No other component in rifle scopes has seen the rapid technological advancements than the aiming point or reticle. The following content concentrates on How to Use the Horus 59 Reticle for ranging and precise targeting.
We will touch on the following topics:
- Quick use of the Horus 59 reticle
- Ranging
- Holdovers on Elevation
- Moving targets and wind holds
- Second shot adjustments
- Key Features and the Horus Grid
- Main Stadia and Drop Lines
- Rapid Range Bars
- Moving Target Holds
- Horus Grid for Windage and Elevation
- Holdover Dots
- Speed Shooting Drop Holds
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Background
Most shooters are not aware that the reticle’s history dates to the 17th century. Only in the last few years have significant breakthroughs been made.
Every scope manufacturer builds aiming points unique to their product. Third-party vendors, like Horus Vision, have pushed the technology envelope.
Who Is Horus Vision
Founded in 2000, Horus Vision has quickly become an industry leader in precision optics and ballistic technology software. The Ray Dennis Group of Companies acquired Horus Vision in 2016, including Nightforce Optics and Ace Precision Rifle Systems.
The Horus 59 Sniper Reticle is a field-tuned version of the Horus58. Horus59 offers several paradigm shifts to reticle design.
The H59 reticle gives shooters faster target acquisition at low to mid-power settings with excellent resolution for extreme long-range targets. Plus, a more extensive grid system patented through Horus Vision.
The H59 advanced feature-set includes speed shooting drop markers. These markers are for rapidly engaging targets without knowing the range, along with moving target holds.
H59 Features and Quick Use
The H59 reticle features:
- Visually place target on appropriate horizontal and vertical grid lines to correct for elevation and windage while looking through the reticle, no turning knobs or counting clicks
- Secondary horizontal lines spaced exactly 1 mil apart allow precise elevation holds
- Large hash marks spaced exactly 1 mil apart along drop lines to compensate for wind, drift, speed of target, etc
- Small hash marks along grid lines enable more refined holds
- Range finding, use small hash marks to precisely measure target image size
- Second Shot Correction™, fail-safe method for correcting aim in unlikely event of missed first shot
If the shooter can provide enough data, along with practice, they can calibrate the Horus Grid for most cartridges and loads. However, several other factors determine the exact bullet drop.
The Grid gives the shooter reference points to find the correct distance to a target using angle ratios and hold off for wind and moving targets.
Once the shooter knows how to use the Grid, it reduces excessive turret adjustment for elevation and windage.
The Horus59 Grid System is built on the Milliradian or MRAD unit of measurement and adapted to MOA measurement.
Ranging
Shooters must know the size of their target before using the following formulas to calculate the exact range.
Place the Grid over your target and note the number of mils within the Grid.
To mil the width, use the vertical hash marks along the horizontal stadia line.
Mil-ing can measure the target’s height with the horizontal hashes down the vertical stadia line.
- Find your target in either the vertical or horizontal grid lines, as illustrated above. Place the target on the reticle long enough to make an accurate calculation. (the process will become much more comfortable and quicker with experience) Estimate to the nearest 0.1 MRAD.
- Shooters can use the following example formula to find your range to target:
Example:
Silhouette target—40 inches tall by 19.5 inches wide
19.5 x 27.8 divided by 1.2 MRADs = 452 Yards
Elevation Holdover
Shooters need to create a DOPE chart (Data on previous engagements) for consistent results when calculating for bullet drop. Horus59 reticles are used to compensate for holdover and quickly identify the drop at given ranges.
Position the target to the hash mark of your drop hold number. If the number is odd, hold between the two nearest hash marks.
Shooters can also use the elevation turret to dial in the adjustment for compensating the drop. It is important to remember, always use the center of the crosshair when using the elevation turret.
The horizontal crosshair can be used for adjusting wind or the lead on your moving target, similar to the elevation adjustment. Another important reminder: shooters should always add wind correction to the DOPE chart for quick reference.
Moving Targets and Wind Holds
Targets can be visually placed along drop lines and horizontal stadia lines. Hash marks have .2 mil increments along the Grid for moving target and wind holds without using turrets to dial in the adjustments.
For horizontal holds, place the target with hash marks for alignment. The hold must correspond to your horizontal-adjustment number. Left holds use the hash marks to the left of the vertical stadia line. Right holds use the marks to the right.
