Target shooting versus Precision shooting

[Mr Blu]

Is there really a difference between the shooting styles???

To my understanding, the following is true :

1) Both practices work to put a bullet exactly where the shooter wants.
2) Both practices fine tune the shooters skills in the fundamentals.
3) Both practices use "trial and error" with parts, loads, etc.

If all 3 statements are true, then what is different between the shooting styles???

I'm asking because I'm reloading .308cal for precision shooting with my Remington SPS and some of the powders recommended in the Lyman 49th ED describe many of said powders as "target" powders, with few to none of them being describes as "precision" powders.

Am I thinking about this too much, thus missing something???

[thegiff]

Target shooting usually implies shooting at paper targets at known distances off a bench. Precision shooting usually implies shooting at targets that may be paper, steel, or reactive, at unknown distances from various positions including prone, sitting, kneeling, off-hand (standing), off barricades, with time limits and so on.

[Mr Blu]

Target shooting usually implies shooting at paper targets at known distances off a bench. Precision shooting usually implies shooting at targets that may be paper, steel, or reactive, at unknown distances from various positions including prone, sitting, kneeling, off-hand (standing), off barricades, with time limits and so on.

That's not a big difference. The situation is the same.

You're at a range and shooting an inanimate object. With that in mind, would a "target" powder be just as good in a "precision" rifle???

[pakk]

When I hear precision, I think more along the lines of long range rifle. When I think target, I think it could be just about any time of shooting discipline as long as you are shooting at a target. Not hunting or SD.

[OpenSightsOnly]

My background is highpower/service rifle. For the most part, for me, target shooting is more known distance engagement while in position for a string of fire. Also rifles are normally iron-sighted, use a sling for support. The process of load development would be the same.

Is there really a difference between the shooting styles???

To my understanding, the following is true :

1) Both practices work to put a bullet exactly where the shooter wants.
2) Both practices fine tune the shooters skills in the fundamentals.
3) Both practices use "trial and error" with parts, loads, etc.

If all 3 statements are true, then what is different between the shooting styles???

I'm asking because I'm reloading .308cal for precision shooting with my Remington SPS and some of the powders recommended in the Lyman 49th ED describe many of said powders as "target" powders, with few to none of them being describes as "precision" powders.

Am I thinking about this too much, thus missing something???

[ocabj]

I'm taking a huge guess that when Lyman says 'target' and 'precision' powders, they equate 'target' as to recreational/fun shooting whereas 'precision' for critical shooting (e.g. any situation where you need the utmost accuracy and consistency).

[Raralith]

I'm taking a huge guess that when Lyman says 'target' and 'precision' powders, they equate 'target' as to recreational/fun shooting whereas 'precision' for critical shooting (e.g. any situation where you need the utmost accuracy and consistency).

My thoughts too. In terms of reloading, it's in the level of standards; e.g., 1.5 MOA would be "acceptable" for target but "unacceptable" for the 0.5 MOA precision.

[thegiff]

I looked through my Lyman 49 briefly and didn't find much mention between "precision" and "target" powders. Could be that the various sections and bits are written by different people who used the words interchangeably and not edited to be exactly the same throughout, so I personally wouldn't put too much stock in the difference between the two words there.

The manual gives in BOLD a potentially most accurate load, but elsewhere states that this may not be true for all guns and that a specific gun may prefer a different load entirely (page 62 under "selection of a propellant").

I think you would find a good level of accuracy with a wide selection of powders provided proper load development. I also suspect that many who are in the "precision rifle" discipline prefer powders that have a lower temperature coefficient so that their tuned loads don't go out of tune due to temperature swings either during the day or the season, and that in common conversation in the precision rifle arena, this is implicit in powder selection (Varget for instance is often preferred for .308 due to a lower change in velocity due to ammo temperature than Reloder 15).

I've heard recommendations to log the ammo temperature during long range load testing and developing tables (or using electronic tables) to compensate for velocity vs. density altitude throughout the day for powders that have a high temperature coefficient. If your load changes by more than 100fps or more during the day, this would be important for certain long range shots where the first hit counts. If you can walk the shots on target or take a bunch of sighters, then it isn't as much an issue as long as the load is still accurate (small group).

[bryant]

all shooting fundamentals on both target and precision shooting are same the only different between both are measurement. for target shooting .1 is acceptable but on precision shooting they required .01 minimum. target shooting they used silhouettes type target and precision shooting they used bullseye type target.

[Mr Blu]

I looked through my Lyman 49 briefly and didn't find much mention between "precision" and "target" powders. Could be that the various sections and bits are written by different people who used the words interchangeably and not edited to be exactly the same throughout, so I personally wouldn't put too much stock in the difference between the two words there.

I was thinking the same thing, but I still wanted to check.

I wanted to make sure target vs precision was/wasn't the same as range ammo vs Personal Defense ammo.

From what I'm being told, the disciplines are the same, but the intended results are different. Which is what I was hoping.

[krwada]

There is a HUGE World of difference between target shooting and precision shooting.

In general, target shooting can be any match shooting including those using military surplus firearms with open sights using ONLY factory ammo. Also, silhouette shooters and other off-hand shooters are classified in the target shooting category. In a lot of target shooting disciplines, there may be a shot timer present to measure the time of your shots... with the most accurate and the fastest in the leader board.

For example, Cowboy action, or SASS shooting is considered target shooting.

Precision shooting is not like this at all. In general, there are many forms of precision shooting. The most commonly heard of is benchrest shooting. In this case, usually all the firearms are full custom guns with precision reamed chambers. All of the ammunition is precision reloaded rounds using fully custom dies which are machined precisely to your firearm. Usually, in precision shooting, the standard reloading press is not used. In general, one uses an arbor press or a hammer to make their rounds. Also, in precision shooting, one typically will use wind flags to help dope the wind.
.25 MOA in precision shooting is guaranteed to get you in last place. You need to be at least 0.10 MOA or better just to get into the top 10 ... with the top five being in the 0.05 MOA inside the X ring.

[bombadillo]

Didn't you just ask the exact same thing here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=837279

[bombadillo]

And ultimately, I feel like we are all trying to do the exact same thing no matter what the shooting sport is. Shoot EXACTLY where we want it to go. If that means putting a bullet through the dead center of an X, or shooting a bullet through the same hole no matter where the POI is. You end up trying to do the same thing over and over, put a bullet exactly where you want, and shoot in that same place over and over, or maybe only once if you're shooting cowboy action or steel. Sometimes the exact spot you want it to go is a .224" sized hole, and sometimes it is a 10" circle if you're shooting USPSA. You pick the sport.

[CK_32]

IMO precision is steel, paper, everything at distances with perfect shot placement. In various types of shooting positions in the desert, range, fields anywhere

Target shooter to me strictly is at the range shooting paper only in prone or bench.