Mercworx Knives

MOA Performance are proud to import and distribute Mercworx knives to the Australian outdoor enthusiast.

Mercworx knives arguably make the best tactical and hard use knife in the market. It is not a custom knife and it is not a production knife. Mercworx has been available to the tactical community for more than 2 decades and have only been available commercially for the past few years. In their short commercial sales history, Mercworx has blurred the line between the manufactured and custom end of the knife industry, and in the process has created the ‘Factory Custom’ knife.

Each knife is crafted by one knife maker who does all of the grinding, sculpting, sanding, fitting, fabrication and final finishing at their New Jersey facility. The same process as a custom knife maker.

Mercworx make both fixed blade and folding knives.  A full complement of blade sizes are offered to best meet the users desired application.  Models offered include the following.

Folder: Atropos Clotho, Lachesis, Saevus(not offered) 

Fixed Blade: Vorax, Tanto, Sniper, Goliath, Orian, Proeliator, Seraphym (not available), Shiva, David, Equatorian, Golgotha.

The Mercworx blade style is a hybrid of the Roman Gladius dagger with bulbous Filipino Bola, which combines tactical qualities with practical utility application.

The Mercworx Blade Profile is shown below.

1. Flared double edge tip for maximum wound channel.

2. .250" thick land area for maximum prying and chopping strength.

3. High grade 154 CM steel for maximum edge retention and toughness.

4. Distinctive MW etched logo assuring you of a superb quality, handmade knife, at a very reasonable price point.

5. "High satin" finish, assuring your knife was brought to a bright finish and inspected for even the most minute flaws. Also provides superior corrosion resistance to sand or bead blast finishes and is easily cleaned and refinished in the field with 3M-scotch brite pad.

6. Radius thumb stop provides ideal angle for solid forward "rapier" grip and improved comfort and stability in "reverse" grip.

7. Holes for cord facilitate easy lashing to pole for a pike or spear or for a lanyard.

8. Smooth micarta handles for greater comfort during heavy extensive use.

9. Stainless steel "tube" fasteners for a secure redundant scale attachment.

10. Ergonomic handle profile for sure, positive grip during stress, and or while palm is slippery or wet.

11. Primed and cured silicone adhesive for positive attachment without freeze or other high temperature variant ops.

12. Minimal choil to raise the grind line for a better sharpening angle, while maximizing useable edge surface.

13. Re-curve for superior cutting and chopping performance.

14. Hollow ground "beyond peak" for superior edge retention and long re-sharpening life.

If you would like further information about these fabulous knives, please keep referring to our website www.moaperformance.com and/or email us at moa@moaperformance.com.

On Target Shooting Software

MOA Performance has been playing around with a new free software package by On Target Shooting Software that can accurately measure the size of your group.

It took MOA Performance about 10 minutes to download the package, scan a group (see below) which was then measured and fully analysed by the software to provide the actual group size.  The results are provided in both inches and MOA. Now you can verify the measurement you have made at the range by your calipers.

The above is a 3 shot group from a AI AW 308 shooting from a bench at 100yds using Black Hills factory ammunition.

The above group is 5 shots at 50yds from an Infinity AET IMM Compensated barrel with a 4 port barrel and a 3 port Titanium compensator.  The barrel was being tested from a fixture with reloads and will be included in a new SVI Infinity IPSC Open Gun for MOA Performance. 

The beauty of the software is that it is straightforward to use.  You simply download a scan or photo of your target.  The program requires you, with assistance by its built in tools, to input some rudimentary data to accurately calculate your group size at the distance you were shooting. The inputs required are:

• Setting the target distance
• Set the centre of each shot, and
• Nominate the calibre to obtain the correct bullet hole size to measure.

Once you've marked each bullet hole the program automatically calculates group centre, maximum group spread, average distance to centre, group width and height, and group offset from point of aim. The program can also measures multiple groups on the same target. A text box is then produced that summarises all the main input data.

The program worked with calibres from .17 to .451.  However, if you have an odd calibre you are able to customise that calibre in the software.

