Accuracy Key

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN AN ACCURATE RIFLE?

I believe the barrel is by far and away the most important part of an accurate rifle. With a good barrel you can still get great performance even if the action is less than ideal, or if you have a mediocre trigger. On the other hand, if you have a bad barrel, even the world’s best action or finest trigger won’t allow the gun to shoot accurately. The barrel is the heart and soul of a good rifle. If you are going to spend extra money on any component, the barrel is the place to make the investment.

NOTE: The following content first appeared in Shotgun News in 2010. It is from a featured section titled Ask the Gunsmith, where readers were able to submit their questions to master gunsmith Reid Coffield.