MOA vs MIL

[krb]

Hi, everyone.
I'm looking at purchasing my first high-end long range scope. I think I've finally decided on what to get except for reticle in MOA vs MIL. I've learned as much as I can from the internet. Unfortunately none of my friends is a shooter so I can't go to them. (If anyone is around the Encino/Woodland Hills area, I'll buy lunch and ammo if you want to go out and school an inexperienced newbie.)

The last decision to make is MOA vs MIL. I was planning on going with MIL because - let's face it - the metric system really is a better system even if we don't grow up with it. But the rep suggested that everyone else likes MOA and I shouldn't be so quick to go MIL.

What do you think?
Keith

[FourT6and2]

Jesus Christ. Nothing to do with metric vs imperial. Just get whatever your shooting buddies use. As long as your turrets and your reticle match it won't matter. Do a google search.

If you don't shoot with anybody then flip a coin.

Oh and cue 5 pages of people arguing about which ones better.

[nedro]

We live in the USA.
Our ranges are in Yards.
Go with MOA.

[Ej6fade]

...

[cvigue]

We live in the USA.
Our ranges are in Yards.
Go with MOA.

What does MOA have to do with yards?

[Mike350GT]

^ 1 MOA = approx 1 inch for every 100 Yards.

[bigdawg86]

I started shooting seriously this year... Went mil / mil, FFP. I loved it because you don't have to think inches, yards, meters, whatever. What you see is what you get. Bullet splash at dot x, dial in that correction. Pretty intuitive.

[cvigue]

^ 1 MOA = approx 1 inch for every 100 Yards.

1 MIL = approx 1cm @ 100 yards too.

I don't know of any actual connection between inches (or yards) and MOA. Maybe some approximate theoretical connection for nautical miles I guess?

[cvigue]

I started shooting seriously this year... Went mil / mil, FFP. I loved it because you don't have to think inches, yards, meters, whatever. What you see is what you get. Bullet splash at dot x, dial in that correction. Pretty intuitive.

Yes.

[Mike350GT]

1 MIL = approx 1cm @ 100 yards too.

I don't know of any actual connection between inches (or yards) and MOA. Maybe some approximate theoretical connection for nautical miles I guess?

Yes that's true, but at least for me, my brain doesn't conceptualize as easily when thinking metric. If you tell me 3 inches, I know exactly what that looks like. If you tell me 7.6cm, it will take me a few seconds to visualize it.

[nedro]

1 MIL = approx 1cm @ 100 yards too.

I don't know of any actual connection between inches (or yards) and MOA. Maybe some approximate theoretical connection for nautical miles I guess?

No, Mil at 100 yards is ~10% off.
100 meters is 109.361 yards.
I suppose if your gun is a toy, it won't matter much.

[kcheung2]

Unless "everyone else" is chipping in on the purchase, it doesn't matter what everyone else likes. Although the Army uses mils so even saying everyone uses MOA is flawed.

Mildot or MOA is really personal preference, but like others have said make sure the turrets match the reticle. If you need to adjust 0.7 mils, it's real easy to dial 7 clicks if the turret matches. But if the turret is MOA, you'd have to do some math to figure out it's between 9 or 10 clicks.

[cvigue]

No, Mil at 100 yards is ~10% off.
100 meters is 109.361 yards.
I suppose if your gun is a toy, it won't matter much.

Approx is approx - the reticle tells the truth in both cases.

MOA is not related to yards or any other linear measurement, it's a fraction of an angle. A nautical mile is historically one minute of latitude, and about 6080 feet, but now it's 1853 meters. A peck is one fourth a bushel, IIRC.

Now that we're done talking about obsolete measurement systems ....

MIL an angular measure that is by definition equal to 10cm at 100m.


Just look at the reticle.

[AdamVIP]

I started shooting seriously this year... Went mil / mil, FFP. I loved it because you don't have to think inches, yards, meters, whatever. What you see is what you get. Bullet splash at dot x, dial in that correction. Pretty intuitive.

This is true for either system. Its the first shot and calculations prior to the first shot where its nice to match.

That said unless you are going super long range save some turret clicks and go Mil.

[thai562]

1 MIL = approx 1cm @ 100 yards too.

I don't know of any actual connection between inches (or yards) and MOA. Maybe some approximate theoretical connection for nautical miles I guess?

This might be incorrect

1 mil = 3.6" @ 100 yards, but .1 mil is close to 1 cm @ 100 Yards

The best system for me is Mil Retical, with Mil Turrets on a FF scope.