I read an old topic yesterday about successful BVR. One of the posters suggested that the O.P. fire a missile at the bandit and then move the bandit to the farthest stretch of the gimbal limits of the radar; He also said that doing this would make his [the friendly pilot's] shot more accurate while staying away from the bandit. Now, how is this possible? How will one's shot be more accurate when you move the bandit to the gimbal limits of one's radar? That makes no sense because if you move the bandit to the gimbal limits of your radar, the radar will still track the target in the same way. Can anyone verify or debunk this argument this other person made?

Makes no sense to me either.

No, ofc the shot is not more accurate when the target is at the gimbals, as you say there is no sense saying that. The reason you do that maneuver (which is called cranking) is to maximize your F-pole, the distance between the shooter (you) and the target when the missile reaches the target, for all kinds of reasons. Accuracy has nothing to do with it, the only thing effecting accuracy is whether the shot is within parameters, all the kinetic energy involved and the opponents maneuvering.

Just my words!

Whoever said that cranking to gimbals and supporting the missile will make your shot more accurate probably meant that it is more accurate than shooting and turning away without supporting the missile at all. As you said, it allows you to support your missile while reducing the closure rate, making the bad guy's shot take longer to get to you.

Some other things I do after cranking:

If I know or think he has a shot on me, I will often break off and run defensive 5-10 seconds before I reach pitbull, but only if there are no friendlies between me and him. If your target does not do any radical jinking, 9 time out of 10 your shot will still find him. And as you have turned away early, it is easier to defeat his shot. Better to save your plane and have the ability to set up for a 2nd shot than try and support all the way to pitbull and potentially eat one yourself.

If I am planning on breaking away before pitbull, I go to STT (hard lock the target) a few seconds before turning. Sometimes this spooks them into turning their jammer on, giving you a HOJ shot.

Hey Feldwebel (Crow),
This is kind of related, check it out. Awesome info. on Falcon 4 BVR.
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=32019

Wow, a lot of awesome responses:). As I suspected, the gimbal limits do not make a shot more accurate. Thank you all for your input on BVR tactics, and terminology, as well; every little bit helps. Kingsnake, I'll check that out, thank you:)