I have a couple of Trapdoors, a Winchester, a TC, a Marlin, two Sharps reproductions and a BC. Depending on the load used each can be accurate except for one trapdoor which might make it to minute of deer at 25 yards. Poor old rifle was badly treated prior to my owning it.
Point is cost is not as important as the luck of the draw when getting the rifle, some just shoot better than others, although the really spendy rifles usually have a bit better barrel. My BC has been a bugger to get to come into line but I'm making progress. Had the same problem with the Marlin and one of the Imitation Sharps but persistence paid off and they both shoot better than I can hold now. Same will happen with the BC. Some folks here have BC's that I would love to duplicate the targets they have shown.
When it really comes down to it more targets are messed up by the shooter than the rifle or ammo. That's been my experience at any rate and the majority of really good riflemen I've known seem to agree with this. That being said, there are some rifles, like that poor old Trapdoor, that simply don't have any accuracy to squeeze out of them. Regardless of the price.
Mike
