What does Minute Of Angle mean?

[Dave King]

Minute Of Angle (MOA) is bantered about frequently by lots of shooters, it's used to refer to group size and scope adjustment most frequently.

Minute Of Angle is an angular measurement representing 1.047 inches at 100 yards, it ALSO represents 2.094 inches at 200 yards AND 3.141 inches at 300 yards, etc, etc out to infinity.

Here's what it looks like in a chart:

Yardage 1 MOA in inches
100 1.047"
200 2.094"
300 3.141"
400 4.188"
500 5.235"
600 6.282"
700 7.329"
800 8.376"
900 9.423"
1000 10.470"

So when we adjust our scope by 1 MOA (4 'clicks' on a .25 MOA 'click' scope) we move the Point Of Impact (POI) by 1.047 inches if we're shooting at 100 yards, but if we're shooting at 200 yards this same 1 MOA adjustment moves the Point Of Impact (POI) by 2.094 inches.

Note: For most practical purposes most folks simply think of MOA in even inches, so 1 MOA becomes 1" at 100 yards AND 2" at 200 yards, etc.... This is generally close enough for most shooting but it will get you into trouble when shooting long ranges or for high precision shooting.

 

[Hal The Slayer]

Minute Of Angle (MOA) is bantered about frequently by lots of shooters, it's used to refer to group size and scope adjustment most frequently.

Minute Of Angle is an angular measurement representing 1.047 inches at 100 yards, it ALSO represents 2.094 inches at 200 yards AND 3.141 inches at 300 yards, etc, etc out to infinity.

Here's what it looks like in a chart:

Yardage 1 MOA in inches
100 1.047"
200 2.094"
300 3.141"
400 4.188"
500 5.235"
600 6.282"
700 7.329"
800 8.376"
900 9.423"
1000 10.470"

So when we adjust our scope by 1 MOA (4 'clicks' on a .25 MOA 'click' scope) we move the Point Of Impact (POI) by 1.047 inches if we're shooting at 100 yards, but if we're shooting at 200 yards this same 1 MOA adjustment moves the Point Of Impact (POI) by 2.094 inches.

Note: For most practical purposes most folks simply think of MOA in even inches, so 1 MOA becomes 1" at 100 yards AND 2" at 200 yards, etc.... This is generally close enough for most shooting but it will get you into trouble when shooting long ranges or for high precision shooting.

Amen Dave!!

 

[codyadams]

Hey @Wedgy, I can think of some people that could stand to read this lol

 

[Wedgy]

Hey @Wedgy, I can think of some people that could stand to read this lol

Hold hair !

 

[David_h]

MOA is merely an angle but I always remember:
- 360 degrees in one circle/ revolution etc
- 60 minutes in one degree
- 60 seconds on one minute

 

[cohunt]

Wow-- 21 years from post number one till post number 2-- is that a record or just 2 Moc? ( minute of century)

 

[Hugnot]

circumference of circle = 2 * pi * radius
circumference of circle with 100-yard radius in inches = 2 * 3.14 * 100 * 36 = 22,608 inches
degrees in circle = 360
minutes in circle = 360 * 60 = 21,600

minutes of angle @ 100 yards = 22,608/21,600 = 1.047 MOA

circumference of circle with 1,000-yard radius in inches = (2 * 3.14 * 1000 * 36) = 226,080
minutes of angle @ 1,000 yards = 226,080/21,600 = 10.047 MOA

minutes of angle at 500 meters?

1 meter = 39.37 inches, 1 yard = 36 inches
500 meters = 546.8 yards = 19,685 inches
circumference of circle with 500-meter radius in inches = (2 * 3.14 * 19,685) = 123,622
minutes of angle @ 500 meters = 123,622 / 21,600 = 5.72 MOA or real close to 5.75 MOA - enough to miss when assuming 5 inches or 5 MOA at 500 meters.

I like MRAD scopes having .1 MRAD adjustments with matching MRAD reticles.

Post 1 21 years ago, about 1/5 of a century. Post 1 must have been from ancient LRH archives.

 

[Bang4theBuck]

MOA is merely an angle but I always remember:
- 360 degrees in one circle/ revolution etc
- 60 minutes in one degree
- 60 seconds on one minute

60 min in one degree....for some reason that has my mind in a twist. I clearly understand how MOA works, and use it often, but 60 min (assuming you mean 60 MOA) in one degree doesn't equate to me.

 

[nksmfamjp]

This is generally close enough for most shooting but it will get you into trouble when shooting long ranges or for high precision shooting.

How far are you shooting? That is 1/2" at 1000 yards….I think I could live with that error!

MOA is merely an angle but I always remember:
- 360 degrees in one circle/ revolution etc
- 60 minutes in one degree
- 60 seconds on one minute

I know this and it still makes my head hurt. Mil might be easier.

Wow-- 21 years from post number one till post number 2-- is that a record or just 2 Moc? ( minute of century)

That post in 2001 was ahead of its time!

 

[memtb]

In simple terms……

It means that the rifle/cartridge is fully capable for use as a hunting rifle , assuming adequate cartridge/bullet for selected game and is used within effective ranges of said cartridge……therefore any misses or wounded/lost game is the shooter's fault! memtb

 

[KYHILLJACK]

Say you shoot a target at 100yds. You shoot 4 rounds.
1) 1" high POA
2) 1" low POA
3) 1" right POA
4) 1" left POA
Do you have a 1MOA rifle based on those 4 shots ?

 

[308win]

Say you shoot a target at 100yds. You shoot 4 rounds.
1) 1" high POA
2) 1" low POA
3) 1" right POA
4) 1" left POA
Do you have a 1MOA rifle based on those 4 shots ?

Nope, that's a 2moa rifle

 

[Muddyboots]

But this HAS to be WORLD RECORD revival post! 21 YEARS! OMG!
Deserves:

 

[KoolBreeze]

Say you shoot a target at 100yds. You shoot 4 rounds.
1) 1" high POA
2) 1" low POA
3) 1" right POA
4) 1" left POA
Do you have a 1MOA rifle based on those 4 shots ?

No, think absolute difference.