[Ted Bell]

accuracy and precision? Are these mutually exclusive terms? Is there overlap? Is an accurate rifle necessarily precise and vice versa?

[Midnight]

It's backwards from what we normally think of "accuracy" as. Accuracy is hitting the target (or hitting the center as an average of all your shots). Precision is all your shots hitting close to one another. I found a good pic on google (gasp!) that illustrates it:

http://bell.mma.edu/~jbouch/Glossary/Precision.html

[Midnight]

Oh, for the rest of your questions:
1. The terms are not mutually exclusive. You can have accuracy and precision in the same group (think tight group right on the bullseye)
2. I don't quite understand what you mean by overlap, but think you will answer it yourself after reading and looking at the picture I linked to.
3. Precision is a function of the rifle. Accuracy is a function of the shooter. You can have a precise rifle and not shoot it accurately. You can also shoot accurately with an imprecise rifle.

Making sense?

[Ted Bell]

Midnight:

Thanks for the link.

[gryphon]

Just for my edification, could we say that accuracy is "hitting the target aimed at" and precision is "hitting the target in a specific spot aimed at".

Example: I hit the full size target with every shot - accuracy
I hit the ten right of the full size target with every shot - precision

Does it sound like I'm understanding the concept?