Should I switch to MOA?

[SteelBanger]

Are you shooting in organized PRS matches?

No I'm just a weekend warrior who ends up spending way too many weekends hammering out honey-do lists rather than getting out and shooting. PRS matches are definitely something I'd like to get into some day but I don't have the time (or money) for it right now.

 

[fiftybmg]

Use what you shoot best with. Both are just measuring systems, and are apart from accuracy.

 

[yobuck]

First, I don't want this to be a MOA vs MIL debate since that's been hashed out many times over, but I'm looking for feedback on whether you all think I might be better off switching to MOA scopes. My first intro to shooting years ago was with a Primary Arms 1-6x scope which was MOA, it took practically nothing for me to learn that system having grown up with the Imperial system it just makes sense to me. 1" at 100y, 2" at 200y, and so on and so forth. Yes I know it's not a "perfect" 1" at 100y, but for simplicity purposes it's good enough until you're shooting out really far.

However, when I recently got a little more serious about shooting I bought into the MIL system as I know it is much more common / standard in the shooting community. I figured I'd just make myself learn it but that hasn't gone so well, possibly because I just don't get out to shoot often enough to make anything stick. Either way, I can't help but wonder if I should just switch back to MOA. Also if I'm not mistaken, isn't MOA more precise using .25" clicks vs .36" clicks?

Here's the example that made me really start thinking this over ... or maybe over thinking it? I was out shooting yesterday with a friend who is a new shooter with a new rifle who had not yet sighted in his MOA scope and we had setup at 150y ... the 150y wasn't by choice, it's just what we were limited to. He shot a group that was about 3" high and 4" right. It was very quick and easy for me to think through, "1 moa is 1.5" at 150y, give me 8 clicks down and 10 clicks left" and we had it set. Even now, sitting here with time to think about it, the thought of coming up with that correction in Mils isn't terrible at that range but it takes way more thought than the MOA correction. Knowing that 1 MIL at 100y is 3.6" I can come up with 1 MIL = 5.4" at 150y (past a few hundred yards I'd probably need to get my phone out to use the calculator) and I'd call an estimated correction of .6 down and .8 left and see where that got me. Should be close, but without pulling out my phone to use a calculator it's tough. I do have a dope sheet stuck in my wallet that I list the MIL size in inches in 25y increments to use for quick corrections.

Sorry for the long post, but would I be better served in the long run by switching to MOA since it works easier for me, or am I better served by sticking with MIL's and getting more familiar with it? I know either works and the general recommendation is "use what you're comfortable with" but I'd also like to use what's most commonly used if possible. It seems that the MILs guys also understand MOA and can call corrections for that easy enough, but not necessarily visa versa. I do plan on fixing the "not shooting enough" problem so maybe with more practice I'll come around on MIL's ... otherwise I have a gen 1 Viper PST 6-24x50 and a gen2 Viper PST 3-15x44 for sale! lol

Well it could depend wether you look upon a scope reticle as an aiming device or as a measuring device i suppose.
But in either case i cant see where it matters much what type you have, but only in how you use it.
The object is always to move a bullet hit from point A the hit, to point B which is the target or aiming point.
And you can either calculate how much you need to dial the scope in order to do that, or you can just hold fast on the aiming point, dial the scope to the actual hit, And shoot again. And it matters not if the first shot miss was 4 inches or 4 feet, the same rule still applies.
So reality is that all the arguing was over nothing. Lol

 

[Monkeygoat]

As long as the reticle is good, units don't matter to me. I enjoy the challenge of ranging with the scope, and making my own dope cards over time. Honing skills (especially wind, terrain, and climate) through experience is much more rewarding to me than using the data from a ballistic app tethered to a kestrel. Might as well call in an air strike on the unsuspecting Elk!

 

[SteelBanger]

Thank you all for the responses, you all helped to identify that it wasn't the type of scope I'm using, but rather how I was using it. I was using my printed dope sheet to dial my elevations in MIL's, but then spotting misses in linear measurements and trying to convert that linear measurement to MIL's ... rather than spotting and measuring the angular measurement. I'll stick with my MIL scopes, I now understand how / why everyone always says that it doesn't really matter.

Sort of stinks because I just found a Viper PST gen2 3-15x44 in MOA on clearance at a small local shop for $730, tempted to pick it up anyway but I think I'll stick with one system for now so I don't have to switch back and forth.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[User4302021]

Thank you all for the responses, you all helped to identify that it wasn't the type of scope I'm using, but rather how I was using it. I was using my printed dope sheet to dial my elevations in MIL's, but then spotting misses in linear measurements and trying to convert that linear measurement to MIL's ... rather than spotting and measuring the angular measurement. I'll stick with my MIL scopes, I now understand how / why everyone always says that it doesn't really matter.

Sort of stinks because I just found a Viper PST gen2 3-15x44 in MOA on clearance at a small local shop for $730, tempted to pick it up anyway but I think I'll stick with one system for now so I don't have to switch back and forth.

Thanks again everyone!

It is always gratifying to see the light bulb come on for someone. Good shooting.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

I say buy what you like and I was a Marine and it does not make any difference to Me.

 

[Will16]

The thing to remember when shooting Mils, is that moa doesn't exist. Don't shoot, spot you're impact, and then think about how much moa is that. Measure with the reticle and then adjust your Mils off of that.

 

[milo-2]

After reading your post I'm pretty sure you answered your own question. Go with what is comfortable to you.

This guy nailed it right off. As a matter of convenience, shooting with others, I switched to mils, not a problem. I'd rather shoot moa, but more choices in mil reticles.
There are only a handful of things a man should ever get drug into w/o buy in, like escorting the little woman to the grocery store or some chick flick at the local cinema where getting up to pee 20 times in 118 minutes is acceptable. Pretend the need to go when it is time to gag.

 

[SCPossum]

For anyone who wants it.

thank you!