What's your definition of a Precision rifle?

You can't just build it, or buy it, with the plan of beating on everyone in sight. There is no small group machine that you can crank the handle on and start winning. You still need to read the wind like everyone else, you need to be able to load perfect ammo, you still need to handle the gun in a repeatable fashion, you have to keep it in tune for the whole weekend. Plus dozens of other small things that would take forever to type.

Agreed 100%, which is why I added the "tweaking" part in my analogy. My point is, I personally consider these uber-precise BR rifles more like "bug-hole generating platforms" more than "rifles" ;). I wonder if you can even shoulder that railgun :eek:
 
Agreed 100%, which is why I added the "tweaking" part in my analogy. My point is, I personally consider these uber-precise BR rifles more like "bug-hole generating platforms" more than "rifles" ;). I wonder if you can even shoulder that railgun :eek:

Why would you want to shoulder it? That is like saying "sure Nascar is fast, but it is not much of car, since you can't put the whole family in and take them to the lake". Really now.... who cares if you can't go to the lake?
 
:popCorn:
Some interesting points of view encouraged by the OP. Precision rifles and riflery is whatever floats your boat.
A fellow sighting in his hunting rifle this past year initially couldn't get on the paper at 100m. He finally gets a group you couldn't cover with a saucer and packs up his kit to leave the range. Holds up his target,"That'll hit a deer in the guts!" Now THAT'S precision shooting if you've only been used to throwing rocks.
 
You are right Rick. Add to your list keeping everything on the gun tight and working properly! The wind and mirage this past weekend were very hard to read. Wind blowing one way mirage runnin the opposite. Only those who have shot short range B.R. can know how frustrating that can be. And anyone who has shot a rail gun in tough conditions that won't stay for more than two shots and then never appear again in 7 minutes knows how humbling firing a group of five can be. I can't wait for the 10 shot matches!!!!
And yes Calvin my heart rate can go pretty high, especially when I have to run my fat off from the line to the loading room and back with a set of allan wrenches!
What I did find was how well a rail gun will tell you if you have bad bullets, powder or primers or a loose barrel to action. Once you have good components and tune it will certainly teach you to never look away from your wind flags. It will also teach you patience and that if you think the flag is pretty close you should probably wait to shoot!
 
Why would you want to shoulder it? That is like saying "sure Nascar is fast, but it is not much of car, since you can't put the whole family in and take them to the lake". Really now.... who cares if you can't go to the lake?

Not the best comparison ;) It's more like in a battlefield: just because artillery can deliver a bomb where you want it doesn't make it a bomber aircraft, even though they, generally speaking, do the same thing: drop a bomb somewhere.

If you were shooting a precision rifle, you would want to shoulder it because a rifle, in my opinion, is something requiring substantial human involvement in terms of getting into position, controlling breathing, heartbeat, etc. I'd call what's used in BR more of a precision platform, like I said earlier.

Despite that, they both do the same thing: put a bullet where you aimed. :cool:
 
If you were shooting a precision rifle, you would want to shoulder it because a rifle, in my opinion, is something requiring substantial human involvement in terms of getting into position, controlling breathing, heartbeat, etc. I'd call what's used in BR more of a precision platform, like I said earlier.

You really should take in a BR match. There is substantially more to it than you think.
 
Bang on Rick

You really should take in a BR match. There is substantially more to it than you think.



The thing that the masses do not understand that close in this game is no good. It must be perfect to achieve results that the shortrange shooters look for.

It is not that easy. You can have that screamer going until your last shot and it is lost just like that. We all have had it happen.

Calvin
 
I'm not downplaying the difficulty in competing BR (I know how obsessive short range BR shooters are), but let me clarify my apprehension with the following friendly question: What aspects of shooting BR do not apply to another precision shooting discipline, F/TR for instance?
 
Father and son rigs

6 BR and .223 Rem XR 100, both very precise.
And X2 REDMAN from page one here, X2 Obtunded in general.

M.

ORAMay09intro005.jpg


Taken at Borden on intro day.
Top rifle .223 belongs to my 11 yr old. :eek:
 
I'm not downplaying the difficulty in competing BR (I know how obsessive short range BR shooters are), but let me clarify my apprehension with the following friendly question: What aspects of shooting BR do not apply to another precision shooting discipline, F/TR for instance?

Start a new thread if you want to compare BR to TR
 
Sixty years ago, precision rifles, recognizable as a rifle, were capable of about 1/2 moa accuracy. In most circles, those rifles would still be considered to be pretty darn good.
By thirty years ago fully portable, fire-from-the-shoulder rifles were capable of 1/4moa accuracy with the very best ones being quite a bit better than that. Today, the best rifles are somewhat better but mostly, shooter techniques have improved somewhat.
Most of the so-called "Tactical" rifles are pleasing to their owners when they deliver reliable 3/4 moa accuracy from the prone, rested position.
There has been a steady improvement of rifles used in "F" class competition as shooters got better. To the point that a rifle which was a consistent winner ten years ago is barely adequate now.
When any rifle performs as expected, it's precise enough to be gratifying to the shooter. If I fire a four inch five shot group at three hundred meters from my 35 Whelen, I'm tickled. A two inch group at the same distance from a model 70 308 is disappointing.
In general, 1/2moa is enough to make me happy when I'm shooting any practical rifle. In competition, I have to admit, only winning makes me happy; any rifle that doesn't perform well enough to produce a win in a given venue isn't precision enough. Regards, Bill
 
A precision rifle is a rifle built foremost for precision over other factors such as weight, handling, compactness etc. whether it's a built up semi-auto or a home made bolt action tube gun.
 
If cutting down trees, a chainsaw is a precision tool. However for performing open heart surgery, I think a scalpel would be more desirable.
If it's to put meat in the pot or wood on the wall,as long as it'll do the job it's intended for,I guess you could say it's a precision instrument.
Then there is the matter of personal preference and taste.Each to thier own ...
 
This is a very interesting & controvertial thread.

I would personally like to hear, what gratifying results Full Bore TR & International Palma rifle shooters, with thier choice micrometer adjustable, iron sights have accomplished lately on this forum.

Cheers........
 
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