by Jim Kerrigan

Created on: June 20, 2010

Accuracy is no mystery; the issues with accuracy were worked out a long time ago. But before we came get accuracy we have to dissect the parts of the process that add up to accuracy. The list in brief is: Precision of the weapon, consistency of case, powder and projectile, Shooter flinch, precision of the sight or sighting radius.

Precision of the weapon: The precision of anything is its ability to reproduce the same or similar result. Weapons fire bullets; Bullets hit a large target; if the weapon is bolted down in a rest removing all shooter issues the question to ask is how big the group is. If the grouping of several rounds fired through the weapon does not result in a tight group then stop! The weapon ammo combo that you are testing isn’t precise therefore it will never be accurate. You can however try different ammo until you achieve precision. Once precision is achieved then the sights or quick point or scope can be dialed in to allow the shooter to choose the point of impact. Without precision no sight or scope will improve anything.

Consistency of case, powder and projectile: From the paragraph above it should be clear that ammo that is inconsistent with regard to velocity (Feet per second) will not put bullets into the same point of impact. Different cases, the case defines the amount of air that is mixed with the powder. Wildly divergent cases will produce different pressures; different pressures will create different velocities; different velocities produce different points of impact.

Different powders: Have the same effect on accuracy as cases do because they are the fuel component of the gas production within the case that drives the bullet. Different bullets change the weight of the projectile being driven which changes the resistance and therefore changes velocity, pressure and point of impact.

Shooter flinch, If the weapon shoots to a tight point of impact on a rest and will not do so when you fire it freehand; the problem is you not the weapon. With auto loading pistols this is noticed the most; small handed people sometimes have auto pistols and auto loading rifles and shotguns jam because they do not provide strong enough resistance to allow the action to function. I have seen slight people have a gun jam continually while a stronger person can fire the same gun without mishap. Shooter flinch can also manifest in “flyers” a tight group at the point of impact with a solitary stray bullet away from the group. Constant flinch results in a weapon that shoots to the same point of impact on a bench but doesn’t off the shooters shoulder.    

Precision of the sight radius the last point of accuracy is the ability of the sight to allow the shooter to pick the point of impact. The further the front sight is from the back the better. Ring and post have proven to be the most precise. Long horn open lever sights the worst (They have a problem discerning vertical). Optics when properly mounted can improve the accuracy but only when these other issues have been taken care of.

In short if you want an accurate long range weapon system then that is what you have to develop. The weapon and ammo combination tested to achieve maximum precision and not necessarily maximum velocity. Coupled with a sighting system that allows the shooter do discern vertical and horizontal sharply. Lastly, shooting technique has to be as consistent as everything else. Vary anyone of these and your accuracy will go out the window.

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