MIL vs. MOA

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southpa

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I realize that this topic has been addressed before but i would like to confirm my findings on this topic.

-MIL is a meaurement of 1/1000 of the distance
-MOA is in inches usually 1/4" per click

basically like an american vs. metric measurement??????

Im debating on which system to use. Each is probly a personal prefference but ive read MOA is simpler sytem/less math than the MIL system...

can you fellas give me some insight on this topic, maybe just outline the differences in both systems so as to help me make my decision
 
For all practical purposes here is MOA broken down with a .25 MOA turret.

Four .25's = 100 so four 1/4 moa's = 1 moa

1 MOA @ 100 YDS = 1inch
1 MOA @ 200 YDS = 2"
1 MOA @ 300 YDS = 3"
1 MOA @ 400 YDS = 4"
1 MOA @ 425 YDS = 4 1/4"
1 MOA @ 450 YDS = 4 1/2"
1 MOA @ 475 YDS = 4 3/4"

and so on

so 1 MOA at 1000 yards = 10"

Jeff
 
Southpa,

Really:rolleyes:, again?

What's easier for you to visualize:

1 MOA as one inch at 100 yards?
or
1 mil as 1 meter at 1000 meters?

Take the easier of the english or metric system which you can visualize.

Good luck
 
Last edited:
It is not metric! It is only base 10. A circle is broken into 1000 slices, if you will. That works out to 1 yard at 1000 yards. Nothing metric about it.
Normally, it is easier to think in inches, so moa is what we use. Most scopes use 1/4 inch graduations for adjustment. Pretty simple to use as one inch and one minute of angle are almost the same.
No biggy, pick one, learn it and use it.
 
It truly does not matter. Both are angular units of measure. As was stated... NOT metric or imperial. Both work the same way, and are just broken into different operational units.

I prefer mils, because my brain likes a base 10 more than it likes a base 4. 10 mils to 1000yds, or 35 minutes? Yup, I'll take the 10.
 
For most purposes you can consider that mill dots are metric.
A mill is 1/6400 of a circle, which is very close to 1m at 1000 meters.

MOA is 1/60th of a degree, or 1/21,600 of a full rotation. This works out very well with yards and inches. 1 MOA is 1.047" at 100 yards or 10.47" at 1000 yards. so most people use 1" and forget the .047, though after 1000 yards that can cause problems.

The big thing is to know what your equipment is actually calibrated in. there are diffrent standards for mill-dots.

I use MOA and Mill reticules, though I find it alot nicer to have matching reticules, turrets and rangefinder.
 
angus-5024 said:
For most purposes you can consider that mill dots are metric.
A mill is 1/6400 of a circle, which is very close to 1m at 1000 meters.

MOA is 1/60th of a degree, or 1/21,600 of a full rotation. This works out very well with yards and inches. 1 MOA is 1.047" at 100 yards or 10.47" at 1000 yards. so most people use 1" and forget the .047, though after 1000 yards that can cause problems.

The big thing is to know what your equipment is actually calibrated in. there are diffrent standards for mill-dots.

I use MOA and Mill reticules, though I find it alot nicer to have matching reticules, turrets and rangefinder.
Click to expand...
.
Not disputing just relevant:
Not only did that bight me in the *** when I first got started, It did it closer than a 1000. Folks always relate moa to iphy and add the disclaimer that it adds up way out there past a 1k but the truth is never that simple.
1moa =1.047 we acknowledge that which equals 0.26125 " at a 100 per click.......OK At 870 yards my load needs 20moa :
1"x20x8.7=174".........
1.047"x20x8.7=182.178........
An 8" difference.......or .94 moa difference, if your thinking inch per hundred you're field corrections will be off by a significant margin. 8" is Enough difference to transform hero and trophy to zero with tag soup and a one that got away story.
There is not any even numbered math with moa, it is not any faster, they are all the same once you get used to it but matching turrets and reticle are nice.
 
Very good point D.I.D! I use MOA on a ballistics calulator to get my drops and use my reticule to give me corrections. 8" off at 800 yards would be a kick in the crackers if a trophy was on the line!
 
What is the advantage of using MOA with MIL reticles? Why wouldnt you have matching turrets and reticles?
 
southpa said:
What is the advantage of using MOA with MIL reticles? Why wouldnt you have matching turrets and reticles?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Very good second question. Don't have the slightest clue why manufactures mix reticles and turrets. Makes no sense at all.

On the "advantages", no real advantage one way or another, it's just what works best in your mind.

I'm an MOA guy and one thing I don't care about the mil scopes is the reticles have dot subtensions. I don't like dots. Some guys do, I don't. I like crosshatch subtensions. That said not all mil reticles are dots, but most seem to be.

Aslo, the mil rad click @ 100 yds is about .36" vs .25" fo MOA and 3.6" vs 2.6" @ 1000 yds. I like the smaller and more precise correction.

The 1/1000 math is easier when using metric measurement but not when using inches, feet and yards. My eyes and mind are wired to inches and yards. 1 MOA equals about 1" @ 100 yds, 2" @ 200 yds, 3" @ 300 yds, etc. Not exact but close enough when determining your zero point easily in your head from the bench.

Not saying that MOA is better than Mil, it's just the way my eyeballs and mind are wired. You might be different.
 
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