SOFREP Goes Pro at SHOT Show and Understanding Minute of Angle in Shooting

DELTA 5 PRO, that is.

Upon hitting the show floor at SHOT 2024, it was immediately apparent to this reporter that one could not swing a deceased feline without hitting something sponsored by Daniel Defense.

They had the biggest booth, the biggest signs (bright yellow, no less), and some of the most interesting products.

Range Day on the Daniel Defense lanes was a blast, and you could feel the quality as soon you as you laid hands on those bad boys.  Even in the freezing drizzle and noticeable crosswinds, it was easy to score hits on targets hundreds of meters away. Missing a target is no fun for anyone, but even as a fairly rusty shooter, these precision rifles did not disappoint.

Their DELTA 5 PRO rifles are guaranteed to shoot 0.5 MOA or less at 100 yards right out of the box when used with quality factory match-grade ammo.

Now, if you don’t know what MOA is, the above statement meant nothing to you, so let me backtrack a bit and offer a brief explanation.

What is MOA?

In the world of marksmanship and precision shooting, the term “MOA” pops up a lot. It’s kind of like the secret handshake of the shooting community. But what’s behind these three letters, and why are they so crucial in discussing a rifle’s precision? Let’s dive into this, but fair warning: we’re about to do a bit of math. Don’t worry, it won’t be too taxing, but it’s essential for grasping the concept.

MOA stands for “Minute of Angle”. Now, that might sound like we’re mixing time with geometry, but stick with me. Imagine a clock, but instead of tracking time, it’s about angles. A minute here isn’t 60 seconds, but 1/60th of a degree in a circle. That’s right, we’re slicing degrees into even finer pieces. So, if you sketch two lines from the 9 o’clock position, one to the 3 o’clock and another just a smidge below (like 16 minutes past the hour), the wedge they form represents one Minute of Angle.

You might be thinking, “Angles are great and all, but I’m more interested in hitting my target accurately.” That’s where the magic of MOA comes into play. It’s a constant, a reliable friend that doesn’t change with distance. But the way it translates to your bullet’s journey downrange, that’s where the story unfolds.

Picture this: you’re holding two laser pointers side by side. One’s dead straight, and the other tilts down just a tad, precisely one MOA. At 100 yards, that tiny tilt means the second laser’s beam hits one inch lower than its straight-shooting buddy. And this relationship grows with distance – two inches at 200 yards, ten at a thousand, and it keeps going.

But (and I’m reminded of this by one of the greatest sniper instructors on the planet) bullets aren’t lasers. They don’t go on forever, and gravity loves to pull them down. They face air resistance, too. So, a bullet doesn’t just neatly drop an extra inch for every hundred yards. It’s more complicated than that. However, MOA gives us a consistent framework to adjust our sights and keep our shots on target within the rifle’s effective range. That’s the real beauty of MOA – it’s a stable foundation in the shifting world of long-range shooting.

Now, when rifle manufacturers throw around MOA in their specs, they’re giving you a measuring stick for the gun’s precision. But remember, lots of factors come into play here – the ammo you’re using, weather conditions, your own shooting skills, and more. Take Daniel Defense, for instance. They don’t just talk MOA; they guarantee it. As I’ve said, their DELTA 5 PRO line promises sub-half-MOA precision at 100 yards with the right ammo. That’s tight shooting!

All of you Breaking Bad fans should appreciate the above.

But the real takeaway here is understanding how MOA affects your shots at different distances. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about knowing what those numbers mean for your bullet’s path through the air. If your scope’s dials are measured in MOA (and many are), getting those adjustments right can mean the difference between a hit and a miss, especially as the range stretches out.

In the end, don’t let MOA become this big, intimidating thing (like our pal Tuco). It’s a tool, a very precise ruler, in the world of shooting. It helps you understand and adjust for bullet drop over distance. It’s the key to dialing in your scope so that where you aim is where you hit, whether that’s 100 yards out or much further. And when you hear about a rifle with half-MOA accuracy, like the DELTA 5 PRO, you know you’re dealing with a piece of serious precision engineering. That’s what MOA brings to the table – clarity, precision, and the confidence to take that shot, knowing exactly where it’s going to land.