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mil to degree - How to convert mil to °
In fields like artillery, surveying, and navigation, the mil is an essential unit for measuring angles with extreme precision. Converting between mils and degrees is a skill used in both military and civilian applications, from targeting systems to land measurement.
The Two Units in Focus
A mil, short for milliradian, is an angular measurement unit based on radians. In NATO standard, there are 6,400 mils in a full circle, meaning one mil equals 0.05625°. This allows for quick mental estimates — for example, at 1,000 meters, one mil subtends almost exactly one meter.
A degree (°) divides a full circle into 360 equal parts. While degrees are more intuitive for most people, mils provide greater resolution for fine targeting and ranging.
Formula for Conversion
The formula for converting mils to degrees is:
Degrees (°) = Mils × 0.05625
Example:100 mil × 0.05625 = 5.625°
You can skip manual calculations by using the Angle Conversion tool on Jetcalculator for instant results.
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Do you know?
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Mils are popular in ballistics because they allow quick distance estimation without a calculator.
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In competitive long-range shooting, scopes are often marked in mil adjustments for precise aiming.
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The Soviet Union used a slightly different system of 6,000 mils per circle, which changes the exact degree equivalent slightly.
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Some modern binoculars and rangefinders include built-in mil scales for field calculations.
The Artillery That Changed the Battle
During the 1991 Gulf War, U.S. artillery units relied heavily on mil measurements to coordinate fire missions over vast desert distances. In one critical operation near the Kuwaiti border, forward observers spotted enemy armor formations several kilometers away. Using binoculars with mil reticles, they quickly estimated the range and relayed exact targeting data back to the artillery command.
The gunners converted those mil readings into precise degree values for their fire-control computers, ensuring the rounds landed exactly where intended. The difference between hitting or missing wasn’t just skill — it was the ability to translate tiny angular measurements into real-world accuracy. In this case, accurate mil-to-degree conversion allowed for a devastatingly effective barrage that halted the enemy advance, protecting allied forces and opening the way for the next phase of the campaign.
Stories like this show why mastering mil-to-degree conversion is more than academic — it’s a real-world skill with life-and-death consequences.
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Final Thoughts
Whether you’re working in defense, surveying land, or simply curious about precision measurement, converting mil to degrees (mil to °) is straightforward: Degrees = Mils × 0.05625.
For broader measurement needs, the Conversion Tools section at Jetcalculator covers angles, distances, temperatures, and more, making it easy to switch between units in seconds.
