Reticle for telescopic gunsight and method for using

Abstract

A gunsight reticle defines a system of dimensioned indicia spaced at specific separations to improve aiming accuracy of a gun. The indicia may include perpendicularly intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four (or more or less) horizontal range-marker lines disposed at specific angular separations below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. Spacing of the range marker lines below the center horizontal hairline is proportional to bullet drop at selected ranges, depending upon ballistic characteristics of bullet used. Relative lengths of said range-marker bars on each side of the central vertical crosshair are proportional to a specific crosswind (say 10 mph) at target range reflected by respective range marker. The method involves employing this reticle to determine distance to target, and using distance thus determined to ascertain a precise aiming point on the reticle. These indicia also have other useful characteristics that allow the shooter to easily mentally calculate corrections for crosswind, moving targets and shooting at targets that are above or below the shooter at a significant angle.

1 . A reticle for use in a telescopic gunsight, the reticle comprising:
 a center vertical hairline and a center horizontal hairline intersecting in an intersection point;   a first range-marker disposed below the center hairline and at a first distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline;   a second range-marker disposed below the first range-marker and at a second distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline;   a third range-marker disposed below the second range-marker and at a third distance below the center horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline;   a fourth range-marker disposed below the third range-marker and at a fourth distance below the horizontal hairline and intersecting the center vertical hairline; and   wherein the various features of the reticle correspond to inches of subtention at 100 yards, and the first distance is about 2.0, the second distance is about 4.8, the third distance is about 7.5 and the fourth distance is about 10.5.   
   
   
       2 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first, second, third and fourth range-markers are horizontal hairlines of sequentially incremental length. 
   
   
       3 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the lengths of the first, second, third and fourth range marker lines are about 4.12, 5.90, 8.32 and 9.72 inches, respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the intersection of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines an approximate bullet impact point at 100 and 200 yards, and wherein the sites of intersection of the first, second, third and fourth range-markers with the center vertical hairline constitute first, second, third and fourth alternative approximate bullet impact points, respectively, at ranges of 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards, respectively. 
   
   
       5 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the approximate bullet impact points in the preceding claim are operable for a first gun type, and the intersection of the centervertical and center horizontal hairlines constitutes a center point which defines an approximate bullet impact point at 100 yards and the sites of intersection of the first, second, third and fourth range-markers with the center vertical hairline constitute first, second, third and fourth alternative approximate bullet impact points, respectively, at ranges of 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards, respectively, for a second gun type different from the first gun type. 
   
   
       6 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 1  wherein center vertical hairline and the center horizontal line each include two radially distal portions each forming a post having radially directed innermost and outermost extremities. 
   
   
       7 . The reticle in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the distance between the intersection point of the center vertical and center horizontal hairlines and each of the innermost extremities of the posts on the center horizontal hairline is about 25 inches.