halfMOA

HalfMOA, written as 0.5 MOA, is a unit of angular measurement used in firearms to describe precision. It denotes half of one minute of angle, where one MOA equals 1/60th of a degree. At a distance of 100 yards, 0.5 MOA corresponds to about 0.523 inches; at 200 yards it corresponds to about 1.047 inches, and so on. Because it is an angular measure, the linear size scales with distance.

In practical terms, halfMOA is used to express how tightly a rifle, ammunition, or optic can group shots or how much an adjustment per click moves the point of aim. Many rifle scopes offer adjustments in 0.5 MOA or 0.25 MOA per click, enabling shooters to dial windage and elevation in measured increments. Accuracy standards in competition and hunting are often described in MOA terms: a rifle that yields 0.5 MOA groups is considered highly accurate at practical distances.

Distance example: at 600 yards, 0.5 MOA corresponds to about 3.14 inches; at 300 yards, about 1.57 inches; at 100 yards, about 0.52 inches. These figures illustrate how the same angular tolerance translates into larger linear displacements as range increases, influencing how shooters plan aiming and reticle adjustments.

Limitations: MOA assumes an angular dispersion and does not by itself account for wind, temperature, ballistic coefficient, altitude, shooter technique, or equipment quality. Real-world performance depends on load consistency, barrel condition, and environmental conditions. The term halfMOA is commonly used in product specifications and discussions of precision to convey a target or achieved level of shot placement.