Although accurate, the photographs and the scanned targets should not be too distorted or slight errors in measurement will occur.  Therefore, when taking photographs, try and make sure you are taking them straight on and not at an angle.

The program is helpful for measuring groups with widely dispersed bullet holes. The program automatically finds the two most distant shots. You can't mistakenly pick the wrong pair of shots to measure.

The software works well when plotting a large number of shots that overlap or for plotting very small calibres such as .17. Since you are able to increase the target image by more than 500%, you can see fine details, allowing you to plot shots that may have been too difficult to identify with traditional measuring means.

In addition, the program also calculates average shot distance from centre (ATC). This can be useful for shooters who need to be as close to the centre of the target as possible.

If you want to know more about the new software go to www.ontargetshooting.com and have some fun.  The website has a streamed video tutorial that takes the operator through the steps on how to use the system. It visually demonstrates all the key processes you need to undertake.

What is Minute of Angle (MOA)?

MOA is the abbreviation of the term Minute Of Angle. MOA is commonly used to describe the relative accuracy of a firearm. MOA is also less commonly described as Minute of Arc or Arcminute.

Calculating MOA is usually undertaken in empirical measurements ie inches and yards.

Fundamentally, MOA is 1/60th of one degree. A full circle is divided into 360 degrees and each degree is divided into 60 minutes. Thus, there are 21,600 minutes in a full circle (360 x 60 = 21,600).

Therefore, to calculate MOA, imagine a very large circle with a 100 yard radius (distance from the circle centre to the edge of the circle). This circle would also have a circumference (the full perimeter distance of the circle) of approximately 628.32 yards or 22,619 inches.  By dividing the circumference (22,619 inches) by the number of minutes in a full circle (21,600 inches) gives a value of about 1.047 inches (22,619 / 21600 = 1.047). Similarly, the size of a bullet's impact point would change by 2.094 inches at 200 yards (1.047 x 2) and change by 3.141 inches at 300 yards (1.047 x 3) and so on.

So, if you calculate 1/60th of a degree when firing a rifle at a target 100 yards away, the measurement between the two lines of the angle that radiate from your shooting position to the target 100yards away is 1.047 inches or approximately 1 inch.

A major concept that most target shooters or hunters need to understand is that for every firearm and ammunition combination employed there will be a specific and individual MOA value associated with that combination. We are considering purely MOA in this discussion, however it should be noted that there are factors or variables that impact on the MOA. Such obvious factors are the variances attributed to the expertise of an individual operator of the firearm.

In evaluating MOA potential of a particular rifle and ammunition combination, it needs to be highlighted that precision and accuracy do not mean the same thing.  That is, rifle precision is a measure of how close a bullet will hit at the same point it had before. Where, rifle accuracy is hitting the aiming point. When combing precision and accuracy, where the point of aim coincides with accuracy we call this MOA Performance.

Therefore MOA is a concept that provides the shooter a reference point for evaluating Performance of any combination of firearm and ammunition. 

By understanding the MOA Performance concept it is also possible to provide an understanding at what ranges a shooter could conceivably hit targets, particularly at long distances. In deed, if all things are made equal, it also provides feed back as to the ability of the operator.  

Surgeon Rifles and Actions - Coming Soon

MOA Performance and Surgeon Rifles and Actions - a combination that will excite the most pedantic accuracy nut. 

For further up-dates make sure you go to www.MOAPerformance.com or email us at MOA@MOAPerformance.com 

BulzEyePro Optical Boosters

MOA Performance proudly introduces the BulzEyePro Optical Boosters to the Australian shooting enthusiast.

BulzEyePro has created a revolutionary new product that boosts the magnification of your rifle scope without any modification to your scope. It is an eyepiece lens extension that fits on your rifle scope between your eye and the end of the scope.

The Optical Booster comes in a number of different strengths from 2X right up to 13X for special applications.  Generally though the magnifications available will be 2X, 2.5X, 3X, 3.5X, 4X, 4.5X and 5X.

Application of the BulzEyePro Optical Booster

Essentially a 2X version of the Optical Booster can increase an image size by approximately 15% while a 3X Optical Booster can boost the viewed image by about 30%.  Therefore, as an example a 25X scope with a 3X Optical Booster creates the equivalent of a 32X scope.  Or for the bench rest shooters using a 3X Optical Booster on a 45X scope will see the image as though you were looking through a 58X scope! 

