Confused with MOA Numbers on Red Dot Optics

SerenityNetworks · August 10, 2012, 12:49 PM

I was at Cabella's the other evening and looked at the Red Dot optics for the first time. I saw one for ~$90 that said 3 MOA, another for ~200 that said 4 MOA, and one for ~$400 that said 6 MOA.

I'm confused. I would have thought the MOA numbers would go downwards as the quality improved.

Would someone please explain to me the meaning of MOA in this context?

Thanks in Advance,
Andrew

zoomie · August 10, 2012, 12:52 PM

What dot size you want depends on the use. Larger dot will allow faster acquisition, and smaller dot will allow more relative precision. Quality of make is an entirely different question.

SerenityNetworks · August 10, 2012, 01:05 PM

Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.

Thank you,
Andrew

aarondhgraham · August 10, 2012, 01:07 PM

I'm not positive but I think it means:
a 1 MOA dot would cover 1" of the target at 100 yards,
a 6 MOA dot would cover 6" of the target at 100 yards.

Aarond

.

zoomie · August 10, 2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size?

Yes.

Quote:

But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.

It doesn't. Bigger MOA = bigger dot. Smaller MOA = smaller dot. I think you might be reading something wrong.

Quote:

I'm not positive but I think it means:
a 1 MOA dot would cover 1" of the target at 100 yards,
a 6 MOA dot would cover 6" of the target at 100 yards.

Yup.

Creeper · August 10, 2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.

That's an odd phenomena... one I'll have to research a bit to see if it's just coincidence, or some bizarre fact that no one has considered.

Anyway... MOA is of course "minute of angle", and it refers to how much of the target the dot or other aiming element subtends or covers the target.

Cheers,
C

SerenityNetworks · August 10, 2012, 01:22 PM

I'll have to try and swing by to have another look. I know I did a double-take while at the counter, because the values seemed backwards to me. In looking online at the same sights, I indeed see in their detailed descriptions where the dot size is what I would expect MOA to be and the more expensive sights generally have a smaller and more precise dot. I have no idea why the stickers on the sights would have had a different convention, but now my curiosity is piqued and I'll need to go back and look.

But since I'm on the topic and no nothing about these sights, at what size dot is it generally considered that precision is equal to or better than (good) iron sights?

Thanks again,
Andrew

Creeper · August 10, 2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost.

After a quick review of holographic (no tube sights) sights on the Cabela's website... I can find no correlation between size of dot and price. Only the obvious correlation between quality and price.

C

Creeper · August 10, 2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

But since I'm on the topic and no nothing about these sights, at what size dot is it generally considered that precision is equal to or better than (good) iron sights?

Generally, for target shooting, you want the smaller, or more precise (like a triangle... where even if its 6 MOA, you can still use the tip of the triangle) element, while for a tactical or combat sight, you'd use a larger element, or something like a dot in a circle or triangle... the later of which is what I prefer... IMO.

Cheers,
C

SerenityNetworks · August 10, 2012, 01:38 PM

Thank you.

August 10, 2012, 12:49 PM	#1
SerenityNetworks Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2012 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 416	Confused with MOA Numbers on Red Dot Optics I was at Cabella's the other evening and looked at the Red Dot optics for the first time. I saw one for ~$90 that said 3 MOA, another for ~200 that said 4 MOA, and one for ~$400 that said 6 MOA. I'm confused. I would have thought the MOA numbers would go downwards as the quality improved. Would someone please explain to me the meaning of MOA in this context? Thanks in Advance, Andrew __________________ NRA Life Member There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them. - Malcolm Muggeridge

August 10, 2012, 01:05 PM	#3
SerenityNetworks Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2012 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 416	Ah, so MOA in this context is the dot size? But still, why does the number go up as the dot gets smaller? I'm still lost. Thank you, Andrew __________________ NRA Life Member There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them. - Malcolm Muggeridge

August 10, 2012, 01:07 PM	#4
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	I'm not positive but I think it means,,, I'm not positive but I think it means: a 1 MOA dot would cover 1" of the target at 100 yards, a 6 MOA dot would cover 6" of the target at 100 yards. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

August 10, 2012, 01:22 PM	#7
SerenityNetworks Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2012 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 416	I'll have to try and swing by to have another look. I know I did a double-take while at the counter, because the values seemed backwards to me. In looking online at the same sights, I indeed see in their detailed descriptions where the dot size is what I would expect MOA to be and the more expensive sights generally have a smaller and more precise dot. I have no idea why the stickers on the sights would have had a different convention, but now my curiosity is piqued and I'll need to go back and look. But since I'm on the topic and no nothing about these sights, at what size dot is it generally considered that precision is equal to or better than (good) iron sights? Thanks again, Andrew __________________ NRA Life Member There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them. - Malcolm Muggeridge

August 10, 2012, 01:38 PM	#10
SerenityNetworks Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2012 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 416	Thank you. __________________ NRA Life Member There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them. - Malcolm Muggeridge

August 10, 2012, 12:52 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,862	What dot size you want depends on the use. Larger dot will allow faster acquisition, and smaller dot will allow more relative precision. Quality of make is an entirely different question.