Define MOA

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Picknlittle

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
518
Location
Clarksville TN
I think I understand in a very basic way what minute of angle is, but I don't have a practical or functional understanding of the term.

What is MOA?

How is it measured at 100, 200, 300,....500 yds or more?
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it would mean 1"dia @100yds; 2"dia @ 200yds; 3"dia @300yds; 4"dia @ 400yds; 5"dia @ 500yds; etc.
 
The official definition of MOA, or minute of arc, is that it's a unit of angular measurement, equal to 1/60 of a degree.

1 MOA at 100 yards subtends to 1.04719756 inches if you wanted to be exact. It's rounded off to 1" at 100 yards, or 1" for every 100 yards. A 1 MOA rifle at 100 yards will shoot into approximately a 1" group. A 1 MOA rifle at 200 yards is 2", 1 MOA at 300 yards is 3", and so on.
 
My understanding is it computes to just a hair over one inch at 100 yards. I've found that more people get 1" groups at 100 yards with a keyboard than a rifle:D
 
Oh yeah, MOA also applies to some scope and sight adjustments.

For sake of ease, let's say you're shooting a rifle with iron sights that have 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments at 100 yards. Maintaining the same point of aim after you've zeroed the rifle, a one MOA or minute elevation click up will (should) shift the bullet's impact 1" up. A one MOA or minute windage click left or right will (should) shift the bullet's impact 1" left or right accordingly. I say "should," because some sights and scopes adjustments aren't exactly true.

This varies of course depending on the sights or scope you're using - some sights and most scopes have adjustments finer than 1 MOA. A sight or scope that has 1/4 MOA adjustments for windage and elevation will result in a .25" change in the bullet's strike at 100 yards depending on which way you're cranking on those dials.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top