MOA and MRAD are two units for the same thing: angle. Neither is more accurate. A 1/4 MOA click moves the point of impact 7.3 mm at 100 m (0.26 in at 100 yd), and a 0.1 MRAD click moves it 10 mm at 100 m (0.36 in at 100 yd). Choose the one you can do quick sums in, and make sure your reticle and turrets use the same unit.
For UK shooters working in metres, MRAD has the tidier arithmetic. MOA remains the standard on most hunting scopes, and the finer 1/4 MOA click still has its fans. Here is how each works and how to choose.
Key takeaways
- 1 MOA = 29.1 mm at 100 m (1.047 in at 100 yd); 1 MRAD = 100 mm at 100 m (3.6 in at 100 yd).
- 1 MRAD = 3.44 MOA, so a 0.1 MRAD click is slightly coarser than a 1/4 MOA click.
- Your reticle and turrets must use the same unit, or you cannot use the reticle to correct a miss.
- MRAD suits metric ranges and long-range or team shooting; MOA suits hunters who zero once and hold.
Both measure angle, not distance
A rifle scope moves the aim in angular steps, so the same click moves the bullet further at 300 m than at 100 m. That is why a click value is always quoted "at 100". MOA and MRAD are simply different ways of slicing the circle.
What is MOA?
A minute of angle is 1/60 of a degree. At 100 yd it covers 1.047 in, which shooters round to "an inch at a hundred". At 100 m it covers 29.1 mm. Most MOA scopes adjust in 1/4 MOA clicks, so each click moves impact about 7.3 mm at 100 m and 14.5 mm at 200 m. Many LPVOs, including the SIG Sauer TANGO-MSR 1-8x24, use coarser 1/2 MOA clicks. For MOA as a red dot size, see MOA explained simply.
What is MRAD?
A milliradian is 1/1000 of a radian. At 100 m it covers exactly 100 mm (10 cm); at 100 yd it covers 3.6 in. Most MRAD scopes adjust in 0.1 MRAD clicks, which is exactly 1 cm at 100 m. Ten clicks make one mil, and at 300 m each click is 3 cm. Because a mil-marked reticle measures in the same units, you can read a miss off the reticle and dial it straight on.
Click values side by side
| System | Click | Movement at 100 m | Movement at 100 yd | Clicks for 10 cm at 100 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOA | 1/4 MOA | 7.3 mm | 0.26 in | 13.8 |
| MOA | 1/2 MOA | 14.5 mm | 0.52 in | 6.9 |
| MRAD | 0.1 MRAD | 10.0 mm | 0.36 in | 10 |
To convert between the two: 1 MRAD = 3.44 MOA, and 1 MOA = 0.29 MRAD. The MOA at distance chart has the per-click figures from 25 m to 300 m.
The one rule you must not break
Match your turret to your reticle. If the reticle is marked in MRAD, the turrets should adjust in MRAD; if the reticle is in MOA, use MOA turrets. Mixing them means you cannot measure a miss on the reticle and dial the correction, which is the main reason to have a marked reticle at all.
The exception is a bullet-drop (BDC) reticle marked in distances rather than angles, such as SIG's MSR BDC or Primary Arms' ACSS. You use the marks for holdover and the turrets only for zeroing, so the turret unit matters less. The focal plane matters too, because it decides whether the marks stay true at every magnification: see FFP vs SFP explained.
Which should you choose?
- Choose MOA if you zero once and hold over, shoot mostly inside 200 m, or want the finer 1/4 MOA click for precise zeroing. Many deer stalking scopes and hunting scopes, such as the Burris Signature HD 3-15x44 with 1/4 MOA clicks, are set up this way.
- Choose MRAD if you shoot at metric ranges, like base-10 sums, dial for distance, or shoot with a spotter who calls corrections in mils. The EOTech Vudu 1-10x28 FFP with the SR5 MRAD reticle is a good example of a matched mil reticle in a first focal plane scope.
For a first LPVO or practical rifle scope, either works. Pick the unit you can do quick mental sums in, learn your reticle, and practise with it. Consistency beats the internet debate every time. Browse rifle scopes and LPVOs; each listing states its reticle and click unit.
UK note
UK ranges are laid out in metres, and 0.1 MRAD at 100 m is exactly 1 cm. That makes MRAD the easier system at a British club, where target cards and range boards are metric. If you already think in MOA, remember it is 29 mm at 100 m, not 25 mm.
Expert tip
Whichever unit you pick, write the per-click value for each of your usual distances on a strip of tape on the stock. At 50 m a 1/4 MOA click is 3.6 mm, and forgetting to halve it is the commonest zeroing error on the range.
Whatever you choose, it needs a solid mount. We do not stock scope rings or scope mounts, only red dot mounts, so source those from a specialist; our guide to mount height and eye relief explains what to look for.
Frequently asked questions
Is MRAD more accurate than MOA?
No. Both are just units of angle. A 1/4 MOA click (7.3 mm at 100 m) is slightly finer than a 0.1 MRAD click (10 mm at 100 m), but the difference is far smaller than a typical group.
How many MOA are in one MRAD?
3.44. So 10 clicks of 0.1 MRAD move impact about the same as 14 clicks of 1/4 MOA.
Can I have a mil reticle with MOA turrets?
Some scopes are built that way, but it makes corrections harder, because you have to convert every measurement before you dial it. Choose a scope where the reticle and turrets match.
Which do UK stalkers use?
Many hunting scopes, including the Burris Fullfield E1 and Signature HD ranges, use 1/4 MOA clicks with a plain or BDC reticle. That works well because stalkers usually zero once and hold. MRAD is more common on target, long-range and practical rifles.
Shop this guide
- Rifle Scopes — MOA and MRAD scopes, with the click unit in every listing.
- LPVO Rifle Scopes — 1-6x to 1-10x scopes with BDC and mil reticles.
- EOTech Vudu Rifle Scopes — matched MRAD and MOA reticles in first focal plane.
- Deer Stalking Scopes — hunting scopes, mostly with 1/4 MOA clicks.
