NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Sextant accuracy (was : Plumb-line horizon vs. geocentric horizon)
From: Jared Sherman
Date: 2005 Feb 13, 15:31 -0500
From: Jared Sherman
Date: 2005 Feb 13, 15:31 -0500
Frank-Yes and no. These are examples, not meant as Talmudic pilpul. A "steady hand" will give you a grouping of two inches. The mechanical differences in each cartridge will cause changes, as will the heating of the rifle barrel. Can I suffice to say it becomes an exercise in the esoterics of rocket science and metallurgy and machining equal to that of a fine watchmaker without going further off-topic? (And feel free to email me off-list about that if you'd like, competition shooting like celestial nav, either intrigues or bores. ) From a bench rest, with the rifle clamped and fixed in position, with competition match-grade ammunition and rifle, a 1/2" group at 100 yards would still be considered competition grade shooting. Centering on the target is something else again, group sizes are measured across the group--not to the center of the target. The group is often not in the center of the target, that's something esle again. Good vision certainly helps, but you'll find many people who say crack marksmen don't need good vision, they must be using telekenesis because there's simply NO WAY they can see what they are hitting! The target is often totally obscured by the front sight post. <> From which we can conclude? 1-The web is just the web, reliability varies. (or) 2-There's something wrong with your eyes, or rulers. (or) 3-YOU'RE AN ALIEN! Quickly, call Fox5! (Very big grin!)