There are many magnifications and versions available to meet the need of the shooting enthusiast for a wide cross section of applications, including hunting and varmint shooting and competition shooting.

Further Beneifits

There are versions of the lens that are designed for specific purposes such as long distance competition shooting.  As an example, the use of a multicoated polycarbonate lens can reduce or negate the affects of mirage and parallax errors.

Bulzeyepro state that their Optical Boosters will address and correct every known optical illusion experienced by scoped firearm shooters while improving safety, and increasing size and clarity of targeted image.

As we age, our shooting ability should not decline due to diminished eyesight. The Optical Booster can assist in restoring sight loss and increasing clarity of picture for all shooters and also improves firearm optics and their safety.

Hunters will enjoy quick, huge, clear, precise sight pictures with improved safety. Competitive shooters can add an enhanced ability to read mirage and adjust to zero parallax. Diabetics will also see all of this, along with a vast improvement in consistency and repeatability of shot.

Unlike an internal boosting job, you can simply remove the Booster if you want to return to the original magnification level.

In addition, the Boosters require no internal modification and will not effect the factory warranty.

Available Models

At this time there are two models available with more models to come shortly.  The two existing models include the following:

1.  Screw on model – Utilising the threads provided for lens caps on your rifle scope, a lens fixed in a threaded ring simply screws onto the rifle scope behind the eyepiece.  This model is presently available for the Leupold competition series made after 2003, Weaver T series, Sightron BR series, Nightforce BR series, and March rifle scopes.

Below is an Optical Booster fitted to scope.

2. Slip on model with Interchangeable lenses – This model offers greater versatility where a rubber housing will fit any scope with an eyepiece diameter of 1.45” to 1.8”.  Basically, this model will fit just about any 30mm and 1” tube rifle scopes.

This model provides the shooting enthusiast with the ability to move the Optical Booster from one scope to another.  Also, a variety of lenses can be inserted in the flexible rubber housing.  For example, you can switch from a 2.5X lens for say 300 yards shooting to a 4.5X Multicoated lens for extreme long range shooting without having to swap out scopes.

Below is a Slip-on rubber Optical Booster shown fitted to scope.

BulzEyePro Guarantee

In addition, BulzEyePro state that if you are not satisfied with your Optical Booster for any reason, simply return the booster within 45 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the item purchase price.

Further information regarding availability will be highlighted soon at www.moaperformance.com. So bookmark our web page for up-dates on the release date or email us at moa@moaperformance.com

Cooper Firearms in Australia

At last, Cooper Firearms will be in Australia and proudly imported by MOA Performance.

MOA Performance is a new specialist importer of firearm products catering to predominantly the rifle and handgun shooter. MOA Performance will focus on firearm products that are renowned for accuracy, durability and quality.

As our company name implies, the focus of MOA Performance is to provide the shooting enthusiast with products that display inherent accuracy and/or products that will contribute to improved accuracy or enhance accuracy of your existing shooting systems.

The Cooper rifle embodies all of the attributes that MOA Performance look for in a shooting product.Cooper Firearms is well-known for the quality and accuracy of its varmint, rimfire, and hunting rifles. When Dan Cooper started Cooper Firearms in 1989, he summed up the direction of the company by stating:

“When I came up with the idea of Cooper Arms in 1989, I wanted to do more than make beautiful rifles. They had to be the most accurate production rifles available in the US.”

This commitment to accuracy is why in 1990 Cooper Arms were the first to guarantee ½ MOA accuracy. In fact, Cooper Arms accuracy guarantee is specifically ¼ MOA accuracy for their 22LR rifles for 5 shots at 50 yards and ½ MOA for 3 shots at 100 yards for all other rifles in the Cooper Arms line-up. The accuracy guarantee is based on match grade ammunition for rimfire and quality match grade handloads for centrefire.

