Read some firearm magazines occasionally.
Have I lost my mind? Perhaps ....... but; as to this discussion,
let's assume I'm still OK.
If you read nothing but airgun forums
and articles, etc., you'd clearly get the idea that "MOA"
(that's minute of angle and refers to a sector extending from
the muzzle out toward the target. One MOA converts closely to
1/2" groups c/c at 50 yards, 3/4" groups @ 75 yards,
1" groups c/c @ 100 yards.) ... you'd clearly get the idea
that MOA is really just everybody's "default" group
size and almost everybody can do much better daily. In fact, you'd
get the idea that, if you can't, you're almost alone.
You look through some airgun advertisements
and you'll read "shoots one hole groups @ 50 yards all day".
I get people telling me that so and so says they can shoot 1/4"
groups @ 50 yards regular and guarantee it ... not just for them
.... but FOR THE CUSTOMER!!! Evidently any customer - no matter
if they can shoot or not. ;?) You just gotta love it!!!
Let's step through the looking glass
into the world of firearms for a moment. I just got a new issue.
Let's quote a few comments. This will be from "Rifle"
magazine May 2002. I do not dispute anything I quote here.
Here's an add for the "World's
finest Rimfire Rifle" - shoots .400" @ 50 yards. (and
that is extremely fine)
Here's an article on a light weight
hunting rifle. "Accuracy ranged from just over 1" to
under 1.8" (that's @100 yds.)
Here's an article about new fine brand
name rimfires. The article shows a couple of targets. I assumed
(from the groups) they must be 100 yd targets. For some reason,
firearm magazines make you really work to find the range of posted
targets. Might be lightly penciled onto the target itself - usually
you have to read two pages to find out. I had to read three pages
and turn the leaf to find out these were 30 yard targets!! Accuracy
was listed in the caption as "fine accuracy" and in
the text it was stated as "at or below an inch at 25-30 yards".
Here's another that says that "it's
match grade barrel can deliver 1/2" groups at 50 yards".
Ok - that's enough to show the trend.
As I say - I don't dispute any of these claims. Nor do I say that
any are poor. I just seek to establish that a fine publication
states the above picture of the shooting world beyond airguns.
(Which just happens to be about 600 times as large). Companies
which are advertising their products as superior, proudly suggest
that their rifles can attain MOA or ever so slightly under. Articles
which display the best performance, show some targets which are
near MOA but mostly alittle over - between one and two MOA. Some
writer's experience tell them that several MOA is to be expected
from even nicely made rimfires.
Now, when it comes to time spent at
the range, I've told you before, it would do your heart some good
to look at the targets left on the backers when you post yours
over top of them. Those MOA rifles (remember - that's 1"
@ 100 yds), mostly leave targets behind that you couldn't cover
with a tea saucer (approx. 5"). Sometimes a dinner plate
(approx. 10"). So, next time you read an accuracy post, look
for a pic of the target too. If it's not there, ask why. If you
never see these wonder rifles show up in any tournaments, ask
why.
Yes, it takes quite a bit of time,
effort, and expense to maintain a website, the digital equipment
to bring you the details of a range session, the computers and
office equipment to compile and upload same. And, if you host
tournaments as we do, you can multiply all that several times.
That's standing behind your claims. Take note of what the shooting
world thinks is fine accuracy when you look at one of my posted
targets. Those targets are most often MOA and even 1/2 MOA. That's
why spotting scopes at the range occasionally end up focused on
my targets rather than straight ahead at the shooter's own targets.
People who actually shoot, know fine accuracy when they see it.
_
The "Alpine Class" is a Barnes
Muzzle loading PCP rifle shooting approx. 530 foot pounds in 45
caliber.
_