The difference between the expelliarmus and accio spells

[aquariajade <toberead@excite.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50563

Hello:

Was just listening to PoA and at the point when Lupin comes into the 
shrieking shack, he says "Expelliarmus" to get the wands from Harry 
and Ron (I think those two were the ones holding ones, but it could 
have been H and H).

When Harry needs his Firebolt for the first task in GoF, he 
says, "Accio Firebolt".

My understanding was that the accio spell was to draw a particular 
thing *to you*, and the expelliarmus spell was to forcibly release 
something from intended *person's hand*, but with NO INTENDED final 
destination.

But, IIRC, every time a wizard needs to get someone's wand, s/he uses 
expelliarmus. Would it not be more useful to use accio wand(s)? If 
expelliarmus is used, it does not specify where the wand would end up 
and it could fly anywhere, causing the wizard casting the spell to 
need to run about to catch it.

I do not have the books to quote specifics, so this is just my memory 
and what I just heard listening to PoA. Thoughts?

Best,

Jade