Preoccupation with Inconsequential Increments

[3325]

Are you guilty of PII?

"A couple of years ago we coined the appellation, "Preoccupation with Inconsequential Increments," or PII. This peculiarity lies in attributing importance to measurable deviations so small as to be meaningless. You see it in the people who shoot test groups in rifles, awarding a prize to a group which is only thousandths of an inch smaller than those unrewarded. One sees it in speed records awarded in one-thousandths of one mile-per-hour. One sees it in basketball scores which, nearing the century mark, are separated by less than three points. In all such cases Score A is "better" than Score B, but who cares?

An increment may be termed inconsequential when it has no significant relationship to the purpose of the exercise. Of course if the purpose of the exercise is in itself inconsequential some may not think this to be foolish. A very distinguished general at Quantico once caused the sign to be placed over the exit door of every office asking, in brilliant scarlet and gold, "What are you trying to do?" There was a man who knew more about human nature than most." - Jeff Cooper

 

[3325]

"In rifle work group size is of some interest, but it is by no means the critical consideration that some commentators seem to deem it. It is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots. A tight group is nice, but one must not fall into the error of PII (Preoccupation with Inconsequential Increments). I have shot a great deal in a long shooting life, and I have only once encountered a rifle that would not shoot better than I could shoot it. (That was a 32-20 lever gun which had been allowed to rust and then scraped out. In getting the rust out of the barrel, most of the rifling went along with it.)

Group size is unimportant, unless it is very bad. If you can hit a dinner plate, first shot, every time, under all conditions, at 100, that will do." - Jeff Cooper

 

[3325]

"As the decades pass and my studies pile up, I find that the old sin of PII (Preoccupation with Inconsequential Increments) is a besetting fault of most field marksmen. The hunter has a duty to himself to secure a clean, one-shot kill every time he fires. This will not always be possible, but it can certainly be his goal. If you are not sure of a clean hit, best pass up the shot. By practicing on a field range (not off a shooting bench), you will establish what your hitting capacity is - particularly under conditions of stress. Shooting for blood is always a stressful act, whether in hunting, self-defense or war. It is far more important for you to dominate your nerves than to carry the ultimate in mechanical perfection. This is why I have always sought to sell skill, rather than equipment. This is the more difficult task, but clearly the most rewarding." - Jeff Cooper

 

[OXN939]

It is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots. A tight group is nice, but one must not fall into the error of PII

Don't know if I've ever heard a new shooter started off with this advice, unfortunately. I actually watched last time I was at a public range and didn't see any of the 5 or 6 other shooters there noting or discussing where their first shot impact was, only group size. I know I was guilty of that when I first got into reloading specifically. Big time PII.

I'm sure people will point out that technology has come a long way since the 70s, which is a valid point, but it's tough to argue against Cooper's basic observation that shooters miss about 95% of the time, not rifles. Goal for '22 is to send three times as many rounds from field expedient positions as from a bench.

 

[William Sublette]

PII is the essence of this entire forum.

 

[nimrod_gn]

Great thoughts. If you haven't seen this, you'll really like it: https://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/06/09/how-much-does-it-matter-overall-summary/

 

[3325]

PII is the essence of this entire forum.

Ha!

 

[hodgeman]

I've been blessed to do a lot of big game hunting over the last 20 years.

While I like having an accurate rifle, I could have used a true 3MOA rifle and never missed an animal.

 

[stvnshnn]

I've been blessed to do a lot of big game hunting over the last 20 years.

While I like having an accurate rifle, I could have used a true 3MOA rifle and never missed an animal.

I was just reading this thinking, “This sounds like @hodgeman” As I spend more time on Rokslide, the more I see this same theme.

A .5 MOA gun doesn’t make a difference in the hands of a 5 MOA shooter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[3325]

Obsessing over group size is one example of PII but hardly the only one. The latest example of PII I’ve seen is arguing the perceived merits of the 6.8 Western over the .270 WSM or vice versa.

 

[FLATHEAD]

No.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've been blessed to do a lot of big game hunting over the last 20 years.

While I like having an accurate rifle, I could have used a true 3MOA rifle and never missed an animal.

Keep your eyes peeled for all the crappy 1.5” rifles in the classified forum

 

[EastHumboldt]

I’m not that good of a shot. My old 700 is probably a 2 moa gun. I’ve gotten pretty good at crawling within 200 yards of wild ungulates. They are all dead. I have only shot at one animal that is not dead and that was very early in my career.

Lately I’ve been concentrating on my shooting so that I only have to get within 300 yards because I’m getting kind of old. This seems relatively easy now.

 

[Vandy321]

PII is the essence of this entire forum.

Like the guy who weighed his 'EDC' for Sept elk hunting...carries exactly 12.9oz of PII in his pockets.

 

[Jbehredt]

At least we’re still weighing things in oz….. when I see a shift to grams I’ll know we’ve gone too far!

 

[id_jon]

I weigh all my gear in lbs, if it's under 1lb, I pretend its weightless.

 

[3325]

My old 700 is probably a 2 moa gun.

Jim Land was Carlos Hathcock’s commander. Land is on record saying the Model 70 that Hathcock used on his first tour was a 2 MOA rifle. The M40 was not available until his second tour.

But Hathcock could shoot up to the rifle’s capability in almost any conditions or field situation.

Few can shoot up to their rifle’s capability when they get off the bench.

 

[EastHumboldt]

What is EDC?

 

[2five7]

What is EDC?

In gun terms it usually means "evey day carry" meaning your pistol. At least that's my understanding.

 

[EastHumboldt]

Thx.