Many people find the concept of MilRadian and Minute of Angle extremely complex and difficult to get their head around. But once you start using either of the systems, they actually become fairly easy to work with. Deciding which system to use is completely up to you, and you can't really go wrong with either. They are both equally effective, and at the end of the day, it all comes down to how well you know your system. There are a few small differences between the two, but they are often blown way out of proportion. If you already own an optic with either the MilRad or MOA system, don't worry because you can easily learn the system so that it works for you.
The Differences
1. Precision - the most common options come in 1/4 MOA or 1/10 Mil adjustments, which is the sweet spot for long range accuracy. The 1/4 MOA is a little more precise and allows for finer adjustments, although this small difference is mostly negligible. If fine adjustments are a priority, a 1/8 MOA option is available, although unnecessary for most.
2. Ease of Use - most shooters will find that Mil values are slightly easier to use as the units in 10ths fit our numerical system more naturally than fractional units of MOA. It also makes adjustments slightly easier to communicate when calling out corrections, although if you are already experienced in using MOA then this method may be best for you.
3. Imperial or Metric - here lies the most important difference when making your choice, especially if you plan on using your scope to estimate range. If you think and speak in meters and centimetres (metric), you will be far more suited to go with the Mil based system. If you calculate and communicate in yards and feet (imperial), then you will most likely suit the MOA system. If you already have your scope, and you are used to the metric unit of measure but you have a MOA scope, or visa versa, don't worry. You can create your own cheat cards to make the system work for you.
4. Popularity - since the military decided to adopt the Mil based system, it has by far become the most popular option. People often tend to follow in the footsteps of the military, as they automatically believe this to be the superior option. Although not always the case, this has made the Mil system far more popular than MOA, which makes it easier to find certain kit that works in cooperation with your scope, such as the Mil Reticle spotting scope. But still it is a good idea to make your choice based on your unit of measure, being metric (Mil) or imperial (MOA).
What Does it Mean?
Minute of Angle is an angular measurement that measures 1.047 inches at 100 yards. This is known as True MOA. Often, the figure will be rounded off to 1 inch at 100 yards for ease of use, known as SMOA (Shooters MOA). If MOA is expressed in the metric unit of measure, 1 MOA is equal to 29mm at 100 meters, which again is often rounded off to 30mm. Now we can see that if your scope adjusts in 1/4 MOA increments, it will require 4 clicks to move your crosshair 1 inch at 100 yards. This angle grows in proportion to the range, meaning that 4 clicks will move your crosshair 3 inches at 300 yards, or 10 inches at 1000 yards. Each single click equals 0.25 inches at 100 yards.
The Milliradian, or MilRad system is an angular measurement that measures 10cm at 100m, or 3.6 inches at 100 yards. When using metric measurements, this is easy because it means that 1 click on your scope (.1 Mils) will move your crosshair 1cm at 100m. If using the imperial unit of measure, this means that 1 click moves your crosshair .36 inches at 100 yards. Again, this angle grows in proportion to the range. Therefore 1 click equals 5cm at 500m, or 10cm at 1000m, and so on.
Matching Reticle & Turrets
Which ever choice you make, don't mix reticles with turrets (or target knobs) of different units. This will complicate things and make follow up shots slower than they need be. There are very few experienced shooters out there who may prefer a mixed system, but to most of us this overcomplicates things. If you have a Mil/Mil or MOA/MOA system, then this makes applying holds or corrections far easier than having them mixed. For example, if using a Mil reticle with Mil turrets and you see that your bullet impacts .6 Mils low, you can quickly adjust 6 clicks on your turret, simple as that. No calculations are required.
End Result
Although we have not discussed the MOA and MRAD scope in great detail, you should now know enough to make the right choice between the two in terms of reticle, windage and elevation adjustments. A decent optic isn't cheap, and the last thing you want is to regret your purchase. So whether you already own an optic, or are preparing to buy a new one, create or learn a method that works best for you, and master it. To learn more, see our Guide - Sniper Marksmanship, Beginner to Advanced Shooting Skills & Techniques.
