What is Your Definition of an Accurate Rifle?
- Thread starter skeeljc
- Start date
Raythemanroe
Bullet Whisperer
Accuracy usually comes with precision
Ray
Ray
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I think the accuracy of a gun, or any projectile weapon, is subjective and relative to the range and purpose it is used for.
It is interesting to contemplate that a precision rifle that will shoot with one MOA accuracy at a thousand yards, will be no more accurate than a quality 22 long rifle at 25 yards. Maybe even much less accurate if fired from a standing off-hand position.
jd
It is interesting to contemplate that a precision rifle that will shoot with one MOA accuracy at a thousand yards, will be no more accurate than a quality 22 long rifle at 25 yards. Maybe even much less accurate if fired from a standing off-hand position.
jd
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Precision has to come before accuracy. You can get lucky maybe on one shot if you shoot a 3” group but its easier to put em where you want if it puts em in in the same hole every shot
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Somebody has been reading litz’s books
This is the same way instrimentation looks at it. Accurate equipment can only be so accurate, we shoot for let's say 1 as a goal. 5 shots, we hit a 1, 1,.9,1.1,1. Accuracy avg is 1. Precision/repeatability to me is the same. Can we repeat the accuracy agg and always average a 1? If so, then it is precision. If not, it is not accurate or precision/repeatable.
I also believe that measurement of uncertainty comes into play. Just like lab balances. There are uncertainty in the equipment and components used in shooting. All of these things come into play when we talk about how accurate and precision a rifle is.
I develop all my loads at 300 meters (about 330 yards) and I want my groups to generally be "about" 1 inch. There are times when I get that at 330 yards and they fall apart at 1000 yards. I don't know why this happens and thankfully it doesn't happen too often. But you CAN have an accurate load "close in" and not hold the accuracy "out there".. I would say a "precision" load is one that holds it's close-in accuracy ALL THE WAY OUT to 1000 yards! If they shoot 1 inch at 300, a really accurate / precise rifle can shoot around 3" at 1000.. I have seen it and have done it!
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Accuracy is a bughole group. Precision is a bughole group every time.
Ccrider
Gold $$ Contributor
An accurate rifle hits where I aim on the first shot consistently. A precise rifle hits in the same place shot after shot.
My hunting rifles have to be accurate, but not precise. I will not keep a gun that will not shoot 1moa or better of accuracy if I do my part. I expect that even from a good factory gun with my hunting load.
My hunting rifles have to be accurate, but not precise. I will not keep a gun that will not shoot 1moa or better of accuracy if I do my part. I expect that even from a good factory gun with my hunting load.
Accuracy and precision have different definitions depending on who you are talking to. To most shooters accuracy is small groups while precision varies from place to place. In the professional ballistics field accuracy is the distance of the centre of the group from the aimpoint and is nothing to do whith group size. Groups size is defined as precision in the US, dispersion in the UK. In the UK precision is used to describe the combination of accuracy and dispersion.
So, as you see, it all depends where you are and who you are talking to.
So, as you see, it all depends where you are and who you are talking to.
jimmymac
Jim McGregor
That is an amazing record group. It held up for a lot of years.
dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
In science, accuracy means putting the center of the group over the center of the target. Precision is making a very small group, wherever it lands.
In the world of rifles, putting the center of the group over the center of the target has nothing to do with the rifle itself. That's entirely the shooter's responsibility. So the job of the rifle platform is to get the shots to group as tightly as possible. Call it an accurate rifle, precise rifle, whatever, we know you're talking about a gun that prints small groups.
For a rifle set up without a target stock, accurate to me means 1/2" groups or less at 100y. For a true target rifle, refer to the competitive aggs in that discipline. For short-range unlimited class benchrest, that's just a slightly eggy round hole barely larger than the bullet. For 1000y benchrest, that's 4 or 5" groups.
In the world of rifles, putting the center of the group over the center of the target has nothing to do with the rifle itself. That's entirely the shooter's responsibility. So the job of the rifle platform is to get the shots to group as tightly as possible. Call it an accurate rifle, precise rifle, whatever, we know you're talking about a gun that prints small groups.
For a rifle set up without a target stock, accurate to me means 1/2" groups or less at 100y. For a true target rifle, refer to the competitive aggs in that discipline. For short-range unlimited class benchrest, that's just a slightly eggy round hole barely larger than the bullet. For 1000y benchrest, that's 4 or 5" groups.
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