I read this forum quite a bit but primarily for it's entertainment value and on rare occasions feel compelled to post a comment. This is one of those times.
First the disclaimer: I do not profess to know all there is about accurate rifle shooting but am able to make at least some simple observations from what I've read and from my own experience of 33 years. It seems to me, that according to everything I've read on this forum, there are an infinite number of ball/patch/lube/load combinations that shoot "accurately" in an equally infinite number of different barrel types/calibers. So therefore it would have to be a simple conclusion based on the free accuracy information obtained from this forum, that a good to premium made barrel would, in all probability, although impractical, shoot to nearly one hole if it were tested clamped in some sort of a vice. Now, somebody said earlier that they got a different "best load" each and every time they went out to shoot. Well, what I am about to propose will likely step on some egos but there has been an obvious neglect of this one particular subject.....shooter ability (OUCH!). Yep, I just said it. And to prove my point, I challenge anyone to drill and tap that barrel, mount a 24X scope on it and shoot some groups. I'll bet you my favorite Indian head nickel that your groups will not only tighten dramatically but will become a heck of a lot more consistent and with a variety of loads too! No, I've never done this myself but an average amount of intelligence along with some good common sense should prove this theory without having to ruin anyone's favorite rifle, right? Therefore I think we can safely conclude that the major element that needs refining in our pursuit of some higher level of accuracy is learning how to better/more consistently shoot a rifle with open iron sights, or in other words, maintain a consistent sight picture every time. I believe this to be more critical than that elusive perfect load combination.
Some fellow said that Dutch's accuracy method referred to bench rest shooters rather than off hand shooters so it wasn't really relevant. I'll ask this: anybody who regulates their sights or works up a best load in the off hand/standing position, please raise their hand........I thought so. To the sloppy wet patch/no wipe shooters, the obvious reason there is a need for a sloppy wet patch is BECAUSE you don't wipe between shots and judging from the infinite number of "lube" concoctions I've read on this forum alone, just about anything at all will work....even some of that dark rum mentioned earlier. The "dry" patch (and of course it's not really dry) has no problem being loaded into a barrel that has been preconditioned with a simple wipe between shots. That's one wipe, in and out and that's all. Somebody else said that they didn't have time to "clean" their barrel between shots. The between shot wipe is NOT intended to "clean" but rather to maintain the barrels condition from one shot to the next. Remember that consistency thing? Likewise the no wipe method in essence achieves the same only with a progressively dirtier barrel, up to point I would suppose. It has already been mentioned (proven?) that there is no way a "dry" patch will go down a barrel that fouled. There's just a lot of funk being pushed down into that powder column. Three inch groups at 200 yards?? How many world records does this person hold!?
The Dutch Schultz accuracy method was intended to start anyone down the path to good rifle accuracy, not drop you off right at the front door.
