BehindBlueI's
Grandmaster
- Oct 3, 2012
- 26,608
- 113
I was waiting for someone to bring up accuracy vs. precision!Accuracy of a handgun depends on the target, the skill of the shooter, and the precision of the handgun. Accuracy is a measure of how close something is to its expected value (e.g. is a single shot in the bull, or the 9 ring). Precision is the measure of how closely multiple instances of something are relative to one another (e.g. a 1/2-inch grouping).
So, claiming that a handgun is "accurate" doesn't really say anything. The handgun itself is only capable of a certain degree of precision. I would hazard a guess that the precision of any given, modern handgun is well within the margin of error of the skill of almost any person holding the handgun.
Accuracy of a handgun depends on the target, the skill of the shooter, and the precision of the handgun. Accuracy is a measure of how close something is to its expected value (e.g. is a single shot in the bull, or the 9 ring). Precision is the measure of how closely multiple instances of something are relative to one another (e.g. a 1/2-inch grouping).
So, claiming that a handgun is "accurate" doesn't really say anything. The handgun itself is only capable of a certain degree of precision. I would hazard a guess that the precision of any given, modern handgun is well within the margin of error of the skill of almost any person holding the handgun.
I was waiting for someone to bring up accuracy vs. precision!
I am very precise. Just low-left.
So, would it be correct to say the person is an accurate shooter and the gun is a precision weapon? The words may be synonymous, but it has always bothered me to hear or read that a gun is accurate based on one person being able to shoot small groupings at a distance of 5-7 feet. Precise produces a sense of mechanical or technical measurement, removing personal skill from the determination.
I personally think that any modern quality handgun is more accurate than any person. Yeah some guns shoot worse and are harder to shoot but they are still more accurate. I don't hit nearly as well with some guns as I do others. It's just the user.