what does "accurate out of the box" mean to you?

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dadof6

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I have read numerous posts here and elsewhere, as well as 'gun reviews' in various places and usually the term, 'accurate out of the box' or something like that is used. Usually though, there is no qualification of what that means. So I thought I would ask all of you what it means to you, when you've purchased a new firearm and take it for its maiden voyage, and you find it is 'accurate out of the box' what do you mean by that?

What does accurate mean to you? please specifiy long gun or hand gun...

thanks.
 
I take it to mean that the gun has a decent trigger, is well put together, is sighted in from the factory, and is ready for the field without needing a gunsmith or aftermarket parts to make it shoot well. This would have to include needing a scope mounted.

Honestly, it means the manufacturer did their job. Beyond that, it really doesn't mean anything.
 
Accuracy...

Dad of 6--You said,
What does accurate mean to you?
And I have to respond, "it depends." Now, for a target-competition rifle, accuracy needs to be of the one-hole-at-100-yd variety, and that hole had better be rather small, and we're talking 10-shot groups here. A rimfire competition rifle will open up a bit @ 100 yd, but it had better not open up much if it wants to stay in my arsenal. For benchrest competition, a rifle that can't hold 0.25 MOA or so is useless. For a hunting rifle, 1.5 MOA is acceptable, although I'd prefer tighter than that. Same goes for a plinking rifle. For a handgun, it hardly matters at my skill level, but let's say for the sake of argument, a handgun needs to be capable of putting 10 shots in a row, into the x-ring, in slow fire. (Understand, I am not that capable, but it's me that is the limiting factor, not the handgun.)

With a shotgun, again, my skill is the limiting factor, and IMHO, the fit of the shotgun to the shooter is more important than the shotgun's "accuracy" in hitting game or breaking clay birds. With slugs, a shotgun just becomes another kind of hunting rifle, and the rules for those apply.

Any of the above might be that accurate, out of the box, or might be made that accurate, with tweaking by the owner. I don't buy many brand-new firearms, so most of mine get tweaked, either before I bought 'em or after.
 
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If you are woodchuck hunting and the furthest shot you will take is twelve to twenty feet, then accurate could mean about a 2" diamter group at 20 feet. Multiply that times five to get how accurate at 100 feet and you are talking a 10" group at 100 feet. Now, multiply that by 3 to make the 100 feet 100 yards and you are talking a 30" group at 100 yards (60" group, or five feet, at 200 yards).

So, you see, it is all relative.

Depending on just what you are shooting and at what distances makes all the difference in the world!

If the gun is for protection and the furthest you will be shooting is average room size (call it 10 feet), then as long as you can shoot a 1" group at 10 feet, you could likely hit the CNS of a bad guy who happened to pick your house while you are in it!

One must consider just what it is they are using the gun for and distances involved to know whether the gun is satisfactory for your purposes or it isn't!
 
Q: what does "accurate out of the box" mean to you?

A: That you are more likely to hit your target firing the gun after you take it out of the box.

It doesn't really mean much more than that.
 
Q: what does "accurate out of the box" mean to you?

A: That you are more likely to hit your target firing the gun after you take it out of the box.

It doesn't really mean much more than that.
You must also put ammo in it before it will be accurate.

So:
1) Remove from box.
2) take to hunting location.
3) make sure the barrel has no obstructions and that rounds cycle in the action.
4) shoot.
5) if more accuracy is needed than "out of the box" accuracy, look into a better scope, glass bedding, trigger job, free-floating the barrel, etc.

There, simple, eh?

I wonder if we could create something called "in-the-box-accuracy"!
A self-contained unit that you just shoot while it is still in the box, for those who have no patience and for those who are concerned about filling up landfills.
 
What does "accurate out of the box" mean when it comes in the box with no sights?
 
Accuracy is more the shooter than the gun. My guess is "accurate out of the box", mostly refers to guns that can be shot "well" my a larger majority of people...
 
