[Frisky]

Just what is accurate shooting? To a hunter, a head shot on a squirrel, halfway up a tree, is accurate shooting. To a trick shot, consistently hitting a quarter, tossed in the air, is accurate shooting. To a tournament shooter, consistently hitting a 4" steel plate, at ten meters, might be accurate shooting. For me, consistently hitting a variety of targets, at unknown ranges, is accurate shooting. However, I think we need a standard of accuracy. The international agreed upon distance for slingshot competition is ten meters. The most obiquitous slingshot target is the pop can. So, I say consistently hitting pop cans, at ten meters, is accurate shooting. What do you think?

 

[KawKan]

As you suggest, the standard for accuracy can vary depending on your goals.
But, just to be clear, a tournament shooter needs to consistently hit a .30mm (1-1/4 inches) to .40mm (1-1/2 inches) from 10 meters to get into the top 10.

 

[snydes]

As you suggest, the standard for accuracy can vary depending on your goals.
But, just to be clear, a tournament shooter needs to consistently hit a .30mm (1-1/4 inches) to .40mm (1-1/2 inches) from 10 meters to get into the top 10.

KawKan ... just curious, by "consistently" hit for a tournament shooter, are you talking practically every time or say, maybe half the time ? Does a good tournament shooter expect to get practically every one in a 40mm circle ? This is a great thread - I would love to hear for the target guys what they consider to be accurate. For me, I'm lucky to get 7/10 on a 60 mm circle at 10m - just can't get any more consistent than that no matter how much I practice.

 

[KawKan]

Forgive me if I'm stepping on the thread, but I will answer the question from @snydes .
In 2019 I finished 8th at ECST and 6th at SEST. But, not that well at the 10 meter knockdowns - the woods course saved me. Those were two good weekends for me - but I could have had a bad weekend, too.
That said, 50 percent consistency on 30-40mm disks should result in good tournament results. Your 70 percent consistency on the 60mm probably (all guesswork) translates to 50 percent on a 40mm, and 30 percent or so on a 30mm. So you might need 3 shots to knock down the 10 point target, meaning you have to leave at least 2 targets standing. That's competitive, maybe top 10, but probably probably not top 5.
At 2019 SEST the top 10 scores for 10 meter knockdowns ranged from 160 to 120 out of 200. Nobody shot a perfect total score, although I think there were several perfect rounds.
I like Matt Neyman's (You'll Shoot Yer Eye Out slingshots) discussion on tournament shooting strategy. It's in the last 2 minutes of this vid:

 

[Frisky]

Yes, I was reading about an international competition, where they start with an approx. 3.9" disk and shoot progressively smaller disks, with the smallest being about 1.6" at 10 meters. Being able to hit the little disk consistently would be super accuracy! However, to me, Rufus Hussey accuracy is the most impressive, as it comes at random distances and target sizes. In tournament shooting, you're shooting at a set distance, at set targets (except for a woods course) and you can practice on those targets and at 10 meters. So, you can develop accuracy at 10 meters but does that translate into accuracy on a pop can at an unknown distance, maybe somewhere around 27 yards?

 

[Grandpa Grumpy]

I think practicing at ten meters will translate into accuracy at other distances if you practice enough. At my house I have only enough room for targets at ten meters so that is what I shoot most of the time, but if I shoot somewhere I have more room it only takes a couple of shot to get accurate at longer distances. If you shoot enough your hand, eye and brain will automatically make any adjustments needed.

Also most tournaments in the U.S. have targets at ten meters and another at a longer distance.

 

[KawKan]

I understand what you are saying, @Frisky, but allow me a chance for some myth busting.
It is a myth that all the tournament shooting is from 10 meters. Also a myth that all tournament shooting is at known distances. It is a myth that shootings preparing for competition only shoot from 10 meters and at known targets.
Most that I know, like shooting just for fun, as well as competition.
Tournaments are set up in many different styles and combinations - one outgrowth of our lack of national sanctioning bodies. Most that I know of include a hunting/woods course. It usually features a big point pot. At the 2019 SEST, the 10-meter competition offered 200 possible points. So did the woods course (unknown distances, varying heights, varying target sizes). The 20-meter competition offered 50 points (known distance, paper target). The Variable Distance Challenge also offered 50 possible points (clay targets, unknown distances). So half the point total was available from targets at unknown distances.
Here's what the score sheet looked like.

And yes, proficiency at a hitting a target of known size and distance can translate, or at the very least contribute, to proficiency at hitting targets of unknown size and distances. Nine of the top 10 10-meter competitors finished in the top 10 on the woods course as well. Believe me, shooters like Nathan Masters and Bill Hays do not fall apart on the woods courses.
And prospective hunters are not wasting time shooting into a catchbox, although some stump shooting will certainly round out their skills.

 

[Frisky]

I'm still thinking, worldwide, 10 meters is the standard distance and a pop can, at least in North America, is the standard target, as most people don't have a disk setup. So, to be considered accurate (though not meeting the demands of tournament shooting) you'd have to consistently whack a pop can at 10 meters. That's pretty much what I'm thinking, lol! Also, that's an easy task once you get practicing.

 

[Maniac]

I agree with you Frisky... MOC accuracy @ 10 meters (Minute of Can), hitting 6 out of 10 shots and I'm feeling like Daniel Boone!

 

[High Desert Flipper]

I think everyone has their own definition of accuracy, and most are striving to get better. My two cents is that 10m is the accepted range for testing accuracy, although the soda can seems like a large, though popular, target. Like those who have chimed in above, I tournaments use smaller targets.

