On another forum that I spend a lot of time on this subject came up during a load development thread. A very well known rifle builder stated it this way and I couldn't agree more. This guy's clients have 23 world records in long range comps....he knows a bit about gun building, load development, and accuracy:
"I know some times people don't seem to think groups matter. Its all about cold bore. Thats true to a point but If your rifle shoots 10 inches at 1000 yards for example for a group. Then you have to assume the bullet will land 5" from your aim point IF you have a perfect zero. Lets say you can always call the wind to 1/2 moa or better. That would be very impressive at 1000yds. So now we have to assume your bullet can land 10 inches from the aim point. This assumes you can break a perfect shot. Add in bullet BC variation, velocity variation, lighting changes which effect vertical impact, ext. All of these variables add up to an seemingly almost impossible shot. One thing we can control is the accuracy of our rifles. I want all the help I can get to beat out the other variables I cant see or control. At least thats my way of thinking."
For those that say they don't shoot 1000 yards so this doesn't apply to me. Well, even on a 300 yard shot with a 10mph full value wind even a high BC bullet will move 3-4". Do that same calculation with a typical hunting bullet that many use (accubond) and at 300 yards that turns into almost 5" of drift! A combination of bad wind call or any other factor and the "moa is good enough" rifle is almost out of a 8" vital zone! So with everything said above about a perfect hold, perfect break of the trigger, perfect call on the wind, etc....I'm not in the group that thinks MOA is "good enough" and I'm sure the animals we chase would rather us strive for better for a good, quick kill.