Do you know the difference between Accuracy and Precision?

[formercia]



Mr. President: How Do You Define Precise?

Posted: 11/18/2012 10:14 pm


"With the unprecedented ability of remotely piloted aircraft to precisely target a military objective while minimizing collateral damage, one could argue that never before has there been a weapon that allows us to distinguish more effectively between an al-Qa'ida terrorist and innocent civilians."
- Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John O. Brennan, April 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-greenwald/mr-president-how-do-you-d_b_2156517.html

The term ‘Precision’ is an attempt, in my opinion, of Misdirection.

I used to teach Marksmanship. The difference between Accuracy and Precision is something easily explained: Precision, is being able to fire the weapon, so that the bullets impact into a very tight group. Accuracy is being able to hit what you are aiming at. The terms can be inclusive or exclusive.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but, does anyone see the word ‘Accuracy’ used in this context?

[Enthusiast]

1. I would take your word for it, formercia.

Since you taught Marksmanship.

I was an excellent deer hunter back when I was physically capable. I might have used the wrong term, but weapon accuracy was my very highest priority. Deer guns in Ohio were restricted to shotguns with slugs.

When I first started hunting these slug guns were notorious for their inaccuracy. The barrels weren't even rifled, for God's sake. The state's Department of Natural Resources mistakenly thought the slugs would carry a greater distance in a rifled barrel thereby creating a hazard in highly populated Ohio. They were wrong. The inaccurate smooth bore barrels only resulted in more wounded deer.

As soon as rifled barrels were declared legal I bought one and carefully sighted it in. Eventually, due to failing eyesight, I replaced my original rifled barrel with a cantilever rifled barrel that had a built in scope mount.

This, my final deer gun, was very accurate. That's the way I described it anyway.

[No Elephants]

2. I am not sure I am getting your point.

Are you referring to collateral damage?


Here is what I mean. Let's say a suspected terrorist is spotted in a group of six people. You can target him or her accurately, meaning you hit him or her, but you may also kill or injure some of the bystanders.

If you target the terrorist accurate and precisely, you hit him or her and no one else.

Was that the distinction you were making?

Or are you saying we would miss the terrorist entirely?

[formercia]

3. Putting 2 Hellfire Missiles through the front door of a house is Precision

Hitting the right house is Accuracy.

Using the word 'Precision' is not the same as saying the targeting is accurate.

It may be a poor choice of words or maybe it wasn't.

[No Elephants]

4. Got it. Thanks.

[formercia]

5. The Curmudgeon thanks you as well

I didn't attend Charm School and it shows.