Confused with MOA Numbers on Red Dot Optics

S

SerenityNetworks

New member
I was at Cabella's the other evening and looked at the Red Dot optics for the first time. I saw one for ~$90 that said 3 MOA, another for ~200 that said 4 MOA, and one for ~$400 that said 6 MOA.

I'm confused. I would have thought the MOA numbers would go downwards as the quality improved.

Would someone please explain to me the meaning of MOA in this context?

Thanks in Advance,
Andrew
 
What dot size you want depends on the use. Larger dot will allow faster acquisition, and smaller dot will allow more relative precision. Quality of make is an entirely different question.
 
I'm not positive but I think it means,,,

I'm not positive but I think it means:
a 1 MOA dot would cover 1" of the target at 100 yards,
a 6 MOA dot would cover 6" of the target at 100 yards.

Aarond

.
 
Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size?
Click to expand...
Yes.

But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.
Click to expand...
It doesn't. Bigger MOA = bigger dot. Smaller MOA = smaller dot. I think you might be reading something wrong.

I'm not positive but I think it means:
a 1 MOA dot would cover 1" of the target at 100 yards,
a 6 MOA dot would cover 6" of the target at 100 yards.
Click to expand...
Yup.
 
Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.
Click to expand...


That's an odd phenomena... one I'll have to research a bit to see if it's just coincidence, or some bizarre fact that no one has considered. :confused:

Anyway... MOA is of course "minute of angle", and it refers to how much of the target the dot or other aiming element subtends or covers the target.

Cheers,
C
 
I'll have to try and swing by to have another look. I know I did a double-take while at the counter, because the values seemed backwards to me. In looking online at the same sights, I indeed see in their detailed descriptions where the dot size is what I would expect MOA to be and the more expensive sights generally have a smaller and more precise dot. I have no idea why the stickers on the sights would have had a different convention, but now my curiosity is piqued and I'll need to go back and look.

But since I'm on the topic and no nothing about these sights, at what size dot is it generally considered that precision is equal to or better than (good) iron sights?

Thanks again,
Andrew
 
Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.
Click to expand...

After a quick review of holographic (no tube sights) sights on the Cabela's website... I can find no correlation between size of dot and price. Only the obvious correlation between quality and price.

C
 
But since I'm on the topic and no nothing about these sights, at what size dot is it generally considered that precision is equal to or better than (good) iron sights?
Click to expand...

Generally, for target shooting, you want the smaller, or more precise (like a triangle... where even if its 6 MOA, you can still use the tip of the triangle) element, while for a tactical or combat sight, you'd use a larger element, or something like a dot in a circle or triangle... the later of which is what I prefer... IMO.

Cheers,
C
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top