Accuracy Goals?

[onesonek]

"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.

I agree.
One just never knows when we wake up morning, if all the shooting fundemental's come together. I do believe however, the better moa acurracy, allow's for a tad bit more margin in error on our part. Then again I more so believe, that at most average hunting range's, it isn't necessary to have extreme range match accuracy. One certainly don't need sub moa accuracy, when at best a particular situation calls for less yardage and accuracy. In some, 2-3 moa ect., may be more than adequate. But when one starts pushing the limits of the shooter, the round, or combination of, inherent accuracy becomes more critical imo. It is often said, "accuracy is king",,,and I agree. But more so in the context of one being confident, in there accuracy and skill level for their needs.

 

[RiverRider]

3-shot MOA for big game rifles, 5-shot MOA for predator rifles, and 5-shot half-MOA for .22 centerfires.

 

[usmc 89]

Accuracy is key precision is king IMO.

 

[Desert Fox]

1/2 MOA or better for my hunting rifle.
1/4 MOA or better for my target and varmint rifle.

Less than that is unacceptable to me.

 

[aka Hunter]

For varmint class bolt-actions, 1/4" at 100 yds., or less.

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

1/4 MOA or better for my target and varmint rifle.

Less than that is unacceptable to me.

Are y'all achieving that on a regular basis?
How many shots in the groups?
What rifle, scope, and load are you shooting?

 

[IdahoCTD]

Sub 1/2" to as far as I deem the rifle practical. If it won't do that the barrel get's ripped off and I start over with a new one. For varmint rifles I like closer to 1/4". The only exception would be my big boomers because they are hard to consistently shoot that accurate. It's me though and not the rifle. As the saying goes....only accurate rifles are interesting.

 

[aka Hunter]

It's me though and not the rifle.

I blame the rifle, the load, the scope, the wind, the shooter next to me, or the gemlins -- anything but me. :shock:

 

[onesonek]

It's me though and not the rifle.

I blame the rifle, the load, the scope, the wind, the shooter next to me, or the gemlins -- anything but me. :shock:

Ain't that Murphy's MO :lol:

 

[IdahoCTD]

I know my recoil limitations to be consistently accurate and a 11lb .416 or .458 Lott is beyond it. Probably even my .375's are beyond it from the bench. I've shot some amazing groups with my big guns and killed a lot of game with them but they aren't benchrest calibers.

 

[mcseal2]

I will repeat what many others have already said. My first goal is to get a sub-MOA load for 3 shots from a cold barrel. Then I make sure it shoots as accurately as I can from a bipod, tight sling, bogpod, or my pack without changing point of impact. After that I check the velocity and decide if I want to try to tweak the load. I have a 100yd bench right out my back door so once I have a load for a rifle I think is finished I will shoot a 10 shot group over 10 days. I shoot one shot each day, morning or evening, at different wind conditions, temperature, whatever conditions I encounter but each shot is from a cold barrel and the barrel starts out completely clean. Rifles that do well on this test tend to stay around, ones that don't tend to get traded or sold.

When I get a rifle that makes it past all that I quit pricking with it and move to the gong from field positions at longer ranges to learn it. I don't know how many rifles I've owned and traded through the years, but it is well over 100 and I currently own 7 and none are for sale. The ones that I keep get re-barrelled when necessary and I keep going with the action and trigger that I'm used to.

My 264WM is on it's 3rd barrel and 3rd different caliber. It started as a stainless M70 Classic 7 mag, became a 300WM, got shot out and became the 264WM. The 264 barrel took a ton of load work to find accuracy and I finally got a load with the 140AB that shot 3 shot 1" groups at 100yds consistently and I've never been able to improve on it. I've tried many bullets including Bergers and Match Kings with different powders and that is still the best I've found. Finally I gave up because I can take that rifle and ring the 10" gong out to 600yds more consistently than I can with anything else. Whatever day with whatever wind, it just seems to work and hit near the center on the steel plate. I've read that the long 6.5 bullets can "go to sleep" at longer ranges and stabilize to shoot smaller groups at longer ranges but I don't know if that is what's happening here. I think it is more due to the number of rounds I've squeezed that trigger on, and the number of animals that have fallen to that rifle over the years than anything else. The confidence I have when I shoulder that rifle and line up those crosshairs helps me to do my part to the best of my ability. I guess my accuracy goal is to close the deal with a good vital shot each time when I decide to take a shot at an animal. Coyotes keep me humble and remind me that I'm not near as good as I'd like to be, but my record on big game has been good.