akluvr-
In addition to the MOA designation as a way of talking about general accuracy, the concept is critical in zeroing most scopes made for the US market. Lemme see if I can do this right....if I get in trouble, someone here please jump in.
Since most scopes are calibrated with click adjustments which equal 1/4", 1/2" or 1"
at 100 yards, they are actually calcualted in MOA. (To think thay are calculated in "raw" inches leads to frustration).
Example with a scope calibrated for 1 click= 1/4" at 100 yards:
Quiz #1:
You do an initial zero at 50 yards. The shot impacts 1 inch right. How many clicks left should the scope be adjusted?
The intuitive answer for many, including me, of 2 clicks would be wrong. Since 1" off at 50 yards will mean 2" off at 100 yards, you need to adjust left
8 clicks.
Quiz #2:
You are zeroing a rifle for bullseye at 200 yards. Your group hits 1" high at that distance. How many clicks down should the scope be adjusted?
Again the intuitive answer, 8 clicks is wrong. The correct answer is
2 clicks. (8 clicks would drop impact 2 inches at 100 yards, but 4 inches at 200 yards).
OK, so I've answered a question that hasn't been asked! I always wanted to see if I could explain that common mistake. (Right now, the military types, like Mykl and Gunny, are scratchin' their heads sayin' "Well, duh?!". That's because this stuff comes second nature to them. OTOH, just ask one of 'em to balance a checkbook!!!
)
Rich
