Accuracy Goals?

[aka Hunter]

Does anyone have any specific accuracy goals for their rifle shooting? I've been shooting short-range benchrest matches (factory class) for a while and my results are not what I'd like for them to be; my goals (for factory class) are to:

(a) shoot a five-shot, quarter-MOA group at 100 and 200 yds; and

(b) shoot five consecutive five-shot groups that average .30 MOA @ 100 yds and .45 MOA @ 200 yds.

I've got a ways to go to reach those goals. What are your accuracy goals for rifle shooting?

 

[Kodiak]

For me, it depends on rifle type and intended use of that rifle.

For varmint class bolt-actions, 1/4" at 100 yds., or less.
Deer class bolt guns need 1" at 100 or less.
Larger game, elk, stc., .338s and .375s need to be around 1" at 100 yds.

So far, all my "needs" have been met.

Now, I need to get down to the gun-shop, as they're havin' another SALE !!!!!!!!!

 

[sask boy]

I want my 204 around .25 and the rest of my rifle less than .50 if possible.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Guy Miner]

I'd like to shoot a clean 600 over three 20 - round strings of 600 yard prone competition - sling only.

I've done 200, but have never put together three 200's...

 

[SJB358]

I like them to keep MOA or better out to 600, if I can accomplish that with my hunting rifles, I feel alright with them and know it won't be the rifle/load that is off...

 

[aka Hunter]

I'd like to shoot a clean 600 over three 20 - round strings of 600 yard prone competition - sling only.

Some questions:
1. What's the size of the 10 ring?
2. How long do you have to shoot 20 shots?
3. Is that without a scope?
4. What rifle and cartridge are you shooting?
5. Do you do pit duty also?

 

[Guy Miner]

1. Ten ring is two MOA
2. Twenty minutes for twenty shots. I usually take about 8 - 10 minutes.
3. Interestingly, I've done better with sights, right now I'm only using the scope. Shooting any/any, high master.
4. In the fairly recent past, I've played the game with a Win 70 and a Rem 700, both .308 Win. Down to the Rem now.
5. Yes, I pull pit duty too, of course.

 

[Guy Miner]

Hunting rifle accuracy...

I feel good when I'm shooting 1/2 MOA with the .204 Ruger CZ 527, although that tends to fall apart at longer ranges, for me and that rifle.

Same thing with the Rem in .308 Win - the same one I shoot matches with - I hope for about 1/2 MOA, and have achieved it, but typically I'm more of a one MOA shooter. I go three-shot groups.

With my other "standard" hunting rifles, I'm happy at one MOA, like my .25-06 for instance. The poor ol' beat up, heavily used M1917 .30-06... It's been a while since I pulled MOA with that puppy... I think the barrel is going, going.... Really ought to replace it.

With the hunting rifles, I usually check accuracy from prone, with my backpack for a rest, three-shot groups. Keeps me happy and the barrels cool. I do most of my range shooting from standing, sitting, kneeling (particularly ugly for me due to some old leg injuries) and of course, prone. Rarely use a bench. Sometimes for sighting-in.

Love shooting the steel gongs. I've got a chunk of hardened steel that's about the size of a deer's "kill zone" - I'll hang it at 300 yards and bang away at it from different positions. With the .308 or .30-06 I'll go through a box of 50. With the .375 H&H, for some odd reason I seem to run out of fun at about 20 rounds.

Guy

 

[joelkdouglas]

My accuracy goal is 5 partitions inside an inch with my 30-06 at 100 yards. I've done it a couple of times.

My other accuracy goal is to shoot from a bench less. I don't mean to call anyone else out, just myself. I need to practice from field positions more often.

 

[aka Hunter]

I need to practice from field positions more often.

+1 :shock:

 

[Kodiak]

I need to practice from field positions more often.

+1 :shock:

Yup, and don't we all :lol: .

 

[onesonek]

Always a goal,,,what that goal may be, depends on what and intended use. I have 4 range classifications being, short, modest, long, and extreme. Then depending on the firearm and it's use, the accuracy goals vary for all those range groups

 

[Horsethief]

For a deer rifles, I want 3-shot groups that are sub-1" @ 100yds. I also want to know where it prints with a cold, fouled barrel at 100yds. Let's face it, deer don't take three shots real close to each other to drop and the first one has to count.

For my varmit rifles, I want it to be sub 1/2" @ 100yds. There isn't the margin of error with prarie dogs and skunks, but usually the skunks aren't too far away and a .22 rimfire will do the job.

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent points guys! My accuracy goals change too, depending...

In the mid 1990's I got all excited about hunting with a traditional side-hammer, percussion .50 cal muzzle loader. It was a lot of fun as several of us went in together, got a big canvas tent, got our muzzle loaders and went after mule deer up in Okanogan County, Washington.

I knew it wasn't going to shoot like my "Green Machine" .308 Win, but also figured the .50 ML could kill a deer just fine if I could hit it. Decided a typical 8" or 9" paper plate was about the size of a deer's vital zone. Started shooting it, one shot at a time of course, at 20 yards. Then I backed up. Got to the point where I could hit it pretty much all the time, from standing, at 80 yards, by 100 yards, things were a little dicey with the crude sights. I set my field limit at 80 yards, then went out and filled some tags with that little rifle. Still have it, but haven't shot it in a while.

One MOA? Not hardly. I could hit a paper plate with it though, and killed a couple of mule deer with it. Never missed either. Accuracy goal was to kill the deer, and I got there by killing paper plates.

Never have fired that rifle from a benchrest. Come to think of it, most of my rifles haven't been fired from a real benchrest. Ah well...

Guy

 

[FOTIS]

Consistent sub 3/4 moa at different ranges works for me.

 

[Elkman]

I am happy with MOA with my big game rifles. A couple will do much better, but really little tiny groups are not necessary for hunting. Consistency is most important to me. I want the center of my group in the same place in October as it was in July.

 

[OU812]

I am happy with MOA with my big game rifles. A couple will do much better, but really little tiny groups are not necessary for hunting. Consistency is most important to me. I want the center of my group in the same place in October as it was in July.

Yes sir. I have no desire to burn out a barrel in a big game hunting rifle trying to shave 1/4 inch.

 

[usmc 89]

i put more emphasis on myself rather than the rifle. i get a load that shoots .6-.5 and has a low standard deviation 5-9 fps. i could care less if the gun shoots .3 or better at a 100 yards"however i think i would refine that if i were shooting benchrest" my accuracy goals fall upon my ability to make a first round hits at varying distances, so i would place myself as a 1.5-2 moa shooter maybe. A little better in a semi controlled environment such as f class.

 

[nvbroncrider]

That's good logic. Most guns will outshoot the nut any day of the week. My 280AI is .600" with boring consistency. I know I have yet to do my part. I know I can but it doesn't happen near enough. Like the other day shot several 3/4 minus groups with the 22-250 factory rounds. Then I did my part and knew it felt good about each shot and she put 3 into .075". The trigger man is always the weakest link.

 

[Guy Miner]

"i put more emphasis on myself rather than the rifle"

Well said. Most rifles shoot fine for big game purposes at normal hunting distances. We miss, not the rifles.