"Silver dollar at a Grand"......sorry quote from Shooter and I had to ;)

But to me accuracy out of the box is MOA, for rifles

For pistols 1.5" at 15 yds (easy for me to remember)

For my scattergun it's a limit of dove in an hour.....but maybe that has more to do with me :neener:
 
"Accurate out of the box" normally needs to be qualified as part of the same statement/opinion. Unless stated, for a rifle it normally means center fire 1 MOA at normal ranges such as 100 yds. With 22 rifles, it normally means in 2 MOA or about an inch-group at 50 yards on average. I have no idea what it means with a handgun other than the accuracy is on average good out of the box without any smithing. I read magazine articles where a few inch group size is accurate with a handgun.

What does it mean to you, Dadof2?

I used to use the terminology you mention, but of late I am qualifying it at least as being "on average, accurate out of the box" since you can always get a bad one. A Ruger 10/22 is a good reference point as many who like them say they are accurate. I have not found them to be highly accurate, but they are fun and reliable. Mine will however shoot about 1" groups at 50 yds, so it is by my definition "accurate out of the box" but many do not have this experience without gunsmithing.
 
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It means, "They paid good money for our review so we better copypasta this in there."

In reality, it means with a skilled shooter it performs to expectations. Example: my Beretta. I almost got rid of it because I couldn't hit the wind with it. Then I was shown how to shoot it, and viola! it goes where it's supposed to now.
 
Example: my Beretta. I almost got rid of it because I couldn't hit the wind with it. Then I was shown how to shoot it, and viola! it goes where it's supposed to now.

My point exactly. I had the same problem with my xD-M of all things.... I thought it was "not accurate"..... Ended up with 1" groups at 10 yards once I was educated.
 
my idea of accuracy is

depends.... on the level of quality of the firearm. Certain good to high quality rifles should do about 1 moa from a rest - trying to factor out shooter influence.

Handgun - I would like to see revolvers do 1" at 10 yrds, semi-autos 3" or less at 10 yards (for a mass-produced, general market kind of auto). For tuned 1911's and some others more dedicated to precision, obviously smaller.

I just read so many posts about how 'accurate' a gun is when someone first takes it out, but usually don't hear about the qualifications of accuracy.

And i agree with the post above about learning how to shoot a particular gun. I think I am running into that with my Sig and FNP (both 45's). I can do 4" at 10 yards two hands, sometimes better. But I think in my case it is about shooter's lack of knowledge and skill, and maybe cheepo ammo (all I can afford except for reloading).

And ammo of course, makes a difference. Blaster ammo vs. match stuff.

My standard M1A will shoot 1 moa with decent mil surp ammo. However, I have a bunch of junky stuff that will not do better than 5 or 6" at 100 yds. Definately Zombie attack ammo!
 
I read an article a few days ago in which all rifles were accurate out of the box to include the Savage Edge. Supposedly all rifles manufactured now shoot moa or better regardless of the price. Those that do not shoot moa are due to human error shooting the rifle at the time. The manufacturing process of modern times makes all of them accurate.
 
Years ago, and I mean back in the 1960's a Remington rep told me that a 4 inch group at 100 yards was within factory acceptable tolerances with factory ammo. Guess that tells ya how much consumer have come to demand.
 
Out of the box accuracy to me means what the rifle is capable of straight out of the box with no effort on the part of the shooter/purchase beyond cleaning the bore and adding a scope. The out of the box accuracy can be excellent/acceptable/adequate/poor/very poor/totally unacceptable...

If you ask me what would be acceptable out of the box accuracy (in my opinion) my answer would be: off of sandbags at 100 yards I would expect a heavy barrel varmint rifle to be capable of 0.75 moa, hunting rifles 1 moa, anything competition grade better be closer to 0.5 MOA than 0.75 MOA.

I good .22 should be capable of 1 moa at 25 yards with match grade ammunition.
 
I think "out of the box" is key here. I have heard some say that a firearm needed "this" and then was accurate. Once I modify it any any way it is not meant to be it is not "out of the box" anymore. If it has an adjustable trigger, and I adjust that, it is not a mod. If it has a scope, and I need to sight it in, that is fine too. But if I have to bed it, replace a part, or modify (even if it is a polish job) it is modified not factory.

My standard as a guy who has been spoiled on getting good guns

Rifles- 1"@100yds
Shotguns (I only shoot slugs)- 2"@100yds (rifled) 2"@50yds (smooth)
Handgun- No clue I am not good enough to know.
 
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