Here are a couple of amazing videos showing some incredible accuracy!

For me personally- I love bashing soda cans at 10, 15, 20, and 25 meters. I mix it up. Then I throw one on the ground and see how far I can bounce it out without missing three times in a row to do accuracy at different unknown distances or similar things like that.

As a standardized test I think the 10, 20, and 25m accuracy challenges hosted on this forum with standard target sizes are a great measure.

In the end, it is up to all to determine what level of accuracy is, how to measure it, how hard to work at achieving it, how to measure it, how to show the results, etc..

Some amazing shooters with some amazing shots on this forum, and a lot of fun working on making my accuracy better.


Videos of consecutive small target hits at 10+ meters.

 

[MakoPat]

Well, accuracy is very subjective... til it ain't. Haha...

Sure I am a can bashing fool. I am also very aware what's a good day for me may be a bad day for many. Doesn't stop my fun.

ISCOR has a standardized set of test. I hope to pass all one day. Nathan Masters has these goals for shooters to reference on Slingshot Mastery.com ... broad side of a barn, paper plate, a can, and then spinners... like those tournament sized spinners.


I've been doing a same sling challenge on paper to gauage and improve my accuracy... because shooting ia always fun, but hitting is more fun.

My goal is consistently hitting/grouping inside a 10cm (4") circle at 10m... but my bull's eye is 12mm (1/2") and hitting that feel awesome!

Day 5 and I hit the bull 2x... same day.


So no matter your accuracy and fun level... there's room for more.


Did anyone catch the 2 best Chinese shooters at 15m playing knockdown.

I'd wager half my collection those 2 guys are the best worldwide. They play slingshots like our professional athletes do thwir chosen sports. And while that's impressive... it ain't fun for me. But it may be for some folks.

Cans and stumps and targets of opportunity in the woods... Woooooooooo! Fun stuff. But we tend to forget about the misses and only remember the good shots.

So here is my 2 cents. Same frame and same ere'thing... on paper for a set period of time... AND a limited number of shots.

That 25 shots only with 15 in the circle goal... that makes me focus. I only have 25 shots! Instead a bag of ammo.

See it,
hit it.
I only have this shot.

And take pics. See your progress... or decline if you a slacker like me. Haha...

Great thread.

PS- 10m hitting 6/10 on a can is pretty darn good.

 

[High Desert Flipper]

There are some INCREDIBLE snipers out there. I am not one of them, but would bet none of them have more fun shooting than I do, especially when I hit!

 

[Frisky]

I'm thinking we need to up the bar on the cans. How about 7 out of ten, at 10 meters, is good accuracy, 8 is very good accuracy and 9 is excellent accuracy? A consistent 10 out of 10 is outstanding. How about that for a measure?

Joe

 

[snydes]

I'm thinking we need to up the bar on the cans. How about 7 out of ten, at 10 meters, is good accuracy, 8 is very good accuracy and 9 is excellent accuracy? A consistent 10 out of 10 is outstanding. How about that for a measure?

Joe

I like that - seems about right

 

[SteveJ]

I'm thinking we need to up the bar on the cans. How about 7 out of ten, at 10 meters, is good accuracy, 8 is very good accuracy and 9 is excellent accuracy? A consistent 10 out of 10 is outstanding. How about that for a measure?

Joe

Well, I put up a vid of a fellow named Philly who hit 14 in a row at 10M w/ bbs, he missed a couple after that but came out with I think 18 for 20 , In my thought , that s great can accuracy. But who know what would happen if he was shooting a 40 mm,,,, I think you have to "work at it" more than most,including me to hit a 40 like Ambrocious 35 times in a row, dont want to work, I already got a job lol

 

[Frisky]

I changed my mind. Maybe we should lower accuracy requirements by one can from what I wrote above. So, as another poster wrote, the start of good accuracy would be 6 cans out of 10. That would be more realistic for people with limited practice time.

 

[SteveJ]

I changed my mind. Maybe we should lower accuracy requirements by one can from what I wrote above. So, as another poster wrote, the start of good accuracy would be 6 cans out of 10. That would be more realistic for people with limited practice time.

I was told , and its proving true, if you want to get more accurate , shoot small too. Im shooting little toy army men, when you go back to shooting cans {my favorite} the cans seem to have got way bigger lol for real

 

[Frisky]

Yep! Aim small, miss small. Besides shooting smaller targets, I'd add shooting at longer distances makes it easier to shoot at closer targets, if you have also been mixing in some close-range shooting.

 

[Northerner]

I'm forced to shoot 28' all winter so when the warmer weather arrives I usually shoot 20 yards in the backyard. A pop can is my typical target and I feel good when achieving 50% hits or better. Some days I can manage quite well after a short warm-up. Other days I feel a little tired in the shoulders and I seem to shoot close but miss often. Strangely, on a bad day, switching to a different frame will sometimes improve my hit ratio.

 

[Frisky]

I think top accuracy requires form and an aiming process beyond instinctive. Consistent stance, draw, anchor, release and follow-through are a must. Once you have that down, developing a precise aiming method is a must. I just set up a can at 24 yards and hit it 5 shots in a row. I probably could have easily hit it 10 straight. I have consistent form, just like I was shooting a recurve, and I use the top of the fork as a sight. I place the fork tip in the same spot and hit the can each shot. You can easily do this at 10 meters and never miss a can.