For crying out loud!

[MartynB]

As for “ball ammunition”....

I thought ball referred to the propellant, it being flat disk shaped

[scrane]

maths. ... ?

[Geezer]

I thought ball referred to the propellant, it being flat disk shaped

Nope, it dates back to when muskets shot round balls. The name stuck - the first successful bullet for a rifle musket was called the Minie ball, even though it was a bullet, not a ball anymore.

[ballisticboy]

If a rifle consistency puts its pellets exactly where I've aimed them, and thus produces a small group at the ranges I need - I'm calling that rifle 'accurate'. More importantly by far, the people I'm writing for have the same working definition of 'accurate' as I do. In the real world, a rifle that can be relied upon to group its pellets consistently throughout its intended range will be known as an accurate rifle.

Accurate is as accurate does.

But what if that rifle consistently puts its pellets in a small group somewhere you are not aiming at, is it still accurate?

[snock]

But what if that rifle consistently puts its pellets in a small group somewhere you are not aiming at, is it still accurate?

Yes. Your sights are off, but the rifle will be consistent.

[JustinThyme]

Chimleys and windowscreen wipers

[SuffolkRifle]

Beach wood (unless referring to driftwood)
Though to be honest, most of the inappropriate/wrong words are down to 'auto-correct' on modern telephonic devices

[rhyslightnin]

Beach wood (unless referring to driftwood)
Though to be honest, most of the inappropriate/wrong words are down to 'auto-correct' on modern telephonic devices

Oh you mean that "(un)productive" text thing?!

[C.V]

Chimleys and windowscreen wipers

Skelingtons!!

[Ragle Jnr]

Brake barrel and muzzle break!

[Shed tuner]

Yes. Your sights are off, but the rifle will be consistent.

What if the "zero" moves around - rifle fault, not a scope fault ? So it shoots a nice 5mm group centred on the centre of the crosshairs one day, then the next it's another 5mm group but centred 1" high, then the following day it's 1" left, etc...

Is it still an "accurate" ?

A practical example of this might be a temp sensitive gun, where day to day temp variations might push the POI arround.. but on each day it still groups very tightly ? Accurate ? Not really...

[TenMetrePeter]

Is it still an "accurate" ?

Consistently inaccurate?

[Parabuteo]

Nope, it dates back to when muskets shot round balls. The name stuck - the first successful bullet for a rifle musket was called the Minie ball, even though it was a bullet, not a ball anymore.

Ball is a nomenclature used in the military to denote standard FMJ ammunition as against AP, API, Tracer etc. It is symolised as a solid yellow circle on packaging. Special Ball would usually be match loaded for mill contracts such as BH Mod 262

[ballisticboy]

Consistently inaccurate?

Not if you take group size as being accuracy, according to that definition it is still accurate.

[Airsporterman]

Whenever I hear someone say “Can I have a one” or “I would like a one” I can hear my late Dad’s voice mimicking his Schoolmaster booming out “It’s not a one or a two boy – it’s “Can I have one!”
Funny that innit?
(I miss my Dad and it been over 20 years now! Love you Dad and Mum! )

ASM