MRAD vs MOA. Which one?

[MTbackwoods]

I've been shooting long range for about 5 years now and all my experience is with MOA. However, I'm looking at a new optic and wonder if I shouldn't give MRAD a try. The scope does 25 MOA per revolution or 10 MILs. So with the rifle it will be mounted on that's 1,075 yards on one revolution with MOA or 1,300 yards with MILs. This will be primarily for hunting but I do have ambitions of trying my hand at some PRS in the future and may bounce this scope between rifles. So has anyone tried both and what are your thoughts?

 

[dfanonymous]

I've been shooting long range for about 5 years now and all my experience is with MOA. However, I'm looking at a new optic and wonder if I shouldn't give MRAD a try. The scope does 25 MOA per revolution or 10 MILs. So with the rifle it will be mounted on that's 1,075 yards on one revolution with MOA or 1,300 yards with MILs. This will be primarily for hunting but I do have ambitions of trying my hand at some PRS in the future and may bounce this scope between rifles. So has anyone tried both and what are your thoughts?

My personal thoughts is it behoves you to learn both, and allows for growth as a shooter, if you're into that, and like to strive for personal knowledge in the art.

 

[MTbackwoods]

My personal thoughts is it behoves you to learn both, and allows for growth as a shooter, if you're into that, and like to strive for personal knowledge in the art.

That was kinda my thought

 

[Timnterra]

I have a hard time switching back and forth between MRAD and MOA. I have owned many more MOA scopes than MRAD scopes and I currently only own one MRAD scope and I only bought it because it was a good deal. Neither system is superior or inferior they are both similar. It boils down to preference. My mind processes measurements in inches and mills do not translate well into inches, they do translate well into centimeters though. If you think in sets of 10 MRAD might be the way to go. Also, all my shooting buddies use MOA scopes, which does have an impact on how enjoyable shooting is. If you shoot or hunt with friends and help each other out spotting then you want your spotter to be very familiar with your particular system whichever it may be. In the end, just go with what you are most comfortable with and be happy, don't pay attention to what everyone else on the internet is using.

 

[dfanonymous]

If you paid with dimes and dollars, you can do it.
You can go by 10ths and 1s. Whole mils are a dollar and a click is a dime.

However there's no need to over complicate it. If you miss by one mil at 1000y, it doesn't help to know that you missed by 36 inches. Just correct by adding a extra mil, you already know what you missed by.. and there you go. So really, the whole imperial vs metric argument which doesn't even translate directly to angular measurements anyways. To be frank, a lot of people like the base 10 system over fractions, so to that regard, people will take a fancy to what they understand the best, and that's understandable.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Once I learned MRAD, MOA seemed confusing. MRAD is all base 10. If I have to hold or dial 4.3, it is just dial to the 4 plus 3 clicks....or hold 4 plus .3 of the small lines.

14.5 MOA would be dial 14 moa, then add 2 clicks for .5. Hold 10 or 15 moa and split hairs for the 0.5.

as you can see, it's pretty much all mental.

 

[aushunter1]

If you dont have issues knowing what a millimetre, centimeter, metre or kilometre is then go for it

I grew up in both imperial & metric so training my brain to use either isn't a problem.

Still if you use a dope chart or BC it will make things easier.

 

[MTbackwoods]

All good info and appreciated. Another good point I read in a comparison article said with Mils, you're mainly focusing on 2 numbers rather than 4. Like 6.4 rather than 21.75. And there's 2.54 cm in 1 inch so the conversion isn't t super hard and would get easier with time. It's hard to decide though because I know MOA and it is easy for me. But so many people use Mils in competitions. Decisions, decisions

 

[ShtrRdy]

I get the impression that most of the PRS/NRL guys like to use mils.

 

[A/C Guy]

Probably the best explanation of the two systems.

As he first points out, both are measurements of angles, not distances (inches vs centimeters). Some relies here have mistakenly mentioned the inches vs cm debate.

An excellent point he makes is that the MOA system actually has finer adjustments; 1/4 MOA is smaller than .1 Mil and with some scopes offering 1/8 MOA, that makes the .1 Mil seem huge in comparison. So if you want absolute accuracy of POA and POI being the same in longer distances, the MOA system is more likely to get you to your goal. With MRAD, it is possible that one click up is too high and one click down is too low. Not a big issue for punching paper or steel, but it could be the difference in a one shot kill vs a wounded animal that gets away.

 

[A/C Guy]

This info may help your decision making process.

 

[milo-2]

Lol, here we go again!
No advice from me, will say this, if friends did not shoot mils, I would be a MOA guy and thousands richer.

 

[MTbackwoods]

Lol, here we go again!
No advice from me, will say this, if friends did not shoot mils, I would be a MOA guy and thousands richer.

How come?

 

[A/C Guy]

How come?

MRAD stuff is usually more expensive because of the tacticool factor.