Amazed by folks who think $$$ make them better shots

[Salty RI]

I had a young guy ask me one time if he bought a $900.00 reel would it make him a better fisherman, he was a nice kid with a good job, he worked at the Twin Towers, I never saw him after 9/11.

 

[wbraswell]

Machines, especially modified machines need proper troubleshooting. With target rifles, a very good rest can make quite a difference.
I could beat Tiger Woods at golf, if I could find a ball that goes straight.

 

[Photog]

This is why we have AR's and 1911's that can cost 5-6K. I always laugh at those shooters who buy a perfectly good firearm and before they even fire one shot out of it, they send it to a custom gunsmith for all the bells and whistles. When it comes back they say how good it shoots, feeds, etc. The only problem is they have no idea if it may have shot as good, or had no feeding problems before they sent it to the smith and spent all that money. For me, new sights if necessary, some cosmetic, or ergonomic changes that make me more comfortable, and then spend the rest on ammo.

 

[smutt]

I bow to your mastery, then.
Unless of course you measure your groups in yards, as well.

MR-1 Target, prone of course. Sometimes the fun part is being the spotter and watching the "Undulating Donut of Death" hit it's mark. Being in the 'pits' can suck sometimes, especially when your new to target marking. (slow, slow, slow) Remember, bow to no one, it's an obama thing.

 

[smutt]

I could beat Tiger Woods at golf, if I could find a ball that goes straight.

I'm stealing this.

 

[smutt]

I believe he didn't want anyone else to shoot his Les Baer so that he could keep on blaming the gun.

I can not over stress the importance of employing the fundamentals of marksmanship. I always try to make absolutely sure I'm doing the basics right, from there everything else is easy.

How true. Although I remember what went through my head the first time I shot my 'new to me' used Les Baer. "This gun is way better than I am." Needless to say, that gun goes nowhere until I leave this world, and only because I can't take it with me.

 

[brucev]

Re: OP. Yet! Some folks try to buy the results that only come by practice. When I started shooting vintage military rifle matches I used a Remington made 1903 (1942) rebarrelled w/ a High Standard 1944 barrel. The stock has numerous cracks/flaws. I call it... Crack Baby! Crack Baby practices w/ cast lead handloads using 8.0 gr. of Unique pistol powder. This load runs about like a .22 LR round. Friends call this practice match load "Sidewinder Missiles" since in really cold weather the round will sometimes hit the paper sideways. I like 'em! Sideways gives me an advantage. Cool! The rifle averages 96.9 for 10 shot strings fired slow fire at 100 yds. prone.

On a number of occasions I have arrived at a match, pulled Crack Baby out of the case and heard people make comments, etc. Some of them are shooting rifles and ammunition that cost really big bucks. Due to their lack of practice, they end up with low, sometimes really low scores. Some time spent practicing would really pay off with better scores. Of course, you can't buy practice bucks. The coin of that realm is sweat and hard work. Happily that is something everyone can afford. Cool!

 

[snubbyfan]

I've been to the range with people with the latest tactical this and kydex that. They don't generally have much to say afterwards after getting outshot by a gimpy Injun with a dao J frame snubby.

 

[jarhead1178]

I keep all my sd guns stock. At 10 to 15yds I don't need fancy sights
or triggers. All I know is the old springfield m1 had in Korea was stock all the way and kept me alive. o

 

[Old TexMex]

I've seen a lot of that, duck and deer hunting. Most of the hunters had very expensive stuff. Exotic caliber rifles, beautiful O/U shotguns.
Usually pretty good tippers if I was careful not to get all condescending when they couldn't hit a bull in the --- with a bass fiddle.
Equipment will seldom hold a novice back.
The ones that annoy me are the fellows that know everything about equipment and next to nothing about how to use it in the field.
Like having a Rolex and not being able to tell time.

 

[Eugene 9mm]

Accuracy - YouTube

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I have always just figured since I don't buy faulty equipment I must be doing something wrong.

 

[kamloops67]

all these things are true ,but sometimes if you dont spend the money youll be left behind.
i have two uberti rifles one is slicked out and short stroked ,the other is stock .the slicked out rifle is much quicker through a stage.
i dont see much difference when i use a slicked up sa revolver though, my stock rugers are fine .

