Mil (mil) - Unit Information & Conversion
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What is a Mil?
Mil (milliradian or angular mil) is a military angle unit for artillery, firearms, and optics. 1 mil ≈ 1/6400 circle (NATO) or 1/6000 circle (USSR). Used for range estimation, targeting, and ballistics calculations.
History of the Mil
Developed for military use in early 1900s. Approximates 1 milliradian. NATO uses 6400 mils per circle, while Soviet/Russian military used 6000 mils. Essential for artillery fire control and sniper calculations.
Quick Answer
What is a Mil? A mil (angular mil or milliradian) is a military angle unit used for artillery, targeting, and range estimation. NATO standard: 6400 mils = 360°, so 1 mil ≈ 0.05625°. At 1000 meters, 1 mil equals approximately 1 meter of deviation. Use our angle converter for instant conversions.
Key Facts: Mil
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | mil |
| Quantity | Angle |
| System | Metric/SI Derived |
| Derived from | Radian |
| Category | Angle |
| Standard Body | NIST / ISO |
Definition
NATO mil: 1 mil = 1/6400 of a circle ≈ 0.05625 degrees ≈ 0.000982 radians
Alternative definitions:
- NATO/US military: 6400 mils = 360° (standard)
- Soviet/Russian: 6000 mils = 360°
- Swedish: 6300 mils = 360°
- True milliradian: 1000 milliradians = 1 radian (6283.2 mils = 360°)
Key conversions (NATO mil):
- 1 mil ≈ 0.05625 degrees
- 1600 mils = 90 degrees (right angle)
- 3200 mils = 180 degrees
- 6400 mils = 360 degrees (full circle)
Common Uses
Military Artillery: Gun laying, indirect fire calculations, ballistic corrections. Sniper Operations: Scope adjustments, windage, elevation corrections for long-range shooting. Rangefinding: Estimating target distance using known target size and angular measurements. Fire Control Systems: Tank gunnery, naval artillery, anti-aircraft targeting.
Real-World Examples
Military Rangefinding: Quick Reference Table
How target size correlates to distance:
| Target Type | Height/Width | 1 mil = this distance | 5 mils | 10 mils | 20 mils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult human | 1.7m | 1,700 m | 340 m | 170 m | 85 m |
| Child | 1.0m | 1,000 m | 200 m | 100 m | 50 m |
| Doorway | 2.0m | 2,000 m | 400 m | 200 m | 100 m |
| Vehicle width | 2.5m | 2,500 m | 500 m | 250 m | 125 m |
| Tank height | 2.5m | 2,500 m | 500 m | 250 m | 125 m |
| Truck length | 5.0m | 5,000 m | 1,000 m | 500 m | 250 m |
| Building width | 10m | 10,000 m | 2,000 m | 1,000 m | 500 m |
Formula: Range (meters) = (Target size × 1,000) ÷ Observed size in mils
Sniper Scope Adjustments: Hold-Over and Windage
How mil-dot scopes correct for bullet ballistics:
| Distance | 1 Mil Deviation | 0.1 Mil Click | Common Adjustment | Holdover Dots Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 meters | 10 cm | 1 cm | Minor | Center dot |
| 300 meters | 30 cm | 3 cm | Moderate | 1 dot down |
| 500 meters | 50 cm | 5 cm | Significant | 2-3 dots down |
| 800 meters | 80 cm | 8 cm | Major | 4-5 dots down |
| 1,000 meters | 1 m | 10 cm | Critical | 6-8 dots down |
| 1,200 meters | 1.2 m | 12 cm | Extreme | 8-10 dots down |
| 1,500+ meters | 1.5m+ | 15cm+ | Requires external calc | Full reticle |
Application: Sniper adjusts scope by counting mil-dots to compensate for bullet drop
NATO vs Soviet/Russian Mil Standards
Military systems compatibility issues:
| Standard | System | Mils per Circle | 1 Mil = | Used By | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATO mil | 6400 division | 6,400 | 0.05625° | US, NATO allies | Modern standard worldwide |
| Soviet mil | 6000 division | 6,000 | 0.06° | Russia, older Soviet | Slightly larger than NATO |
| True milliradian | Radian-based | 6,283.2 | 0.0573° | Scientific | Mathematical definition |
| Swedish mil | 6300 division | 6,300 | 0.0571° | Sweden, Finland | Legacy system |
Interoperability: NATO mil widely adopted globally; older Soviet equipment still uses 6,000 system
Artillery Fire Control Examples
How artillery uses mil adjustments:
| Fire Mission | Mil Adjustment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Azimuth (left/right) | Change direction | "Left 50 mils" = shift aim 2.8° left |
| Elevation (up/down) | Adjust for range | "Add 100 mils" = increase firing angle |
| Wind compensation | Lateral correction | "Right 15 mils for wind" = shift for wind drift |
| Splash spotting | Bracket target | "Drop 25 mils, re-fire" for next shot |
| Bearing correction | Rapid adjustment | "Gun 1 right 10 mils" = specific gun adjustment |
Communication: Short, rapid mil-based commands enable precise fire control
Optical Equipment with Mil-Based Reticles
Types of mil-reticle patterns:
| Reticle Type | Pattern | Mil Spacing | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mil-dot | Dots at 1 mil intervals | 1 mil center-to-center | Classic, versatile |
| Mil-hash | Hash marks at mils | 0.5-1 mil increments | Faster target measurement |
| Christmas tree | Dayton Milliradian | Specialized spacing | Holdover compensation |
| MOA (US civilian) | Minute of Angle | 1 MOA = 1.047 mils | Mixed mil/MOA systems |
| Illuminated reticle | Mil-based with LED | Standard mil spacing | Night/low-light use |
| First Focal Plane (FFP) | Scaling mils with zoom | Maintains mil value | High-power scopes |
Modern trend: FFP scopes with mil-hash for fast target acquisition
Real-World Mil-Based Calculations
Example calculation for sniper:
Scenario:
- Target appears 4 mils tall
- You know the target is an adult human (1.7m)
- What's the range?
Calculation: Range = (1.7m × 1,000) ÷ 4 mils = 425 meters
Then:
- Look up 425m ballistic drop for your ammo (~15-20 cm)
- That's approximately 1.5-2 mils of holdover
- Aim 1.5 mils high (use lower mil-dot)
- Fire
Mil Conversion Formulas
To Degree:
To Radian:
To Gradian:
To Arcminute:
To Arcsecond:
To Turn:
To Revolution:
To Quadrant:
To Gon:
Frequently Asked Questions
Formula (NATO mil): Degrees = Mils × (360/6400) = Mils × 0.05625 Examples:
- 100 mils = 5.625°
- 1600 mils = 90°
- 3200 mils = 180°
- 6400 mils = 360°
- 1 mil ≈ 0.05625° Mils to Degrees converter →
Convert Mil
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