page_title: Accurizing
section_title: Measurements
hierarchical_section_title: Accurizing / Determining accuracy / Measurements
caption_attribution_description: English: Comparison of milliradian (mrad) and arcminute (MOA) target sizes. Norsk bokmål: Sammenligning av skivestørrelser i milliradianer (mrad) og bueminutter (MOA).
context_page_description: Accurizing is the process of improving the accuracy and precision of a gun.
  For firearms, accuracy is the ability to hit exactly what one is aiming at, and precision is the ability to hit the same place over and over again in a repeatable fashion. Both are the goals of accurizing, which generally concentrates on four different areas:
  Usability: Enhancements that give the shooter a firmer and more controlled hold on the firearm, as well as a more consistent trigger pull. Better design ergonomics is often employed, such as adjustable buttstocks and grips with more vertical angles that are natural to the human hand and wrist. Spirit levels are often mounted to prevent canting, which can vary the points of impact. Weapon mounts such as bipods, monopods, benchrests, shooting sticks or simply sandbags can provide a more stable and relaxed platform for the shooter, and devices such as muzzle brakes or compensators can also be used to help counter the muzzle rise from recoil and re-establish aim faster and more precisely for repeated firing. The use of suitable slings can also help shooters to stabilize their aim when shooting off-hand while standing or squatting.
context_section_description: Since adjusting the point of impact to match the point of aim is relatively simple with any type of adjustable sights, the primary goal of accurizing is to increase the precision of the firearm, which is generally measured by looking at the dispersion of a number of shots fired at the same point of aim. An ideal group would be one where all shots land in a hole no larger than the diameter of a single bullet; this would indicate zero dispersion. The most common way of measuring groups then is to measure the edge to edge distance of the farthest holes, and subtract the bullet diameter, which gives the center to center or c-c measurement of the group. This can be expressed in linear measures (a 30 mm group at 100 m, or a one inch group at 100 yards) or in angular measures (a milliradian or MOA group). Groups for rifles are traditionally shot at either 100 meters or 100 yards (91 m). At 100 yd a minute of arc equals 1.047 inches (26.6 mm), and the one MOA group (approximately 1/3 or 0.3 mil) is a traditional benchmark of accuracy. Handguns are generally used at closer ranges, and are tested for accuracy at their intended range of use. Also of importance is the number of shots fired. Statistical likelihood says the fewer shots that are fired, the smaller the dispersion will be.  3 or 5-shot groups are acceptable for zeroing the sights and rough accuracy estimates, but most shooters consider 10-shot groups to be the minimum for accuracy comparisons.
caption: Comparison of milliradian (mil) and minute of arc (moa).
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