MOA vs MRAD: Which One’s Better for You?

August 10, 2025

MOA vs MRAD: Which One’s Better for You?

(Spoiler: It’s not that complicated… and no, you’re not failing maths class.)

1. Let’s Stop the Confusion

If you’ve been around shooters long enough, you’ve probably heard the words MOA and MRAD tossed around like they’re part of some elite sniper code.
They’re not. They’re just two different ways of measuring how far you need to move your crosshairs to hit your target. That’s it.

But here’s where people get tangled: some swear MOA is “more precise,” others think MRAD is “more tactical.”
The truth? They’re just different measuring systems — like inches vs centimetres — and both work just fine if you know how to use them.

And don’t worry — I’m not going to dump a bunch of formulas on you. You won’t need a calculator. Promise.

2. What They Actually Mean

Let’s break them down in plain English.

MOA – Minute of Angle

Think of a circle. Now, cut it into 360 slices (degrees).
Now, cut one of those degrees into 60 tiny slices. That’s a minute of angle — MOA.
In shooting terms, 1 MOA = about 1 inch at 100 yards, or 2.9 cm at 100 metres.

Easy analogy:
MOA is like slicing a pizza into really thin wedges — you’re just deciding how big each slice is so you can “adjust” where you bite (or in this case, where you hit).

MRAD – Milliradian

Another way to slice the same “circle pizza,” but this time using radians (don’t panic, you don’t need to know the maths).
In shooting terms, 1 MRAD = 10 cm at 100 metres, or 3.6 inches at 100 yards.

Easy analogy:
MRAD is the metric kid who grew up using centimetres and metres, so everything matches your tape measure without extra maths.

3. The Big Differences

Here’s the simple version:

MOA works neatly if you think in inches/yards.
MRAD works neatly if you think in metres/centimetres.

Neither is “more accurate” — they both measure angles, and angles work at any distance.
It’s just a matter of which “language” your brain likes better.

4. Pros and Cons

MOA:
✅ Perfect if you’re a hunter used to yards and inches.
✅ Finer adjustments (most scopes have ¼ MOA clicks).
⚠ Slightly more numbers to remember if you’re converting from metric.

MRAD:
✅ Great for metric thinkers (especially here in SA).
✅ Easy maths: 0.1 MRAD = 1 cm at 100 metres.
⚠ Clicks are coarser than MOA (but still plenty precise for hunting and long-range).

Humour note: Neither system will magically make you a better shot… but learning them will stop you from cranking your turret the wrong way and giving your buddies free ammo for jokes at camp.

5. How to Choose

Think in metres/cm? Go MRAD.
Think in yards/inches? Go MOA.
Already have a scope? Stick with what you’ve got and learn it inside out.
Switching mid-season because “that YouTube guy said so” is like learning to drive on the other side of the road for fun — it’s possible, but you’ll get confused at the worst possible time.

6. Final SOG Tip

At the end of the day, both MOA and MRAD are just tools.
What matters most is training until your system becomes second nature.
Because here’s the truth: the kudu, springbok, or steel plate at the range doesn’t care what system you use… it only cares if you hit it.

SOG Closing One-Liner:
MOA or MRAD — pick one, learn it well, and spend more time pulling the trigger than punching numbers into a calculator.

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