontal central portion, and  
 a horizontal post portion being at least one and a half times thicker than the horizontal central portion;  
 
 a primary vertical sight line including, 
 a vertical central portion, and  
 a vertical post portion being at least one and a half times thicker than the vertical central portion, and  
 
 wherein the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines define and extend radially from a primary aiming point,  
 a plurality of vertical secondary aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure and intersecting the vertical central portion, and  
 a plurality of vertical long range aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure, intersecting the vertical central portion, and disposed between a pair of vertical secondary aiming marks in closest proximity to the vertical post portion,  
 wherein an area between the vertical secondary aiming mark closest to the primary aiming point and the primary aiming point is devoid of vertical long range aiming marks.  
   
   
   
       13 . The riflescope of  claim 12 , wherein the reticle further comprises: 
 a plurality of horizontal secondary aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure and intersecting the horizontal central portion; and    a plurality of horizontal long range aiming marks each indicating an equal unit of measure, intersecting the horizontal central portion, and disposed between a pair of horizontal secondary aiming marks in closest proximity to the horizontal post portion,    wherein an area between the horizontal secondary aiming mark closest to the primary aiming point and the primary aiming point is devoid of horizontal long range aiming marks,    
   
   
       14 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein the reticle further comprises: 
 a plurality of horizontal tertiary aiming marks intersecting the horizontal central portion, each horizontal tertiary aiming mark disposed between and equidistant to a pair of horizontal secondary aiming marks; and    a plurality of vertical tertiary aiming marks intersecting the vertical central portion, each vertical tertiary aiming mark disposed between and equidistant to a pair of vertical secondary aiming marks.    
   
   
       15 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein each horizontal and vertical tertiary aiming mark indicates 0.5 milliradians from adjacent secondary aiming marks.  
   
   
       16 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical tertiary aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       17 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein each horizontal and vertical secondary aiming mark indicates 1 milliradian from an adjacent secondary aiming mark.  
   
   
       18 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical secondary aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       19 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein each horizontal and vertical long range aiming mark indicates less than 0.5 milliradians from an adjacent long range aiming mark.  
   
   
       20 . The riflescope of  claim 19 , wherein each horizontal and vertical long range aiming mark indicates 0.2 milliradians from an adjacent long range aiming mark.  
   
   
       21 . The riflescope of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the horizontal and vertical long range aiming marks is approximately equal to the thickness of the primary horizontal and vertical sight lines.  
   
   
       22 . The riflescope of  claim 12 , wherein the primary aiming point is transparent.