Rifleman Q&A: What Does 'MOA' Mean?

by
posted on August 1, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
NEWQ&A

Q: I am new to the shooting sports, and my background is in aviation. In my field, the acronym “MOA” means “Military Operations Area.” When Air Traffic Control informs us that MOA is “hot,” we do not fly, and a “cold” announcement means we can. Does this terminology cross over to the shooting sports, and what is “DOPE?”


A: In shooting, “MOA” is an acronym for minutes of angle. The NRA definition is, “An angular measurement method used to describe accuracy capability. A minute of angle is 1/60th of a degree, and subtends 1.047" at 100 yards, which, for practical shooting purposes, is considered to be an inch. A minute-of-angle group, therefore, would measure slightly more than one inch at 100 yards, two inches at 200 yards, etc.”

From a shooter’s perspective, “dope” is a useful and descriptive word when applied to the activity of achieving downrange success. This magazine has used the phrase “Dope Bag” since at least 1921 when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” Some shooters also use it as an acronym for “Data On Previous Engagement.”

—John Treakle, Contributing Editor

Latest

.308 Win.
.308 Win.

Handloads: A Quiet .308 Win. For Large-Format Pistols

Of the many commercial .308 Winchester loads, few, if any, are designed for barrels shorter than 16". The one that follows helps address this gap while remaining simple to suppress and light on the wrists.

Court Approves Watchtower Firearms DIP Financing

Watchtower Firearms was granted final approval for debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in late June.

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.