And More Letters

"Is the most important thing about a gun it's accuracy?...Is it a must to buy a gun that can be mounted by a scope?"

The most important thing about a gun is its shootability. If the game calls for tiny little holes overlapping one another at a great distance, then accuracy is of the utmost import. If extended rate of fire is important, then durability is the thing to look for. Since very few shooters need half-inch groups at 200 yards or a firearm that is capable of shooting round-the-clock, the ergonomics of the weapon is of primary concern. Evaluate a weapon by how it does with regards to what it was designed to do, and how you feel shooting it.

Hunters and snipers like telescopic sights. I do not hunt nor snipe, but if I did hunt I could not imagine taking a shot beyond the point of my own uncorrected vision. Anything that can be hit at 100 yards can be hit quite well with iron sights, and anything farther out than that is probably too far too shoot at an animal and still be considered a sporting fellow. I realize that there are those among us who go after mountain goat and other creatures they cannot come near enough to for an unaided shot, and I guess that they would want, not need, but want, to take the prey out cleanly from an otherwise unreachable distance. Scopes are for making overlapping holes in paper targets to justify spending $3000 on a rifle. Or for police or military personnel for the obvious reasons. They can be cool, but for civilians never absolutely necessary.

Then again, that pretty much describes most hunting arms. Do what you want with your disposable income but don't fall into the trap of believing you need anything other than the right weapon for the job and reliable ammunition to feed to it.