1. RANGE ESTIMATION

2. RANGE ESTIMATION
The majority of misses are due to an incorrect range estimation. To rectify this, constant practice and applications will ensure that you are proficient and give you the best chance to achieve
“One Shot, One Kill”

3. TLO ACTION: Determine range to a target.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARD: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or higher
on Range Estimation exercises and course exams.

4. INTRODUCTION Safety Considerations Risk Management Level
Environmental Considerations
Evaluation

5. RANGE ESTIMATION
The process of determining the distance between two points. In most situations, one of these points will be the observers position, while the other may be the target or a prominent feature. The ability to accurately determine range is the key skill needed by the sniper to accomplish his mission.

6. ELO A ACTION: Define the 8 range estimation methods.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARDS: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or
higher on Range Estimation exercises and course
exams.

7. RANGE ESTIMATION METHODS
Map Estimation (paper strip)
100 Meter unit-of-measure
Appearance-of-objects
Bracketing
Range Card
Mil-Relation formula
Combination Method
Laser Range Finder

8. MAP ESTIMATION
Place an edge of a strip of paper adjacent to both points.
Mark points with a tick mark at both locations.
Measure the distance between them on the map’s bar scale.

9. 100 METER UNIT-OF-MEASURE
Must visualize 100 meters on the ground.
Accurate to 500 meters.
Past 500 meters, use halving method.
Requires constant practice.

10. APPEARANCE-OF- OBJECTS METHOD
Determine range by the size and characteristics of an object.
Depends on visibility.
Requires constant practice.

11. RANGE CARD METHOD
Prior and proper preparation of a range card allows the team to quickly determine ranges throughout a target area.
Once the target is seen, the team determines it’s location on the range card to find the proper range.

12. BRACKETING METHOD
Sniper assumes the target is no less than “X” meters away, but no more than “Y” meters away.
Averages of the two distances as the estimated range.

13. LASER RANGE FINDERS
LRFs provide an extremely accurate and fast method of range estimating a target.
Requires extra equipment and training (i.e. extra batteries, tripod, etc.)
Snipers must not rely on this only.

14. LASER RANGE FINDER AN-PVS 6 (MELIOS)
Mini Eye-Safe Laser Infrared Observation Set.
MAGNIFICATION - 7x
FIELD OF VIEW - 7 (degrees)
WEIGHT lbs.
ACCURACY + or - 5 meters (from 50M-9995M)

15. LASER RANGE FINDER
Leica Viper
Leica PLRF (Pocket Laser Range Finder)

16. COMBINATION METHOD Perfect conditions rarely exist in combat.
The use of only one method of range estimation may not be enough.
Terrain with a lot of dead space limits the accuracy of the 100-m method.
Poor Visibility limits the appearance of object method.
By combining 2 or more methods a team can arrive at a range estimation that is close to the actual range.
Do not limit yourself!

17. QUESTIONS Name four types of range estimation methods.
Which method is the most accurate?
Which method requires a steady position?

18. ELO B ACTION: Describe the three main factors that affect the
appearance of objects when determining by eye estimation.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARDS: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or
higher on Range Estimation exercises and course
exams.

19. RANGE ESTIMATION
Range can be determined by measuring or by estimating. Below are the three main factors that affect the appearance of objects when determining range by eye.
Nature of the target
Nature of the terrain
Light conditions

20. NATURE OF THE TARGET A target will appear closer if:
The object has a regular outline.
An object contrasts with its background.

21. NATURE OF THE TARGET A target will appear more distant if:
The object has an irregular outline.
An object blends with its background.
The object is only partially exposed.

22. NATURE OF THE TERRAIN A target will appear closer:
When observing over smooth terrain.
When observing across a depression, when most of which is hidden from view.
When looking uphill.
When looking down a straight, open road, or along railroad tracks.

23. NATURE OF THE TERRAIN A target will appear farther:
If the observer’s eye follows the contours of the terrain
When observing across a depression, all of which is visible.
When looking downhill.
When field of vision is narrowly confined.

24. LIGHT CONDITIONS The target will appear closer:
When a target can be clearly seen.
When a target is viewed in full sunlight.
When the sun is behind the viewer.

25. LIGHT CONDITIONS The target will appear farther:
When a target is viewed during limited visibility.
When the sun is behind the target.

26. APPEARANCE-OF- OBJECTS METHOD
200m--Clear in all detail, i.e. color of skin equipment, etc.
300m--Clear body outline, face color good, remaining detail blurred.
400m--Body outline clear, remaining detailed blurred.
500m--Body tapers, head becomes indistinct.
600m--Body now a wedge shape, no head apparent.
700m--Solid wedge shape of outline of body.

27. QUESTIONS What are the factors that affect appearance of objects?
Give an example of how a target can appear farther by nature of terrain?

28. ELO C ACTION: Determine range to a target using the mil
relation formula.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARDS: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or
higher on Range Estimation exercises and course
exams.

29. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE

30. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE
1 mil
1.1 .9

31. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE

32. MIL-RELATION FORMULA
While using the mil-relation formula, the key element is a steady position.
Your position must be as steady as when you fire at a long-range target.
If you are not steady, you cannot get an accurate mil reading.

