I agree totally, Dave. I use one shotgun for turkey, ducks, and geese. It suits me and it fits well. What you ask? A Remington 870 Super Mag with 25" tube.

Rifles that I can't shoot very well, I get rid of.

Nobody thinks twice about adjusting sights or scopes. Shotguns, you adjust the stock instead. It's fussy but it's that simple. Nothing like a router with a 3/4" bit. Amazing results. Then it's up to the shooter.

A poor workman blames his tools.......but how often does one see a craftsman without good tools?

Reminds me of when I was younger and went squirrel hunting with a young kid (maybe 13).

I was carrying a ruger 77/22 with a nice scope and he was carrying his dad's old bolt action marlin with open sights.

He truly took me to school on marksmanship that day. We snuck up on a squirrel and he told me that he was gonna shoot the hickory nut out of the squirrels hand, and did it.

Later that day, we set up some 50 yard targets and he flat just out shot me and my fancy .22 that day. It was a lesson in humility I've never forgotten. It's not the tool, it's the man.

Jim

Seriously,

This will probably be the only topic that will produce no arguments. A Field and Stream first. Of course it's the shooter.

Dave, I thought you were tired of all the civility? This sure ain't gonna cause a riot.

Can't belive Coop ain't hollering about the indian and the arrow yet.

Are we talking a "Good" shot or a "Great" shot. The benchrest targets I see are "Great" shots. Placing one of those custom rifles in the hands of someone with basic marksman skills could make "Good" shots, within 6 inches at 100 yards.

Hey Pbhead!!

Long time no hear!
A poor worker blames his tools? C'mon, man!
The best tools in the world can't make a skilled craftsman. A skilled craftsman can mostly make do with some real junk for tools! Been there, "seen" that!
Mostly, I suppose I'm just a worker rather than a "skilled craftsman" when it comes to shooting a rifle! I seldom miss a deer (if I see one at all!) within 250 yards. I seldom hunt a spot with over a 100 yard shot! Mostly one shot kills! Haven't wounded one in years, thank you very much. Have missed probably 3 or 4 in the last 10 years!
Here's my hint:
Know your limitations!
Take advantage of anything that makes you as good a shooter as possible. Rests, bags, wadded up clothing.
I have a box blind that I hunt from occasionally. There's a set of "shooting bags" and a bench that I shoot from because shots of 200-300 yards sometimes present themselves.
The last deer I missed was about 100 yards and I couldn't find a rest. Yep, I zigged when I should'a zagged!!
My hunting rifles will shoot MOA. Just not for me without a "good" rest!

Bubba

I don’t know folks? There are times if you hand a poor shooter the world’s most accurate rifle, hand built and tailored just for them? They still can’t hit the ground with both feet! I had one of the guys from the Base at a NBPRP Leg Match and we used the same rifle. Of course it’s not allowed, but they allowed us anyway. My buddy complained with every shot that the gun was off. “B”B”B”B”B”B” all I heard! Funny thing? I placed first in that match with that old worn out Air Force issue M1 Garand that day against brand spanking new ultra match M1A’s from Springfield etc that day! How did my buddy place? LAST! O’yes, I forgot to say, that was one of the most miserable days I’ve ever known! Wind and rain mixed with volcanic ash from the ground creating all kinds of havoc with the other shooters. So much fun! My secret? I was in my hunting environment and I loved it knowing it was destroying them psychologically!!!

Well we're not argueing but telling stories so here comes a couple more boring ones. Beyond the poor shooters and more approaching the proud and foolish group that Carney spoke of are those who are extremely well educated, knowledgeable on numerous matters, and quick with the tongue to inform you of such. Two people that I know who fall into this category include a couple physician friends of mine. One bought a new Weatherby .270 complete with a Swarovski, etc. At the range his groups were reasonable but low and to the left. His face demonstrated frustration as he looked at the new Mark V. I noted that we simply needed to make a few adjustments and he would be ready to go. His comment was something to the effect of "But the scope is properly sighted in, I personally saw the gunsmith put it on and look through it". A few turns of the knobs and a few shots later the good rifle and the good shooter became partners. Unfortunately almost the same thing happened to another physician friend of mine who had new Kahles mounted on his rifles immediately prior to a trip to Africa. This lack of effort was not discovered until his PH figured it out and loaded the doc one of his well worn rifles with a beat up old Leupold on it.
These are just stories but I agree it's the shooter that makes the great shots unless you are just lucky like Billy Dixon said he was.
Dave I already have a very much loved small frame 28 gauge which I have mentioned before (the old SKB O/U with the pixx elm grade sap wood), don't bother sending another.

"THAR HE BLOWS"

PbHead's post says it well, Dave.

My old Company Gunny (Gunnery Sergeant Reuben H. Massey, USMC, originally of Tallahassee, FL, God bless him) said it equally well when we were struggling to qualify on the range, and tempted to blame the rifle for our bad scores--"It's the dope behind the buttplate that counts!"

As you can imagine, Gunny Massey also had some other pungent sayings that we won't mention here.

Chuckb and Doc you’re right on! With so much technology, one must think that shooting and hitting the target must be a given factor. NOT! Yes that 67 yard shot I made, I must confess I have a Bushnell laser range finder mounted on my bow to give me the yardage. Even so, marksmanship isn’t any deferent either yesterday or today!