 

[DeadAye]

I guess I believe you when you say a LOT OF $$$$$$$$$ won't make me a better shot === But I'd sure like to give it a try

 

[RonJ]

I traded up 3 Nikons before I was happy. Not with the pics, just the camera. I'm almost sure I'll be happy after I trade up a couple more lenses. I haven't made any photos yet.
So I'm sure a five thousand dollar rifle will outshoot any eight hundred rifle. At least in my mind.

 

[Freeway]

Having a firearm makes you a marksman just like having a guitar makes you a musician.

I held a guitar once... the sounds that came out were definitely NOT music!

 

[Freeway]

Last range trip, there were a couple guys sitting and firing long barreled revolvers, single action, from a rest at a paper target that was a whopping 20 feet away.

I was standing and shooting my DAO S&W .38 snubby at 20 yards to verify POI and check the accuracy.

Our groups were remarkably similar in size.

Picking up new glasses today. Hopefully, I can see a target at 20 yards that isn't blurry!

 

[deadin]

A higher $$$ gun doesn't always mean a higher quality gun, however, it usually does with target guns. A higher quality gun may not make you a better shot, but it shouldn't make you a worse one. The one thing it does do is take away the excuse that your large groups are the fault of the gun........

 

[blujax01]

I am continually amazed by people who think spending more money makes them better shots. ...Sorry, I was just compelled to wonder about some peoples logic.

I take it you're not a golfer??

 

[Mydogmax]

"This gun is way better than I am." Needless to say, that gun goes nowhere until I leave this world, and only because I can't take it with me.

You absolutely sure about that ?

 

[carpriver]

I have cheap guns and just found out it the target I buy that are the problems.

Some times it help to have your eyes checked, and to clean your shooting glasses.

 

[L Pete]

I am continually amazed by people who think spending more money makes them better shots. I know a guy locally who just spent a bunch of cash on an OR and accessories. He's shot it maybe twice and traded it off at a huge lose, because he zeroed it and the next time he went shooting, it appeared the zero was off. Never had someone else try it, never had someone check the scope and mounts, just decided because he couldn't hit water when falling out of a boat that it had to be the rifle. I've watched him shoot on several occasions and can tell you, a basic rifle marksmanship course wouldn't hurt. Myself and others have tried to help, but it seems lost on him. He is just one of those folks that thinks spending a lot will make you a better shot, but I'm convinced a lack of basic skills won't make an expensive firearm shoot any better than an inexpensive one.

Sorry, I was just compelled to wonder about some peoples logic.

Good Luck and good shooting.

You know the saying, "A fool and his money"

 

[Kanewpadle]

Have him use a $100 bill as a target.

Maybe he will shoot better.

 

[shlike]

I see the same thing on the golf course.I think my wardrobe is one notch above Bill Murray's.The ball doesn't care how much my pants or shirt cost.

A little off topic...I guess you had to be there to appreciate it.

You could give me the best set of Ping's that money can buy and I'd still be a lousy golfer. On the other hand, give Tiger Woods a 7 iron and a putter and he could still break par with only those 2 clubs.

Same thing with guns, as has been said by other in this thread.

 

[deadin]

Same thing with guns, as has been said by other in this thread.

Then why do the world's top shots spend big money on their competition guns?

 

[kamloops67]

i have a 100 year old new service .455 and a brazilian contract 1917.both look like they have been through a war...(duh) both will shoot as well as anybody's gun on target night , and thats with fixed sights .
my m-14 will clean up on them both though, but it takes a steady hand to see the difference.
if i ever see the day i can outshoot my m-14 ill happily buy the newest bestest whiz bang pistol, but that probably wont happen this lifetime.

 

[deadin]

Silly question.... How will you know if you are outshooting your M14 if you don't have whiz-bang to compare it to??

 

[gunny4053]

I take it you're not a golfer??

I don't play golf, I play at it. If we were in a foursome and someone ask "what's yer handicap", everyone would point at me. Of course I play with a set of clubs I picked up at a yard sale for about $10. Maybe those Pings would make me better.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I read in American Handgunner years ago, one of the top shots and handgun instructors said he told new shooters to budget say $600 -buy a good DA 38, a good supply of ammo-and a reloading kit.

 

[labworm]

You can walk into a pool hall with a $2,000 cue stick and $500.00 in your wallet.

Play a guy using a house stick and leave with your $2,000 stick and empty wallet.