[Bavarian]

I'm new to the board and marvel at all the knowledge displayed here. I have several Mosin's including a M39. I've read several times where someone has described a rifle as a shooter. I enjoy shooting all of my rifles and am wondering if having a "shooter" means you don't shoot most of your rifles and only shoot a specific one or do you mean a shooter is a particularly accurate rifle? Thanks

 

[spitstickler]

If I can't/won't shoot it, I won't buy it...

But I think in general most people are referring to a gun that is miss-matched in someway or has had some modification performed to it that makes it not as collectable. (...It's just a shooter)

 

[crudos]

I've always thought of a shooter as a rifle probably not in the best of shape cosmetically anymore, but still puts the bullets where they are aimed. Maybe rough looking, but still shoot as well as something more minty. Just my thoughts on the subject.

 

[Vaarok]

Either a preferred rifle due to accuracy, or an unremarkable example in terms of collectability that nonetheless functions as it should and is not put at risk if used regularly.

Contrasted to a rare collectors piece which would be irreperable or irreplaceable if damaged through the course of normal use.

 

[Draybo]

Simple, not really..

... a "shooter" is for one, consistant in both function and accuracy (shooters sometimes out shine their peers). More so the former than the latter. A shooter shoulders like none of it's equals. It may have history beyond what we would like to know about or it may have no history at all. It may have a recent tale to tell about how it came to be in your possession.

It may well be "sportered" but fun to shoot none the less. You might even have to buy "factory" ammo for it.

The "shooter" in the group is the one you feel comfortable with. It's also the one you wouldn't be bothered too terribly much if it got another skratch or light dent.

It's the rifle you have far more time invested in than any such rifle of it's calibre or pedigree is worth .....but now it shoots where you aim it!! (WoHoo!!)

The "shooter" is the rifle you drag out when the kids or your friends come by for a friendly challange of "marksmanship"! Those rifles are heirlooms AND shooters!! **bigsmile** Or your buddies rifle you nickname "trigger" that's deadly accurate.

A "shooter" maybe one of those rifles that you had seen before on the rack of you favorite gunshop but had passed on it many times before. But! For some odd reason it found it's way home and low and behold the durn thing shoots to "point of aim" with those surplus loads that none of you other rifles do. Score!! It's a "shooter".

My .02 and I have a couple of "shooters" and very Thankful for the right and the blessings to have one or two of them!

Draybo : )

 

[Bavarian]

Draybo, that was down right eloquent. Thanks. I guess I have a shooter. I have an Izzy that isn't as accurate as the 39 but I really enjoy shooting it and it's not half bad in the accuracy dept. either.

I'd heard the term used several ways so wasn't clear about it. Thanks everybody.

 

[Tiglath-Pileser]

The antonyms of Shooter are

• A Wall-hanger
• THE Holy Grail of Collecting
• Broken

 

[biggs1deer]

Can't add nothing to this thread youall said it all.

 

[RH7777]

The term "shooter" when refering to a rifle is very subjective.

In our circles a "shooter" is one of two things.

A rifle that is not a collector piece but bought or used as a "shooter" meaning it was bought or kept to shoot not to collect.

The other time a rifle is called a "shooter" is when we test rifles for accuracy.

We test a LOT of Milsurps and when one stands out in accuracy it is usually quickly apparent that a particular rifle is a "shooter" meaning it is better than average rifle.

Often it is heard when a rifle is tested for the first time, "this rifle is a shooter" meaning it is exceptional and will be further tested for the long range work.

This is the only time we use "shooter".

I'm sure that others have other meanings for "shooter", but that is how it is in our neck of the woods.

So, if anyone uses the term, it may be well advised to have them define what "shooter" means to them.

 

[gun_lover]

Shooter to me is basically a 'run-of-the-mill' specimen of a particular rifle model. Nothing makes it unique or extremely collectable. It is likely mismatched but need not be. It can be special to the owner in terms of its accuracy or some other trait but to anyone else it's likely just another rifle.

 

[db2044]

Buy what you can shoot and shoot what you buy!
At least, that was the Golden Rule son and I established for collecting and rankings on the "want list".
I can say that other than a fine Belgian 12g cap lock, everything that has followed us home has had at least one trip to the range just to say we have shot it.

"Shooter" is a more pragmatic term indeed.
As the collection invariably grows, many have been demoted to the back of the cabinet only to see daylight when we get an itch to take something not used in a long while.
The selections on the "favorites" or "shooter" list are the ones that always get packed for the regular range trip whether or not we get to them that day.

Not all milsurps are shooters but, don't consign it to wall hanging or dust collecting in the cabinet until it has been properly cleaned, tuned and tweaked up a bit to discover the full potential.
Even for the ones not on our "shooter" list, they have all be subjected to an extreme clean bore conditioning and MolyFusion treatment. All have been lapped and the crowns buffed out. Many got a little trigger polishing and work to smooth them out a bit.
Not surprisingly, some that were thought to be a bit rough to be "shooters" turned out to be extremely accurate with a little TLC. Can't say I have any in the collection unworthy of burning powder now and then. It's just a matter of which are our regular favorites and what we have ammo available for.
Even the M35, M44 and New England Westinghouse M91 get a workout now and then with quite satisfactory results.

Son has laid claim to the '70 M39 as his "shooter" having decided to return my '47 Springfield M1 although, when we have a stock of 8mm, the Hakim is always his second choice.
I often have difficulty choosing a "shooter" for the week and mostly concentrate on fine tuning my custom jobs and long range rifles.