I get the feeling thatfor many folks, how accurately a rifle can shoot is the most important measurementaboutits worth and desirability.
But another way to measure the value of agun is how "shootable" it is. Among other things,agun that's shootable is onethatfits and holdswell & shoulders naturally,
Itmight involvefactors aboutwhether the design isergonomic enoughor notto suit an individual'staste and unique physical charateristics.
Since everyone is notbuilt the sameoris as strong as another, naturallya gun will simply fitone shooter better than another.
So sometimes the most accurate gun is not the most shootable gun for an individual.
What thenshouldthedefinition be ofwhat themost accurate gun is?
Are we tosay that the most accurate gun is only the one that shoots the best groupsoff thebench, orcouldit be definedas the most accurate gun that any particularindividual can shoot offhand?
Sometimes the most accurate benchrest gun is the most shootable off hand, and sometimes it justisn't.
In the case of a gun that's extremely shootable offhand but is not the most accurate when benched, what then is themeasurement of the overallvalue of that gun?
And then what ismore important, how accurate a gun shoots in terms of group size or how accurately a gun can be shot off hand?
If accuracy is related to how shootable a gun is, then the gun that shoots the best groups is not alwaysthe most accurate gun.
That's why some folksprefergun models thatdo not shoot the best groups benched, but yetthesemaystill be considered to be among the most accurate guns.
Great food for thought!
So what you are suggesting then is that first consideration should be that a weapon fit the buyer? That it shoulders well (fast & easily), and that the mechanics of operation are comfortable for the buyer?
We all prefer an accurate rifle. If the gun doesn't hit where you aim, I doubt it'll shoot any better off-hand. It's still up to the shooter to do his or her part. If you start with a precise shooting rifle, you have the confidence to try to shoot up to it's potential.
I agree with articap. I have had rifles that do not fit. I sold a Remington .308 just because when I brought it up to fire the sights never lined up. I also believe that the rifle has to fit in order to make offhand shots especially if they come up quickly. My Omega fits me very well and I have on occasion had to make a quick (snap shot if you will) shot and was successful. If I had a rifle that did not come up to sight there would have been a little more time required and possibly a lost shot. I do like to know that the rifle and selected loads are accurate just to give a little more confidence. Both are very important to me.
Most rifles these days are accurate with the correct or proper load and projectile. Some more so then others. But for set distances, most all of them will get the job done. But I do see Articap's point. For instance in a climbing tree stand I like a shorter rifle that is not all fancy. A Knight Wolverine or a Traditions Woodsman Hunter are two great tree stand rifles. They are short, light weight, easy to pull and quick to get on line. In my platform tree stands where I have a rest stick, most any will do, but I like a long barrel rifle. One of my favorite here are the Renegade in .54 and .58 and now in .50 with the LRH barrel.
In ground blinds, I often times take my more heavy bulky rifles. Since I am only going to carry them in perhaps a mile, then sit the rest of the day, weight is not an issue. Also from blinds I use sticks and in one blind even have a bench rest of sorts built. This is where I do long range shooting. Here is where I like my Whites, Knight Disc and Black Diamond. I have plenty of time normally to prepare my shot, and these rifles will really put that bullet down range.
When walking I like carbines. Something short, light, and quick to point and shoot. I own a couple of them as well. So while most rifles are accurate, I do adjust the rifle for what I plan to do that day, and hunt accordingly.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
I guess I do not understand, if you have a rifle that shoots good then you make it fit the shooter, for the most part its not hard to do. In an extreme situation you make a stock for the gun that fits yourself. I all ways fit the gun to me before I even try to shoot it off hand, getting the right trigger pull length and cheek piece height is a large part of it, rarely with modern gun you might need to modify the wrist. Lee
Well I've read about the criticisms of the TC Encore from time to time and how certain models shoot more accurate groups than others. Everyone wants a gun that will shoot accurate groups. But like Cayugad mentioned, some guns are better suited for certain purposes,huntingmethods and individuals, and a short barrel might never be as accurate as a longer barrel. So I wanted topoint out thatwhat'smost important about arifleisn't alwaysthe size of the group it shoots, but how well aperson can shoot it.
I just don't believe that BP guns that won't shoot MOA are necessarilybad.
Evenless expensive rifles if they fit well, just need to shoot reasonably well.
How many shooters complain that theirgun won't shoot MOA groups and are disappointed? Or how a model gets criticized because of it's costvs. itsbench restaccuracy?
I also think that muzzle rise and recoilaffects accuracy too especially when shooting offhand. That might be more of a challenge to overcome than needing to work upa super accuratehuntingload.
There's other factors to consider, and shootability is just one of thosedistinctions to recognize,that's all.
I agree with you on one level. But IMO what is more important than "shootability" is "Huntability". For me I want an accurate rifle, but that accuracy can be tempered by the "Huntability" of the rifle under the environment that the rifle will be used.
For example, I had an Omega that was incredibly accurate, but you could not get a second load down the barrel with a hammer. So I got rid of the rifle. The rifle had No "Huntability".
A 1 inch group at 100 yards is not real important if you are hunting in an are where you can never shoot over 50 yards. So for 50 yard shooting I prefer a short light weight firearm, but I would never consider a short light weight firearm when I am hunting in a large meadow. Tom.
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West by God Virginia.
We need to stop using these terms today, "Sniper Rifle", "Tactical", "Assault Weapon".
Rifle Accuracy Vs. Shootability
