What is a "precision rifle"

the_dude306

the_dude306

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and how does it differ from a hunting rifle?

Is it the overall weight, is it the refined accuracy, is it the ability to shoot more then three rounds "accurately", is it bench only, is it a distance thing, only used to compete on paper only, or should it be able to kill an elk?

What gives?

some of the hunters don't think you can take "humane" shots at ### yards.

some of the precision shooters don't think XX groups at ### yards is all that "precise"

So what is a precision rifle?:redface:

What if I want my hunting rifle to be my precision rifle. What forum should I be asking questions in?
 
It is certainly possible to have a precision hunting rifle. Precision is having a firearm capable of placing that shot EXACTLY where you want it, as many times as your situation dictates. Hunters need to be able to place two or three shoots in quick succession. BR and F-Class need to handle as many as 20 shots and have them fall essentially in the same hole.

You can improve the accuracy of most factory guns with tweaking, but to create a fiream capable of producing precision results, you require a good barrel a properly cut chamber, ammunition tuned for the individual gun, and a sight that works for your application.

You will never become the best shooter you can be with a firearm that is not capable of precision and accuracy. If the gun can get the job done, then the reason for the shots not grouping are entirely you... you can always work on that. A ####ty gun is a ####ty gun.
 
MagnumPeanut said:
I was waiting for Obtunded to show, didn't take long either.
Click to expand...

It was actually some of Obtunded posts that got me thinking about it. I like his definition.

I would only add that it needs to do what you want it too when it is placed exactly where you want it...every time. that would allow for some interpretation for caliber and hunting.

Good show. I am still on the quest to figure out what I want my precision rifle to be. :confused:
 
I would add that a precision hunting rifle will place a cold bore shot right where you want it at any given range within the rifle and shooter's capabilities.

Some shooters and rifles are good for 300 yards....some rifles and shooters are good for 1300.
 
the_dude306 said:
It was actually some of Obtunded posts that got me thinking about it. I like his definition.

I would only add that it needs to do what you want it too when it is placed exactly where you want it...every time. that would allow for some interpretation for caliber and hunting.

Good show. I am still on the quest to figure out what I want my precision rifle to be. :confused:
Click to expand...

I want my rifle (factory Savage) to shoot sub 1/2 moa at 500 yards or less and sub moa at 1000 yards. Thats when I would consider it precise enough for me. If I had a true custom rifle(sling and bi-pod style) I would want sub 1/3 moa at under 500 yards and sub 3/4 at 1000 yards. I hope I can do that cheap enough:redface: Rookie shooter in the making here:D
 
Simple answer : A precision rifle is a rifle which is precise.

Alot of people don't understand the difference between Accuracy and Precision. Simply stated : Accuracy is the ability to place a bullet where you want it to go, while precision is the ability to shoot a small group.

The two work hand in hand. But you can't truely be accurate with out precision.

Precision is usually measured in Minutes Of Angle. Most custom rifles come with a guarantee of 1/2MOA with match grade ammo. So one could say that a precision rifle is capable of 1/2 MOA. From reading this forum, I gather that most hunting rifles are only ever capable of 1.5MOA. I have never seen it printed, but I imagine that most would consider a rifle capable of 1.0 MOA or better to be precise.

A precision rifle can easily double as a hunting rifle. However, most hunting rifles would be almost useless at a precision match.
 
I think a precesion rifle is what the individual person makes it out to be. For an average hunter, who takes 3 shots a week before hunting season starts, minute of animal is good enough. I have some friends who take 1 shot a week before the season and if that one shot is 1 1/2"-2" (roughly) high at 100 yards, that is precise enough for them. Then look at the BR shooters. They strive on trying to a shoot a group into one hole. And until that happens, it will never be accurate enough for them. I hunt with my rifle. I don't like when animals run. So I do a lot of head/neck shots. When I can place a bullet in the ear of a deer at 300-400 yards on a cold bore shot, then it's precise enough for me.
 
Being a hunter myself, I'm satisfied with MOA or less. Most of my shots are under 300 yards, so that sort of accuracy works for me. My hunting rig in .257 wby cost less than what some people spend on a scope, and when I do my part, I can put a group about an inch and a bit at 200 yards. Good enough for me if the holes are just touching.

That being said, even though I know my rifles fairly well, I don't have one that I'm going to shoot at anything beyond the 500 yard mark, ever. Thats where the precision rifle would come in.
 
JustBen, you have a realistic outlook and application for your rifle and that is excellent. I have a factory hunting rifle that only get hand-loads. That is the only tweaking it gets.

It is the people that want combination Moose, Gopher, benchrest, target rifles for under $1000 with optics that make me shake my head. ........And then people actually start making suggestions!!!!

We have created a factory sporter/hunter class in F-Class that has been tweaked to make the target easier to hit with a 1MOA gun, and it involves fewer shots, so that people are not toasting thier 270's. It is a terrific way for people to have fun with what they have and no pressure to spend money on more rifle.

Because it will be shot along side regular F, these participants will get to see how accuracy junkies feed their addictions, and you would be surprised at how easy it is to take a hunting rifle platform and convert it to a full-on customized rifle.
 
This is a good question as I'm not sure if I would class my 6mmBR (as shown) a hunting rifle or a precision rifle. I do shoot a lot more paper than critters with it. It has always had a match grade barrel on it, either a Maclennan or a Gaillard. I'm in the process of preparing my forth barrel at this time. This rifle with it's current 1:12 twist Gaillard barrel has shot groups ranging from 0.100 to 0.750 @ 100yds. the average group size will be appx. 0.35" @ 100 yds. Chances are the gun could shoot better if the shooter shot more.
Is this a precision rifle?
 
sako6br said:
This is a good question as I'm not sure if I would class my 6mmBR (as shown) a hunting rifle or a precision rifle. I do shoot a lot more paper than critters with it. It has always had a match grade barrel on it, either a Maclennan or a Gaillard. I'm in the process of preparing my forth barrel at this time. This rifle with it's current 1:12 twist Gaillard barrel has shot groups ranging from 0.100 to 0.750 @ 100yds. the average group size will be appx. 0.35" @ 100 yds. Chances are the gun could shoot better if the shooter shot more.
Is this a precision rifle?
Click to expand...

I don't mean to sound like a huge douche, but you are asking the forum if your rifle is a "precision" rig?? You just told us that it shoots .100 groups!!

In that case. No, it must shoot .099 groups to be labeled as " precesion ".
 
Just because a rifle has shot a 0.100 group does not mean the gun will shoot 0.100".
You need to count all the groups on the paper. Yes, that means all the big ones your not willing to show on this forum.
My rifle shoots 0.35" @ 100.
 
"the average group size will be appx. 0.35" @ 100 yds. Chances are the gun could shoot better if the shooter shot more"

Sounds like a very nice precision rifle. Funny how the rifle and shooter are judged together. We should all have a chance to put the rifle on a mechanical rest with zero movement in a still air enviroment and see what the rifle/load will do without the human factor. The rest would be up to us then:)
 
Man...If I could do that, it would take all the guess work out of load development.

Load em, shoot em, pick the best load and go. Then again, even flyers can land inside the group so a double check of repeability would still be in order.
 
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