Correction: Whitworth Accuracy and Figure of Merit vs MOA

Published on November 2, 2017
Duration: 7:18

This video corrects previous assessments of the Whitworth rifle's accuracy by clarifying the distinction between 'Figure of Merit' and 'Minute of Angle' (MOA). It explains the British military's use of mean radial dispersion for consistency assessment and provides a conversion method to MOA. The Whitworth demonstrated a significant accuracy advantage over the Enfield musket in 1857 trials, especially at longer ranges.

Quick Summary

The Whitworth rifle achieved approximately 3.1 MOA at 500 yards and 20 MOA at 1100 yards in 1857 trials, demonstrating a significant accuracy advantage over the standard Enfield musket, which was around 18.7 MOA at 500 yards and 61 MOA at 1100 yards.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Whitworth Accuracy Correction
  2. 00:32The Error: Figure of Merit vs. MOA Explained
  3. 01:18Defining Figure of Merit (British vs. American)
  4. 02:10Why Mean Radius Assesses Consistency Better
  5. 03:14Converting Figure of Merit to MOA
  6. 04:48Whitworth vs. Enfield Accuracy Comparison
  7. 06:38Conclusion: Whitworth's Remarkable Accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Figure of Merit and MOA for rifle accuracy?

Figure of Merit, particularly in 1850s British military terms, refers to mean radial dispersion (average shot distance from the center). MOA (Minute of Angle) is a standard angular measurement. Confusing these can lead to inaccurate assessments of a rifle's performance, as seen in the Whitworth rifle's historical data.

How accurate was the Whitworth rifle compared to the Enfield in 1857?

In 1857 trials, the Whitworth rifle was significantly more accurate. At 500 yards, it achieved about 3.1 MOA, while the Enfield musket was around 18.7 MOA. At 1100 yards, the Whitworth was approximately 20 MOA compared to the Enfield's 61 MOA.

Why did the British military use 'Figure of Merit' instead of just group size?

The British military used 'Figure of Merit' (mean radial dispersion) because it provided a better assessment of a rifle's consistency. By averaging the distance of each shot from the group's center, the impact of a single outlier shot ('flyer') is minimized compared to simply measuring the extreme spread.

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