The reviewer was really off base in discussing that the Tracking Point system doesn't figure the wind:
You still have to input your own wind information. Scott said they could incorporate a sensor to determine wind but it would add too much bulk to the scope and dramatically reduce battery life. That’s likely the biggest reason first round hit probability is less than 100%. Calculating the average crosswind between you and your game is challenging. In fact, the wind at the target may be blowing 180 degrees from where it is at your position. It takes experience to accurately make wind estimates and even the best shooters don’t always get it right. But then again, the type of hunters who are buying these rifles probably welcome the challenge.Which is bullshit. If they were up for a challenge, they wouldn't be buying a computer-controlled rifle that costs up around $27,000 and shoots specially-made cartridges at $8 a pull. Even the "cheaper" rifles that Tracking Point plans to build on an AR-style rifle will cost ten grand or more.
These are gamer's toys. The on-board computer figures it all out, the shooter holds the trigger back and when the rifle's hitting point is on the target, the gun fires. There's no art, no skill, no expertise involved. Only money.
Without the skills of "stalking" and "field craft", this weapon would be as useless for those that do not know what they are doing. Imagine trying to sit on a one legged stool. Then let's just imagine that if the batteries die or this piece of tech just out right fails(and it will).
ReplyDeleteNo, I have more fear of a deer hunter with a lever action 30-30 than some idiot armed with this "Call Of Duty" player's wet dream of a weapon.
Without the skills of "stalking" and "field craft", this weapon would be as useless for those that do not know what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteThat's what "guides" and "bearers" are for. ("Bearers" because a clown who can pay nearly 30 large for a rifle isn't going to be carrying it up and down hills.)
Computer sights aren't relevant for hunting. You can easily kill big game at the distance you get a line of sight to it even with a 100 years old scoped rifle.
ReplyDeleteWestern armies have begun to pay attention to long-range (counter-)sniping since they were exposed to harassing rifle fires in Bosnia in the mid-90's. By now 50cal snipers shoot over 1-2 km range in Afghanistan.
It's unnecessary, but somehow the art of small unit manoeuvre has been stymied so much by excessive infantryman's burdens and negligible risk tolerance that shooting at long range appears to be attractive.