US 6,032,374 A · Gunsight and reticle therefor

Abstract

An improved telescopic gunsight is provided by combining a conventional telescopic gunsight with a reticle having a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs and a range-finder positioned in one of the quadrants formed by the intersection of the primary vertical and horizontal cross-hairs. Some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs are marked with a unique identifying character to assist the shooter in quickly finding an aiming point. The thickness of, and spacing between, the cross-hairs can be based upon an easy to learn inches of angle (or centimeters of angle) scale, or upon any other conventional scale. A ring having a center aligned with the optical center and circumscribing the cross-hairs can be included to aid the shooter in centering his eye in the field of view. An aiming dot can also be provided for the same purpose, and to aid in rapid acquisition of a moving target.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An improved telescopic gunsight, comprising:

(a) a housing, including a means for mounting said housing in a fixed, predetermined position relative to a gun barrel;
(b) an objective lens mounted in said housing at one end thereof;
(c) an ocular lens mounted in said housing at an opposite end thereof;
(d) a reticle mounted in said housing between said objective lens and said ocular lens, said reticle having an optical center and a plurality of aiming points, said aiming points formed bv a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs intersecting said primary vertical cross hair and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along said primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs intersecting at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said intersecting cross-hair forming one of said plurality of aiming points and rangefinding markings positioned in one of said quadrants.

1 more element

A reticle for use in a telescopic gunsight including a mount for mounting said gunsight in a fixed, predetermined position relative to a gun barrel, said reticle having an optical center and comprising:

(a) a primary vertical cross-hair having a predetermined thickness;
(b) a primary horizontal cross-hair having a predetermined thickness intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant;
(c) a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along and intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair, each said secondary horizontal cross-hair forming an aiming point with said primary vertical cross-hair, each of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs being shorter than said primary horizontal cross-hair;
(d) a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said secondary vertical cross-hair forming an aiming point with said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each said secondary vertical cross-hair being shorter than said primary vertical cross-hair;
and,
(e) rangefinding markings positioned in one of said quadrants.

3 more elements

A method for hitting a target of known or estimable size with a bullet fired from a firearm using a telescopic gunsight mounted to the firearm, the telescopic gunsight having a reticle with an optical center and a plurality of aiming points, a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting said primary vertical cross-hair to form an upper right quadrant, an upper left quadrant, a lower left quadrant, and a lower right quadrant, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs intersecting and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along said primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs intersecting and evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, each intersecting cross-hair forming one of the plurality of aiming points, unique identifying markings associated with at least some of said secondary horizontal cross-hairs, and an optical rangefinder positioned in one of said quadrants, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a target of known or estimable actual size;
(b) determining the number of evenly spaced, scaled markings on the rangefinder which span the target area, to determine an observed size;
(c) calculating range to the target using the relationship between the actual size and the observed size;
(d) selecting from said primary and secondary horizontal cross-hairs a horizontal cross-hair which has been predetermined to correlate to the calculated range;
(e) selecting as an aiming point on the selected horizontal cross-hair the intersection between the selected horizontal cross-hair and a vertical cross-hair based on windage considerations;
(f) aligning said selected aiming point with a center of said target;
and,
(g) shooting at the target.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gunsight and reticle therefor

Life of this patent

Gunsight and reticle therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24