33. MIL-RELATION FORMULA
Requires you to know the size of the target (in inches).
Size in inches x 25.4 = size in mm. (constant).
Divide constant by Number of mils read.
Round answer to the nearest meter.

34. DATA BOOK MEASUREMENT SHEET
GREEN TRUCK
AMMO TRUCK
ITEM
HEIGHT
WIDTH
LENGTH
CONSTANT
GREEN TRUCK
88”
2235.2
WHEEL
17.5”
444.5
BED HEIGHT
33.5”
850.9
BED LENGTH
97”
4263.8
17.25”
438.15
BED WIDTH
81.75”
WINDOW
19.25”
488.95
33.75”
875.25
WIND SHIELD
64”
1625.6
TOP OF TARP
TO BOT. BED
80.5”
95.75”
WHT. TO WHT.
80”
2032
171”
4343.4
CAB OF TRUCK
116.5”
2959.1
45.75”
2819.4
R-WHEELS
31.5”
800.1
WATER CAN
5 GAL.
19”
13.5”
482.6
342.9
LIGHT TO LIGHT (FRONT)
STUD TRUCKS

35. DATA BOOK MEASUREMENT SHEET
Snipers must have measurements. Your best contact is the
S-2, or the out going unit. It is good to have these
measurements:
Average size of human targets in A.O.
Size of road signs. (national and international)
Vehicles used by locals.
Vending machines
The only bad measurement is a measurement you do not
have.

36. MIL-RELATION FORMULA Determine Constant
Size of Object (Inches) X 25.4 = Constant
Example:
67 Inches X 25.4=1701.8
Rounded = 1702 (Constant)
Determine Range
Constant Divided by Mil Reading of the Target = Target Range
1702 Divided by 2.5 Mils= 681M

37. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE

38. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE

39. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE
Target is 19.5” wide.

40. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE
Sign is
24” X 24”

41. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE
Door is
36” Wide
84” Tall

42. M3A/PVS10 RETICLE
Average Height of an American Man is 69”

43. M22 BINO RETICLE

44. M22 BINO RETICLE
APPROX. HEIGHT/WIDTH
VALUES
5 MILS MILS

45. M22 BINO RETICLE

46. M22 BINO RETICLE

47. M22 BINO RETICLE

48. QUESTIONS
40” tall = 2.4 mils
190” long = 15 mils
20” = 1.8 mils

49. ELO D ACTION: Discuss new scope reticles in the sniper inventory.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARD: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or higher
on Range Estimation exercises and course exams.

50. TACTICAL MILING RETICLE

51. TACTICAL MILING RETICLE

52. TACTICAL MILING RETICLE

53. RETICLE
As a Sniper, you should always be prepared to use multiple scope reticles. You may not always have the mil-dot reticle available.

54. ELO E ACTION: Conduct Range Estimation Exercise.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARD: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or higher
on Range Estimation exercises and course exams.

55. RANGE ESTIMATION EXERCISE SET-UP
Down Range
center
___________________________________________________
All equipment will be directly behind you and on line.
LRF
LRF
LRF

56. EXERCISE GRADE SHEET Fill out the heading:
Name, Rank, Date, Exercise # and Roster #
Fill in “m” for meters.
Only use pen for exercise (No Pencils).
All corrections need Instructor Initials except the M3A reading!

57. EXERCISE GRADE SHEET
Estimations will be done in order: eyes, binos, scope. You will not move on to the next estimation until the previous one is complete.
(i.e. you can not write a bino reading without doing the eye estimation first, no M3A without the binos)
One minute will be allowed for each estimation for a total of three minutes. Item 9 will only be one min.
At the completion of the exercise the instructor will announce “TIME” , you will stop all work and hold up your paper.

58. RANGE ESTIMATION SCORE SHEET
Roster Number _______ ____
Name _________ _
Date _________ __
Exercise Number __________ ______   
EYE ESTIMATION BINOCULARS SCOPE
+/- 15% /- 10% /- 5 % 
1 ______________ 1 __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
2 ______________ __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
3 ______________ __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
4 ______________ 4 __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
5 ______________ __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
6 ______________ 6 __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
7 ______________ 7 __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
8 ______________ __________________ (____mil) _______________ (____mil)
9 __________________ (____mil)
(Eyes / Binos / Scope)

59. TLO ACTION: Determine range to a target.
CONDITIONS: In a classroom; Given an FM 23-10
and course handouts.
STANDARD: Students will show understanding of
Range Estimation techniques by scoring 70% or higher
on Range Estimation exercises and course exams.

60. QUESTIONS? Q. What is the formula to determine range?
The Mil Relation Formula:
in x 25.4 / Mil = Range to target.
Q. Name the three factors that affect Appearance of Objects Method?
A. Nature of target, nature of terrain, and light conditions.
Q. How many Mils are in the M3A reticle?
A. 20 Mils.

61. SUMMARY
This lesson you have learned about Range Estimation and its uses. Your next lesson will be the Cadre Led Range Estimation and Appearance of Objects Exercises.

62. RANGE ESTIMATION