MRAD vs MOA: Why MRAD is Better for Long Range and PRS

MRAD (Milliradian) is often considered better than MOA (Minute of Angle) for long-range shooting or precision rifle series (PRS) competitions due to its simplicity, compatibility with the metric system, and ease of use in dynamic environments. Here's a breakdown of why MRAD is preferred:

Metric Compatibility

Reason: MRAD aligns seamlessly with the metric system, where distances are measured in meters and offsets in centimeters.
Impact: Calculations are straightforward: at 1000 meters, 1 MRAD equals 1 meter. This makes adjustments and holdovers intuitive.
MOA: Involves conversions to inches or yards, which can complicate calculations and slow down decision-making under pressure.

Ease of Communication

Reason: PRS and long-range shooting often involve teams where spotters relay corrections to shooters.
Impact: Using MRAD, corrections are simpler because the system is decimal-based (e.g., "Adjust 0.5 MRAD left"). In contrast, MOA often involves fractional values (e.g., "Move 1 3/4 MOA left"), which can be harder to calculate quickly.
Example: If a spotter says "adjust 0.2 MRAD," the shooter instantly knows the adjustment in clicks (2 clicks if each click is 0.1 MRAD).

Precision at Long Range

Reason: MRAD scopes typically have coarser adjustments (0.1 MRAD per click) compared to MOA scopes (1/4 MOA or 0.25 MOA per click).
Impact:
- At long ranges (e.g., 1000 meters), 0.1 MRAD equals 10 cm per click, while 0.25 MOA equals approximately 7.3 cm per click.
- This difference means fewer total clicks are needed for large adjustments in MRAD, which can save time and reduce the chance of error.

Simpler Calculations for Holdovers and Windage

Reason: MRAD simplifies mental math for trajectory and windage because it works directly with the metric system and uses a consistent decimal system.
Impact: For example, if the wind moves a bullet 50 cm at 500 meters, you simply adjust 1 MRAD (50 cm ÷ 500 m = 0.1). With MOA, you’d need to convert to inches and yards, which is more cumbersome.

Global and Military Standard

Reason: MRAD is the standard measurement used by militaries and competitive shooters worldwide.
Impact: Training materials, range cards, and ballistic calculators often default to MRAD. Being familiar with MRAD makes it easier to transition into these systems and collaborate with other shooters globally.

Fewer Conversion Errors

Reason: MRAD’s metric nature minimizes the need for unit conversions. In contrast, MOA often requires shooters to switch between inches, yards, and MOA, increasing the risk of mistakes.
Impact: In a competition like PRS, where time is critical, reducing the cognitive load allows shooters to focus on the shot rather than math.

Trend in Optics

Reason: High-end rifle scopes for long-range shooting increasingly favor MRAD over MOA.
Impact: Advanced ballistic reticles, which integrate MRAD-based holdover and windage marks, are more widely available in MRAD configurations.

Comparison Table

Feature	MRAD Advantage	MOA Limitation
Metric Compatibility	Directly compatible with meters and centimeters.	Requires conversion to/from inches and yards.
Ease of Communication	Decimal system simplifies relaying corrections (e.g., "0.3 MRAD").	Fractional values (e.g., "1 3/4 MOA") can slow communication.
Precision	Coarser clicks (0.1 MRAD) reduce total clicks needed at long ranges.	Finer adjustments (0.25 MOA) mean more clicks and slower adjustments.
Mental Math	Direct scaling with range (e.g., 1 MRAD = 1m at 1000m).	Requires conversions and introduces complexity in holdovers and windage adjustments.
Global Standard	Universally used in military and competitive shooting, with better support in advanced optics and ballistic calculators.	Primarily used in U.S. civilian markets, with limited support in global or professional applications.

Conclusion

MRAD’s advantages in long-range and PRS shooting boil down to simplicity, compatibility with modern systems, and ease of use under pressure. While MOA can be just as precise, its reliance on fractional adjustments and unit conversions makes it less efficient for dynamic environments. Shooters aiming for precision and speed in high-stakes scenarios overwhelmingly favor MRAD.