How does MOA work with a red dot scope?

ghh3rd · October 27, 2009, 02:45 PM

I was looking at a red dot 'scope' today that had four settings, 4, 8, 12 and 16 MOA. I understand the concept of MOA in terms of defining the accuracy of a firearm, but not sure if I understand how it is applied to a red dot.

Does 4 MOA mean the red dot will cover approximately 4" of the target at 100 yards?

Thanks,

Randy

teeroux · October 27, 2009, 02:51 PM

Yes you are correct.

riggins_83 · October 27, 2009, 03:02 PM

That's why I love the Eotechs... 1 MOA dot, 65 MOA ring. A 4MOA dot is covering 12" at 300 yards.

Brian Pfleuger · October 27, 2009, 03:09 PM

Just because, why not? Technically:

One MOA is approximately 1.0471975511966 inches at 100 yards, so:

4 MOA at 100 yards would be 4.18879020476 inches (give or take

) so actually closer to 4.2 inches than 4.0

bswiv · October 27, 2009, 03:50 PM

Because of where & how we hunt Red Dots are about all we use. Have 2 of the new Micros, one on a .35 Rem and one on a O/U 45-70, also have 2 Bushnell Trophys, one on a .243 Win Single shot and one on a rifled 20 ga barrel for the same action. And there are 2 old Tasco Pro Points, one on a TC Contender .44 mag and one that is on a SXS Rifled 20ga.

We hunt thick woods & swamps, both sitting in portable stands and stalking. Almost everything we shoot is closer than 50 yards, the great proportion under 25 yards.

One really nice thing about a Red Dot, beyond the fact that you shoot it with both eyes open just as you would a peep sight which makes for quick target aquisition, is the UNLIMITED EYE RELIEF. You can literally twist around in almost any direction with the gun any distance from you and so long as the dot is on the target you're good to go.

That is a very useful thing at times..........

teeroux · October 27, 2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

4 MOA at 100 yards would be 4.18879020476 inches (give or take) so actually closer to 4.2 inches than 4.0

Quote:

Does 4 MOA mean the red dot will cover approximately 4" of the target at 100 yards?

Technical nit-pickers as bad as the grammer police.

October 27, 2009, 02:45 PM	#1
ghh3rd Member Join Date: January 9, 2009 Posts: 17	How does MOA work with a red dot scope? I was looking at a red dot 'scope' today that had four settings, 4, 8, 12 and 16 MOA. I understand the concept of MOA in terms of defining the accuracy of a firearm, but not sure if I understand how it is applied to a red dot. Does 4 MOA mean the red dot will cover approximately 4" of the target at 100 yards? Thanks, Randy

October 27, 2009, 02:51 PM	#2
teeroux Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1,512	Yes you are correct. Last edited by teeroux; October 27, 2009 at 05:10 PM.

October 27, 2009, 03:02 PM	#3
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,505	That's why I love the Eotechs... 1 MOA dot, 65 MOA ring. A 4MOA dot is covering 12" at 300 yards. __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen

October 27, 2009, 03:09 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Just because, why not? Technically: One MOA is approximately 1.0471975511966 inches at 100 yards, so: 4 MOA at 100 yards would be 4.18879020476 inches (give or take) so actually closer to 4.2 inches than 4.0 __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

October 27, 2009, 03:50 PM	#5
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	Because of where & how we hunt Red Dots are about all we use. Have 2 of the new Micros, one on a .35 Rem and one on a O/U 45-70, also have 2 Bushnell Trophys, one on a .243 Win Single shot and one on a rifled 20 ga barrel for the same action. And there are 2 old Tasco Pro Points, one on a TC Contender .44 mag and one that is on a SXS Rifled 20ga. We hunt thick woods & swamps, both sitting in portable stands and stalking. Almost everything we shoot is closer than 50 yards, the great proportion under 25 yards. One really nice thing about a Red Dot, beyond the fact that you shoot it with both eyes open just as you would a peep sight which makes for quick target aquisition, is the UNLIMITED EYE RELIEF. You can literally twist around in almost any direction with the gun any distance from you and so long as the dot is on the target you're good to go. That is a very useful thing at times..........