Accuracy vs. precision

Walkalong said:

Oh, and I did not read the thread, since it will have all the same answers as the last 20 threads debating this.

Click to expand...

Maybe you should have. if you look at post #30, you will see I am part of the STEM bunch, but my eyes were opened to the differences in contextual definitions, and how both sides of the debate are right, depending on viewpoint.

I was talking about this to a friend yesterday,,,
Basically rehashing what has been said,,,
He made an interesting comment.

He said: "Sounds like accuracy is all about the human and precision is all about the rifle."

Just thought it was an interesting observation.

Aarond

.

Is this 3 (actually 4) shot at 300 yards accuracy or precision or just a snapshot in time

South Prairie Jim said:

Is this 3 shot at 300 yards accuracy or precision or just a snapshot in time

Click to expand...

The precision for those three shots appears good if you were aiming at the same point for all three shots. The accuracy can only be determined by you since you know where you where aiming and where you wanted the bullets to go. If the drawn cross on the target was your aim point and that is were you wanted the bullets to go then you accuracy has some modest room for improvement.

I usually put a couple clicks on so I don’t blow out my POA , cover holes with paper and reuse the target board.

aarondhgraham said:

He said: "Sounds like accuracy is all about the human and precision is all about the rifle."

Just thought it was an interesting observation.

Click to expand...

Yes, interesting, but neither precise nor accurate.

"there is no wrong answer"
That depends on what your definition of "is" is.

Perhaps we should just give everybody a participation trophy, and call it a day.

Well. Much like the debates over carbine and rifle and pistol and revolver...I'm not going to worry too much about being semantically correct. To each his own though. I just don't care enough to argue about it. If I say I found an accurate load or an accurate rifle in have confidence y'all know what I mean.

High accuracy, High precision, Big excuse


I was aiming high right


I mean if I shot it there I had to be aiming there......

My favorite is picturing a guy looking at his crappy target saying- geez I don’t know what happened, the computer said it was perfect

Accuracy is the state of being correct or precise so in a sense are they not the same

I am kind of surprised about how much meaning the smileys can add to a written post.

While using the words correct meaning is important in conveying your thoughts to others in text, the smileys can add tone, such as sarcasm, which is easy to miss.

But that might just be the 14 year old girl in me.

Frank Ettin said:

Sorry, but no, accuracy and precision are not in any sense the same.

You don't cite a source for your definition, but here we're really discussing technical terms and are interested in their proper, technical usages. So it's most appropriate to look to a technical source.

From the site Science Notes:

​

The CVs of the writers may be found here.

Click to expand...

Ahhh ‘
I’ just hit google and the Dictionary popped up says they are essentially the same but hey your the moderator

Mr Google strikes again.

Honey, we got any more of them participation trophys?

Frank Ettin said:

Part of understanding words and their meanings is understanding how to use them and how not to use them. A particular concept or idea isn't necessarily a part of every conversation.

On the other hand, accuracy and precision are different. If you mean "accuracy", use "accuracy." If you mean "precision" use "precision." Why use "accuracy" if you mean "precision"? Why use "precision" if you mean "accuracy"? If you don't know the difference, learn the difference. Not knowing something really isn't a virtue.

Confucius said, "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name." I'll opt for wisdom.

Click to expand...

I'm with you, Frank.

It must be nice to live in a world where one can wave away the proper definitions of words without worrying it may cost someone reputation, money, equipment or life.

Any STEM text or book on measurement system analysis will say that the terms have very distinct meanings.

Accuracy is the absence of bias. If the center of your group is at the point of aim, it is accurate, regardless of how big your group is.

Precision is measured by the standard deviation of the random error. The bigger the group, the bigger the standard deviation, and the less precise the system is.

My SKS is quite accurate, because those 4" groups at 100 yards are centered on the point of aim.

But we shooters have bastardized the technical language, and for the sake of good communication have to recognize that.

Worse yet is the example of a firearm seller who wants the buyer to sign a bill of sale. In the rest of the world, a bill of sale is a document that the seller provides to the buyer as proof of ownership.

Geez
What happened to reading Webster’s Dictionary.
J

South Prairie Jim said:

Geez
What happened to reading Webster’s Dictionary.
Maybe we are too into alternative facts these days.....
J

Click to expand...

In common speech Webster's Dictionary definition is good. And in common speech accuracy and precision are nearly interchangeable word, synonyms of each other. But in a technical setting/discussion like measuring the ability of a rifle to put a bullet were the shooters wants they have far more specific technical definitions. These definitions are not found in the dictionary but various technically documents. These technical definitions in this case have gained enough acceptance that they are commonly defined across the near entirety of the scientific, engineering and mathematical fields and the subjects they have bearing on, like ballistics.

Stress and strain are similar words. According to Webster in some contexts they are interchangeable words. To a material scientist or engineer they have very specific related but non-interchangeable definitions.

jmorris said:

Easiest one to answer all week.

ac·cu·ra·cy
/ˈakyərəsē/
noun

1. the quality or state of being correct or precise.

pre·ci·sion
/prəˈsiZHən/

noun

1. the quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
   

Click to expand...

I guess we are the minority here.
Oh well
Insert - smiley face