MOA/MRAD Conceptualization

[Gargoyle]

Whether MOA or MRAD this visualization works. OK, so I, maybe we, have had an instructor, book, video explain what the systems mean in relation to the angles in a circle. Busted down to MOA and MRAD. However, were you like me and that went over your head all this time? This falls into the "why" category, why it works. I always stuck with the "how" it works and made things happen based upon the ballistics calculators and reticle hash marks. Well, the why it works hit me like an epiphany today! So, take a circle and lay it flat. (X-axis) Imagine taking another circle on end and somehow melting it through the flat circle (Y-axis). Look behind them and they form the cross hairs. Welp, at the center of those two is the zero. Imagine ruler markings on both and that is how our elevation and windage coincide with those angle explanations. BOOM! LOL

 

[sscoyote]

I've always loved the math behind subtention especially with SFP reticles, but it took me a long time before I got a firm grip on all of it. I think it just takes time and study. Now I apply it to iron sights and even archery sight pins. It's the only real fun i've ever had with math, because you can see the real world results of your calcs right there in front of you. But there are still a few idiosyncrasies that I still can't visualize

 

[1shot]

Think of it as a clock. There are 21,600 minutes in a 360* circle.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[338 dude]

Think of it as a clock. There are 21,600 minutes in a 360* circle.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

360x60=21,600

 

[sscoyote]

The two most important subtention concepts I learned over the years are
1) The mil-ranging formula is not specific to the milliradian subtention, and
2) Subtention is inversely proportional to magnification

Putting these 2 concepts to practical use in the field has been way more fun that not for me.

 

[Ned Ludd]

1 moa and one milliradian are nothing more than very small angles. Anyone struggling to wrap their head around the concept would be probably better off if they forgot the circles, forgot the non-metric vs metric, forgot much of the stuff they have probably heard at shooting forums over the years. They're just angles. One milliradian is just a tick under 3.5 times larger an angle than one moa. It really IS that simple.

 

[Mike Casselton]

1 moa and one milliradian are nothing more than very small angles. Anyone struggling to wrap their head around the concept would be probably better off if they forgot the circles, forgot the non-metric vs metric, forgot much of the stuff they have probably heard at shooting forums over the years. They're just angles. One milliradian is just a tick under 3.5 times larger an angle than one moa. It really IS that simple.

Initially, when I bought my first Mil/Mil optic, I thought i would have a hard time adjusting.
It was super easy.

MOA/MOA isn't really any different. Just pretend you're swapping a Metric Ruler for an Inch ruler.
(I know, I know, Mil isn't metric, it's just a convenient coincidence. )

I find it even simpler by completely removing the math and the circle mentioned above.

Speaking Mil here:
The reticle is a ruler/tape measure.
The turrets move 1/10 of a mil.
The reticle is graduated in Mils and usually 2/10, 1/2 or 1/4 Mil divisions.
(I think 1/4 is dumb because it doesn't match the turret)
Place your crosshair on a target and fire.
If you miss, measure with the ruler that's built into the scope.
Either hold over/under/beside by that amount or dial it.
Bang! You're on target.

MOA works the same because the reticle and turrets also match.



Zeroing a modern scope couldn't be easier.
Shoot two to three shots, measure how far off aim point using the (ruler) reticle.
Dial that amount for correction and you're there.

Guess what...^^^^
That is the same thing you do at long distance.

I find the easiest way to teach this is using the ruler and turrets match reference.