Significantly, because of the emphasis of providing highly accurate rifles in a package that exhibits some of the finest gunsmithing in the world, a Cooper rifle is not necessarily for everyone. It is important to know and appreciate that the Cooper rifle is an expression of some of America’s finest rifle craftsmen.

The Range

The Cooper rifles come in 5 different action lengths with a choice of stock configurations, barrel lengths and level of customisation. In essence, the action lengths are dictated by the length of cartridge and are summarised as follows:

Model 57M – Repeating bolt action for rimfire cartridges including 22LR, 17 Mach 2, 17HMR and 22 WMR. The configurations available include the LVT, Classic, Jackson Squirrel Rifle, Custom Classic, Western Classic, TRP-3 and Jackson Hunter (synthetic stock).

Model 57 LVT (Light Varmint/Target)

Model 38, 21 and 22 are centrefire single shot bolt action rifles. The configurations available include the Varminter, Montana Varminter, Varmint Extreme, Phoenix Classic, Custom Classic and Western Classic.

The Varminter 

Model 52 is a bolt action repeater precision hunting rifle for centrefire calibres based on a 30-06 length cartridge. It is available in Classic, Jackson Game Rifle, Custom Classic, Western Classic and the two synthetic stocked versions being the Jackson Hunter and the Excalibur.

Model 52 Custom Classic

It is also worth noting that all models are also available in left hand configuration.

Available Calibres

In addition to the accuracy and quality benchmarks set by Cooper Rifles, Cooper Arms are known for the fantastic offering of specialised calibres for target, varmint and hunting applications. No other rifle manufacturer offers such an array of unique, high performance and inherently accurate calibres.

Model 21:17 Rem, 19-223, Tactical 20, 204 Ruger, 222 Rem, 222 Rem Mag, 223 Rem, 223 Rem AI, 6X45, 6x47.

Model 38: 17 Squirrel, 17 Ackley Hornet, 17 He Bee, 17 Fireball, 19 Calhoon, 20 VarTarg, 221 Fireball, 22 Hornet, 22 K Hornet, 22 Squirrel, 218 Bee, 218 Mashburn Bee.

Model 22: 22-250 Rem, 22-250 Rem AI, 25-06 Rem, 25-06 Rem AI, 243 Win, 243 Win AI, 220 Swift, 250/3000, 250/3000 AI, 22BR, 6BR, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts AI, 7mm-08, 6mm Rem, 6 X 284, 6.5 x 284, 6.5 x 55 Swede, 7 x 57 Mauser, 308 Win.

Model 52: 25-06, 25-06 AI, 270, 280, 280 AI, 30-06, 338-06, 35 Whelen.

Model 57M: 17 Mach 2, 22 LR, 22 WMR, 17 HMR

Model 57M TRP-3: 22 LR

Special Enhancements and Customisation

In addition, to the standard configurations, Cooper Firearms can be ordered with a multitude of enhancements to make the rifle unique and personal to you. Examples of enhancements include:

Upgrade of stock wood figure right up to presentation grades, Engraving and gold inlay, Fluted barrels, Spiral fluted bolt, Special barrel twists, Custom length of pull, Custom serial numbers, Case colour metal, Checkered bolt knob, Skeleton butt plate, Skeleton grip cap, Inlayed sling swivels, Niedner butt plate, Stainless steel barrel.

The full range of Cooper Rifles and prices can be soon viewed at www.moaperformance.com or if you would like to register your interest now or simply make further enquiries please email to moa@moaperformance.com.

The Phoenix

Watch This Space

MOA Performance is a new specialist provider of firearm products and accessories to Australia. Catering to predominantly the rifle and handgun shooter, MOA Performance concentrates on firearm products that are renowned for accuracy and quality.

As our company name implies, the focus of MOA Performance is to provide the shooting enthusiast with products that display inherent accuracy and/or contribute to improved accuracy for your existing shooting systems.

Products that we will be offering to the Australian shooting enthusist will include many new brands and products not normally seen in Australia on a regular basis. Some of the brands include Cooper Firearms of Montana, Bulzeyepro 'Optical Booster', Surgeon rifles and actions and Mercworx knives.

Bookmark our website at www.moaperformance.com for the latest information on new and exciting products.