Improving the Accuracy of Small Caliber Ammunition

-By Sanjay Soni, MD of Hughes Precision Manufacturing

Every time you pull the trigger a host of physical and environmental factors come into play, affecting the final outcome. To hit the mark consistently, you need a clear understanding of these factors.

If you have been involved with shooting, you’ve likely heard the terms "accuracy” and "precision” used a lot, probably even interchangeably. But do you really know the difference between accuracy and precision?

Let’s take a deeper look at these terms and why they are important. You can then use the knowledge to sharpen your shooting skills and improve the performance of your firearm.

Accuracy is perhaps the most widely used term of the two. It describes how close your shots are to the target. Seems simple enough, right?
Accuracy is important because you want to hit what you’re aiming at. This is always the goal and rings true for any discipline of shooting, be it pistol shooting, shotgunning, precision rifle or even self-defence.

While precision is of equal importance, it is measured differently. It is a measurement of how close multiple shots are. In other words, when shooting at your target, how close are your shots to each other?

This concept is also applied to any discipline of shooting, but as the name implies, it’s a major focus for precision rifle shooters.