MOA

dkross · 09-03-2005, 12:23 AM

I know I'll probably get grief for this. But I was looking at some of the posts this evening and the term MOA was used.

What is MOA? yes, I searched and was not very successful and finding a definition.

Thanks

UThunter · 09-03-2005, 01:51 AM

MOA stands for minute of angle. that is one inch per every 100 yards. So if someone shoots 1MOA that means at any given distance (for example 200 yards=2inch groups) the shooter is getting groups of paralell size. which is not always the case so usually you need to specify at what distance. it's used for groups, scopes (eg. 1 click =1/4 inch at 100 yards on most hunting scopes).

pig dog 02 · 09-03-2005, 01:54 AM

I could be wrong, but I believe this is pretty accurate. MOA stands for Minute Of Angle. Angles are measured in degrees, and degrees can be divided up into 60 minutes. Minutes can be divided up into 60 seconds. At approximately 100 yds, the distance covered by a 1 minute arc is about 1 inch. So when someone say 1 MOA, they mean 1 inch groups at 100 yds.

Sometimes I hear people say "MOA at 200yds". What the really means is 2 inch groups at 200 yds, but what they are probably trying to say is 1 inch groups at 200yds....which is actually 1/2 MOA. I am trying to do the math (trigonometry) right now, but it has been a while, so I am struggling....are there any smart trigonometry people out there who can confirm this?

Hope I helped.

pig dog 02 · 09-03-2005, 02:26 AM

UPDATE!!

I looked it up and I was mostly right. This site has a great explanation along with good math to show how to calculate. At 100 yds, 1 MOA accuracy is actually 1.0476 inches. Check it out here: http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/June01.htm. This concept is also responsible for the difference between nautical miles and regular miles. 1.15 nautical miles per 1 regular mile.

Ridge Runner · 09-03-2005, 08:34 AM

MOA: a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/60th of one degree, or 1.0476" per 100 yds to target
RR

dkross · 09-05-2005, 09:56 PM

Okay, I get it. Thanks guys for the info and the link.

TomFromTheShade · 09-06-2005, 12:59 AM

MOA is something that most of us will never need to know about because we can't shoot one inch groups! LOL.