Shooting a Moving Target: Should You Dial or Hold?

When you are shooting long-range targets and are forced to make corrections, you have two options. Well, three actually. One thing is certain, you have to adjust your scope to hit that target. So, how are you going to do it?

Do You Dial?

The first option is dialing the scope. If you have a scope with target knobs, you just have to take your DOPE adjustment and dial your scope to the appropriate MIL solution. Since this measurement is applied inside the scope by the mechanical features, this is an exact process.

In this article and video, the author used a Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS II 4.5-30x 50 scope on a Springfield Waypoint rifle.

If your DOPE calls for 7 MILS of adjustment, you can dial it to 7 — and there is no doubt this is 7 MILS exactly. As long as your turret knobs are marked, you can visibly check with your eyes to confirm that it is indeed sitting at 7 MILS. Then, you can shoot with confidence.

Here is the con to that. Let’s imagine this: a huge trophy whitetail buck steps out just on the edge of the brush. You range it, you get the solution and then you proceed to dial your scope, and verify the setting. Then, as your eye enters back into the scope, you notice the buck has vanished back into the brush, never to be seen again. Or, a sniper is engaging a threat. He looks away, and the target has disappeared or taken a dangerous action. This method can take a little extra time, and when seconds matter it, it can be a problem.

Holding Out When Shooting a Moving Target

Our second method is holding the scope to hit the target. This consists of using your MIL hash marks inside your reticle to hold over the target to get an accurate shot. For this to work, you have to have a reticle option with MIL holds.

A mid-distance photograph shows the author’s hands adjusting the elevation and windage turrets on a rifle scope, the focus on the numbered knobs and the textured grip. The image highlights the physical act of dialing corrections, a common part of long-range marksmanship and shooting a moving target. The reticle housing and turret clicks are visible, implying deliberate MIL or MOA changes rather than instinctive holds. Background elements are soft and out of focus, keeping attention on the scope mechanics and the shooter’s technique. This photo pairs with content about ballistic corrections, DOPE checks, and balancing speed with precision. It emphasizes the equipment side of adjusting for windage and elevation without showing a target. Clear lighting and close framing make the adjustment details easy to see for an audience learning scope setup. — The oversized knobs on the Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS II scope allow for easy adjustments in the field.

This method has some problems because as you’re looking through the scope it can be hard to accurately count how many marks you need to hold for. This isn’t as exact as dialing and looking at the large white numbers on the outside of your target knobs. It also requires you to hold it steady and shoot at that exact hashmark.

Now let’s imagine that hunting scenario again. The deer steps out on the edge of the brush you range it, find the solution, get back in the scope, hold the adjustment on the deer and you shoot before he turns to leave. Since you held it, you saved mere seconds, but it saved your hunt.

The Other Option

The third solution is combining both dialing and holds to be able to be faster and maybe do some things that would not have been possible.

Settled in behind the Waypoint rifle, the author looks through the Bushnell scope in preparation of taking a shot.

If you have wind that accounts for 4 MILS, you can just hold the wind so you don’t waste time dialing two knobs. Now, let’s think about this. Let’s say your target needs 15 MILS of elevation, but your scope only adjusts for 10 MILS.

You don’t have enough space in your reticle to hold it and you don’t have enough rotations in your turret knobs to get to 15 MILS. The solution here would be to dial all the way to 10 MILS and then hold for 5 MILS. This will put you right at 15 MILS.

Close-up image of a shooter mid-track, the scope rim and part of the reticle in view while the shooter follows a lateral target movement. The hands, cheek weld, and shoulder position are visible, showing how the shooter maintains contact with the rifle while the target moves. The composition focuses on the relationship between the shooter and the optic rather than on any specific aiming instruction. The background is out of focus, implying distance and motion without showing a target clearly. This photograph pairs well with content about marksmanship, practice drills, and the mental aspects of shooting a moving target. It reinforces the idea of smooth tracking, visual lead, and steady follow-through in a sports or training context. The image avoids tactical details and fits safely into instructional media. — Although it may not be as accurate, many shooters prefer to hold over in a dynamic situation.

If you practice both methods, and you do need to be good at both. You can stretch your ability beyond your knobs and beyond your reticle.

Conclusion

Should you use dialing, or holding? The answer for us is both. It’s not really dialing versus holding. We need to change our way of thinking about dialing and holding. By employing both, we can manage our time better and become even more effective behind the rifle.

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