Accuracy - new vrs old

[jack1955]

Had an interesting talk with a retired trapper and still active hunter. He said he has an old Savage 22 magnum that shoots as good today as it did when he got it some 50 years ago. It got me thinking that if a rifle that old using a very very limited variety of ammo that was available at that time was accurate enough for a person whose income dependended on more successful days than inaccurate ones why does it seem so many of todays 22 rifles appear to be so "accurate dependant" on the type of ammo they use or just not accurate at all, even with all the improvements in both technology and manufacturing techniques that have occurred over the past say 50 years.

Look forward to your thoughts.

 

[357Maximum]

I take his statement to mean it shoots the same as it did 50 years ago. Most trappers use firearms for close range dispatching of animals in their traps, not for long range varminting. I had a Marlin 22 mag bolt action 40 years ago that shot at best 2" at 50" with any ammo I could find.

Didn't own a 22 mag for 30 years because of that since then I've owned a Remington 597 HB and a Ruger American they will do under an inch sometimes at 100 yd.

My opinion is that we have access to more accurate 22 mag ammo then we did 50 years ago.

357

 

[Meobius]

I have a few 22s (l/lr not mag) that are 100+ years old, and they are just as picky with ammo as the modern ones.

 

[grauhanen]

Had an interesting talk with a retired trapper and still active hunter. He said he has an old Savage 22 magnum that shoots as good today as it did when he got it some 50 years ago. It got me thinking that if a rifle that old using a very very limited variety of ammo that was available at that time was accurate enough for a person whose income dependended on more successful days than inaccurate ones why does it seem so many of todays 22 rifles appear to be so "accurate dependant" on the type of ammo they use or just not accurate at all, even with all the improvements in both technology and manufacturing techniques that have occurred over the past say 50 years.

Look forward to your thoughts.

People often like to reminisce and let nostalgia colour their perceptions and memories of how good something used to be. Perhaps as we age we are more susceptible to this.

It's possible that some earlier models of rifles have enjoyed better reputations for accuracy than their current versions. That may have something to do with the quality consequences for rifle makers seeking to keep costs down. It's not possible to determine by anecdotal reports whether cost cutting or more modern manufacturing techniques have had a significant impact on accuracy. It would be necessary to shoot both old and newer rifles to compare results.

At the same time, 357Maximum makes a very good point. The accuracy needed by a trapper is not the same as target shooting accuracy. In any case, the .22WMR is not noted for excelling in the accuracy department. Why? There's no such thing as match ammo in 22 magnum (or 17HMR for that matter). That's why the magnum rimfire calibers always will take a back seat to .22LR in accuracy. It's always about the ammo.