Think about it, the X-10 ring of the NRA HP 1000 yard target is 20 inches. A 2 MOA rifle is capable of winning every match you shoot.
It's the SOFTWARE.
I disagree. If one checks out the facts, they'll agree with me. For example. . . . .
The very best long range prone competitors keep their sights moving around in an area on target about 1/2 to 3/4 MOA. These folks are the top 2 to 4 percent of all classified competitors; NRA High Master classification. Their heart's pumping blood which pulses the muscles attached to the bones supporting the rifle. The aiming point bounces up and down as well as a little bit sideways in a distorted figure 8 pattern. They've got excellent triggers and have excellent trigger control and can break most of their shots inside a 1/2 MOA area. This adds 1/4 to 3/8 MOA to whatever accuracy ability the rifle and ammo has to start with.
As nobody holds a rifle exactly the same way after reloading it for the next shot, there will be small differences in how its held. So how the body resists recoil while the bullet goes down the barrel will vary a bit. The bore axis at the muzzle won't always be at the same angle and amount relative to where the sights were when the cartridge fired for every shot. This adds another 1/4 to 1/2 MOA to the rifle + ammo capabilities.
When using metallic sights, one cannot see the wind changing its cross wind speed like using a scope permits. Crosswind's are not constant; they vary a bit. Missing a 1/2 MOA correction adds that to the horizontal spread the rifle and ammo accuracy permits.
The Garands 4.5 pound trigger spec for matches, that's pretty heavy to master consistantly from shot to shot. If you hand doesn't grip the stock firm and at the same trigger finger angle for each shot, it will add another 1/2 MOA to your group downrange.
So, with a 2 MOA Garand and ammo system, the best one can hope for is shooting inside a 3.5 MOA area on the target; 1.5 MOA larger than the hardware can produce. Outside its 20 inch 10 ring is the 30 inch 9 ring and 44 inch 8 ring.
The very best Garands, accuracy wise, will shoot just under 1 MOA at 1000 yards. With the above conditions, you'll put all your shots inside 2.5 MOA with a score in the high 190's for a 20-shot match. A 197 score at 1000 yards with a Garand will win virtually all service rifle matches.
Virtually all these same situations happen with a bolt gun and its ammo with 3/4 MOA accuracy at 1000 yards and a 1-pound or less trigger pull. And you'll put 99% of your shots inside the 20 inch 10 ring with good wind doping, position, trigger control and, of course, a little bit of luck. You may even shoot a perfect score of 200, but not very often.
One other thing to consider; the more accurate your rifle and ammo are, the easier it is to learn how to shoot well. Otherwise, you won't know if your last shot that struck 1 MOA away from where it was called was caused by the rifle-ammo system or you.
