Måldose

Måldose is a type of German rifle sight system used on various military rifles, particularly the Karabiner 98k and the Gewehr 43. The name "måldose" is German for "target container," which refers to the device's function of holding and adjusting the target reference points for the rifle's optical sight.

The måldose system consists of a small container or housing mounted on the left side of the rifle's receiver, typically in front of the magazine well. Inside the container, there are a series of interchangeable target reference pins, each with a specific sighting range marked on it. These pins can be adjusted to match the shooter's reference point on the target, thereby compensating for wind, trajectory, and other environmental factors that may affect the bullet's flight.

By adjusting the måldose target reference pin, the shooter could compensate for various factors such as wind deflection, bullet velocity, and atmospheric conditions, enabling accurate shooting at longer ranges. This system required the shooter to re-zero the rifle for each new target range, making it an accurate but relatively time-consuming system.

The måldose system was widely used during World War II by German soldiers and was considered one of the most accurate rifle sight systems available at the time. Its relatively mechanical nature, however, made it less flexible and less adaptable to changing shooting conditions compared to more modern optical sight systems. Despite its limitations, the måldose system remains an important part of military history and continues to be remembered as an integral component of the German military's rifle sight technology during the 20th century.