Second Shot Adjustment
If the first shot is missed, God forbid, the H59 reticle is ideal for setting up the second shot. Without calculations, guessing, and adjusting turrets, the H59 offers shooters a visual correction method for second-shot hits.
After the missed shot, while continuing to look through the Horus Grid, lock onto the point where bullet impact was made. Without moving your eye, reposition that grid point directly over the target. The second shot will be dead-on.
Key Features and the Horus Grid
The H59 reticle works from a purely visual system, faster and more refined than traditional mil-dot configurations. For tactical and hunting scenarios, the H59 takes away clicks and turret repositions to hone in on the target.
Shooters can now visually reposition up or down, left or right without the use of turrets. With practice, the process of aiming can now take mere seconds. Plus, the shooter’s eye is not taken off the target.
Every Horus Reticle produced offers some version of the patented Grid system.
Instead of turning knobs, the shooter visually repositions aim up and down, left or right, using the Horus reticle grid. It all happens while looking through the scope, so your eye and mind stay focused on the target instead of knobs and clicks. Best of all, it takes mere seconds.
The following are just some of the advanced features offered by the H59. Head to this link for a full description of Horus Reticles.
Main Stadia and Drop Lines
The Horus Grid consists of two main stadia lines, horizontal and vertical, marked in 1-mil and 0.2-mil increments. The stadia lines are used for targeting and placing holds.
Drop lines in 1-mil increments below the horizontal stadia are used for elevation and bullet drop adjustments.
Rapid Range Bars
Patented ranging bars subtending from 0.5 to 1 milliradian. These bars allow the shooter to estimate the range to target of any known size quickly. The ranging bars can be used with the Accuracy First Speed Shooting Formula.
Moving Target Holds
Vertical hash marks on either side of the central horizontal crosshair are leads for moving targets at speeds up to 10 mph.
Leads work for most calibers at distances of approximately 200 to 500 yards. Leads can also be used with the Accuracy Formula from above.
Horus Grid for Standard Windage and Elevation
The Horus Grid is the place for holds on moving targets, bullet drop compensation, elevation and windage adjustments. Use the Grid for targets from 0 to 1500 meters—the Grid aids in aiming points at high power and distant targeting.
H59 reticle center crosshair can be turned into a central dot or broken cross for un-obscured viewings of shot groupings. The H59 features an open field above the center for precise spotting and observation.
Holdover Dots
Holdover dots extend the Grid in 1 mil increments; this provides additional hold markings without obscuring the shooter’s view.
Speed Shooting Drop Holds
Shooters can use the H59 to quickly determine an elevation hold for targets without using traditional mil formulas for range-finding. The method is suited for targets out to 600 meters. Markers are short hashes arranged in a stair-step pattern above the reticle’s horizontal stadia line.
Each marker down to the horizontal stadia line decreases by 0.1 mil as the shooter moves outward from the reticle center.
Calculations for drop have three variables:
- Distance to target
- Target size by mil
- Target size, Real-World
Shooters must know either real-world size or mil-ed size to determine bullet drop through the Horus Grid. Markers work with fixed targets of any size.
How to use the Drop Markers
Example
A whitetail deer from belly-line to top of shoulders measures approximately 12”.
- Find the Speed Shooting Drop Marker, which most snugly brackets your 12” target’s height.
- Place your target’s bottom edge along with the reticle’s main horizontal stadia and locate the marker which best matches your target’s height.
- Place Corresponding Hold, To place your corresponding hold, note the numeral designating the Speed Shooting Drop Marker, which most snugly brackets your target height.
- Divide that number in half. The resulting number is your corresponding drop mil line.”
Note: If the marker is too tall for your target, move outward to a shorter marker. On the other hand, if the marker is too short for your target, move inward to a taller marker.
Each rifle has a different muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient, which produces a gun number. The H59 reticle works much better and has further adjustments if the shooter has their gun number. Horus Vision recommends using the Atrag Ballistics software.
Wrap Up
Horus Vision has extended its industry lead again with the H59 Sniper Reticle. Not only is the system lightning quick, but it also keeps the shooter’s eye where it belongs, on the target.
The H59 reticle is slowly taking over a lot of the functionality of turrets and knobs on rifle scopes. This means rifle scope builders must adapt to the coming technological changes.
It is going to be very interesting to see how this line of reticles progresses through the industry. Tactical configurations should welcome the change as the H59 allows for quick targeting. As for others, We will see.
