Novice Shooters Deserve Accurate Rifles Too…
On some internet shooting forums, self-declared “experts” advise new rifle shooters to stick to low-end factory rifles. These “experts” (many of whom don’t own a single really accurate rifle), claim that it will take years for a new shooter to learn how to shoot a rifle accurately. So, the argument goes, the accuracy offered by a precision-chambered rifle, with a custom barrel, is “wasted” on a new shooter.
We disagree with that viewpoint, at least when it comes to rifles shot from a rest. We’ve seen relatively new shooters, with help from a skilled mentor, do remarkably well with precision rifles right from the start. With a good bench gun, many new shooters can shoot well under 1 MOA on the first day. Certainly it takes time for a complete novice to learn how to handle the gun and to work the trigger smoothly. However, this editor has personally seen some inexperienced shooters try their hand at benchrest shooting, and within few month they are doing very well indeed at club shoots.
Accurate Rifles Reward Progress As Novices Build Skills
For bench shooting, we think a highly accurate rifle is a much better training device for a new shooter than a typical, cheap factory sporter. With a gun capable of 1.5-2.0 MOA at best, you can never really determine if a “flyer” is you or the gun. Conversely, when a novice shoots a gun that can put 5 shots through one ragged hole, if a shot goes way high or low, the shooter knows his aim, trigger control, or gun-handling is to blame. He (or she) can then correct the problem. And when the shooter does everything right, he or she will see a nice tight group on the target. The accurate rifle provides more meaningful feedback and it rewards progress. That helps the novice become a better shooter in a shorter period of time.
A while back, Forum Member Preacher and his “bunny hugger” niece from California proved this point. The young lady, with almost no shooting experience, took Preacher’s 6-6.5×47 and shot a sub-quarter-MOA, 3-shot group at 350 yards. Don’t tell her she needs to stick to a cheap factory rifle. Preacher reports: “My niece flew in from the west coast and came up to visit. When she saw a few of my full-blown varmint rifles, she wanted to shoot one. She did a super job even if she IS a ‘bunny hugger’. She pulled the 1.5 ounce Jewell on a few fired cases to check out the trigger pull and then got in behind the gun and put three shots into a 350-yard target with a one-inch circle.” We measured her group at 0.822″ (0.224 MOA). Don’t tell Preacher that accuracy is “wasted” on novices. He joked: “I sure don’t want her shooting at me ….”
Rifle Features BAT Action, Krieger Barrel, and Russo Laminated Stock:
For those who are interested, Preacher’s rifle features a BAT 3-lug action, 30″ Krieger 7.5-twist heavy contour barrel, and Russo stock (with clear coat by Preacher). Chambered in 6-6.5×47 Lapua, this gun “shoots the 108gr Bergers very well” according to Preacher. Yep, we agree with that — even when a novice “bunny-hugger” does the trigger-pulling.
Similar Posts:
- Novice Shooters Learn Quickly with Truly Accurate Rifles
- Why New Shooters DO Learn Better with Very Accurate Rifles
- Russian Primers Perform for Preacher
- Sunday GunDay: Joe’s Ultra-Accurate 6mmBR Eliseo Tubegun
- Eliseo R5 Tubegun Shoots in the Ones with Factory 6BR Ammo
Tags: 6.5x47 Lapua, Novice, Preacher, Training
Pretty Niece. She may or may not outgrow hugging bunnies but she now knows she can shoot well. She couldn’t do that with a stock factory rifle. Maybe she will be back.
preacher was correct”
a new shooter should get the best equipment they can afford.
It makes sense to start with good equipment if:
IF you have a mentor who is as interested in your shooting as theirs.
If you have given enough consideration that is what you want to dedicate serious amounts of $$$$, blood sweat and tears.
I had a good friend that went with me to rifle matches for many year. He got interested in Hunter Bench Rest, and dropped two grand on a rifle and 6X scope, arbor press and dies, etc. Shot two matches, and then drifted off into other disciplines.
Rich
Two things:
I agree it’s time wasted shooting an inaccurate rifle but part of it assumes the novice shooter is going to shoot handloads, which is unlikely nor recommended without some experience. Help the new guys out and keep them interested.
Bunny-Hugger because she’s from CA? There are more firearm owners there than Texas. She’s more open minded than her Uncle. But he’s learning.
“On some internet shooting forums, self-declared “experts” advise new rifle shooters to stick to low-end factory rifles.”
I personally have never read any such statement but I don’t get around to many forums, just the best ones!;)
What is usually described as an explanation is that the novice is encouraged to buy what they can afford and work with an experienced shooter to see if they really want sink a ton of money, time and effort into the pursuit of accuracy. Never have I seen any mention of starting with “…a low end factory rifle…”
Then the encouragement enters into the discussion of reloading since that will play a significant role in this pursuit. These two points along with explanations about competitions, travel and preparations usually make up the large portion of the discussion. The pursuit of accuracy in any format requires dedication, time and money.
But if a novice wanted to make the attempt, I would loan them a rifle and reload for them while doing some mentoring before making any suggestion of buying anything.
Why not start out with a accurate .22?
You don’t have to have a multi thousand dollar Bleiker or Anschutz either.
There are plenty of reasonable priced target .22’s out there that will be more accurate than the shooter.
And after a few thousand rounds with a .22 you don’t have to replace the barrel either, but you should be a better shot after firing those rounds.
I’m with Kurz.
My ambition is to help folks who want to get involved with shooting. It doesn’t do me any good to have several nifty long range guns in my safe when somebody else can make use of them.
I have loaned out nice accurate rifles to new shooters, along with loading bunches of ammo to support them. They eventually decided to go with their own gear – which I helped them build. But they would probably not have taken the leap to get involved if no one had helped out with the gear. It’s a pretty heavy lift if you don’t know whether you’ll like doing it.
Incidentally – they both wound up with 6.5 CM since neither had the time or inclination to handload, and Hornady sells pretty good factory ammo for that caliber. No point in pushing them to get a gun they can’t support over the long term (ammo-wise).
I routinely put new and newer shooters behind my target rifles. Especially one 6mmBR I have. I know how the rifles shoot, so I can tell the shooter with confidence that if the hole doesn’t appear where he or she thinks it should, it is them, not the rifle or ammo. This makes it a useful learning tool because corrections can be made easily as they learn what they are doing. I had one young lady who had only ever shot an open sighted Mini-14 at 100 yds get behind this 6mmBR at the 600 yard line. With relatively little coaching she figured out how to make corrections and soon was pounding the 10 ring. Moved her to the 1K line and repeated process. Made for an enjoyable day and she became another happy shooter.
You can’t learn to be a 1/2 MOA shooter with 1 1/2 MOA rifle.
if you have crap a rifle and your new, how are you to learn to shoot if you don’t or can’t know if it’s you the rifle or the wind that’s responsible. I would say it’s the quickest way to to demoralise a new shooter