Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
- 2,618
- 0
This was originally posted to under another topic, but I thought is deserved it's own thread:
What is the Accuracy progression?
You are never more accurate then your weakest link. Much of the discussion within the shooting community revolves around taking the accuracy potential of our equipment to the next level. Here's my basic vision of the basic evolution shooters equipment and reloading techniques as go through as they go from beginner to world class expert. This is not fixed in stone, and you will see cross over between levels. In addition, with increased quality of factory firearms and premium ammo, and premium brass, these lines are becoming even more blured. Considering how we all have limited gun money, but wish to get the most out of out equipment, I hope this can help some member be efficent with some of that spending. I welcome comments where others think this outline can be improved.
Level Zero: Expected accuracy: 1 1/2 to 3 inches....or worse.
Out of the box standard quality factory gun, standard factory ammo, cheap Chinese scope with parallax.
Level one: 1" to 1 1/2" or better.
Rifle: Out of the box gun, trigger adjusted, barrel free floated, recoil pad added. These are all simple low cost adjustments within the capabilities of the typical fixer-upper. Many of these upgrade and adjustment are now common on many factory guns.
Scope: $150-$250. Parallax free at typical hunting ranges. Leupold rifleman to Leupold VX II
Ammo: Premium ammo, or Beginning reloader. Equipment consists of the typical kit, such as an RCBS rockchucker kit with standard dies. He's reloading factory fired cases, every box of cases if from a different lot, if not different brands. All cases are full length resized. The loader experiments with different components, power, bullets, and primers for accuracy. An advanced level one loader may try to only buy loaded ammo of the same manufacture.
Level Two: Expected accuracy, 5/8"-1" or better.
Rifle: As level one, plus a bedded action. and/or upgraded stock, drop in trigger. These are still relatively simple adjustments that take a little more skill or money. Some rifles, such as the Tikka T3, and Weatherby Vanguard Sub MOA rifles are effectively at this level out of the box, althought the Weatherby's may benefit from a drop in trigger.
Scope: Parallax adjustment $250+ Leupold VXII to VXIII+, or Leupold Mark 2 for the distance shooter.
The level two loader attempts to squeeze everything they can out of stock equipment. This level is highlighted by advanced case prep, and advanced usage of standard equipment. The level two loader will buy bulk brass, all of the same lot number, weight sort, and debur the flash holes. If you purchase Nosler Custom Brass, this work is already done for you, but I would still match lot numbers. They will use advanced sizing techniques, such as the partial full length size, and begin adjusting COAL. The loader may use standard neck sizing dies. New equipment should include a chronograph. At this level you ammo may surpass the quality of the average hunting rifle.
Level Three: Expected accuracy: 1/4-1/2 inch, or better.
This level is about getting everything to line up perfectly with the bore.
Rifle: Rifle is rebarreled with a custom barrel, action is printed (action squared, bolt face squared, lugs lapped) This is mated to a high quality stock such as an HS Percision, McMillian, ect. An out of the box rifle in this catagory would be the Nosler 48.
Scope: $400.00+ such as Leupold VXIII to Leupold Mark 4 or better. Depending on the shooting style, the optics may become more specialized and include mil-dot, tmr or other advanced reticles, target knobs ect.
Ammo: In order to get everything to line up perfectly, we begin using benchrest/competition die set, and advanced case prep. This usually includes benchrest/competition dies sets, Bushing style neck sizing dies and neck turning. This level is also highlighted by concentricity and runout gauges.
Level 4: World Record Class. Expected accuracy: .005" To be competative today, you need to shoot 5 consecutive, 5 shoot groups with an aggregate group size of .025" or better.
Rifle: Purpose built target rifle. Single shot action, such as a Remington 40xbr, Nesika, Stole, or other $1000+ action. Top of the line custom barrel, Lilja, Kriger, Lawton, Chanlin ect. These rifles may include a tight throat, and tight neck. They may be out of SAMMI spec and unable to fire over the counter ammunition. The loader may actually do all the above described case prep to create a dummy round, with the anticipated preferred bullet and COAL to provide to the gunsmith before he even begins work on the rifle. Cartridge will be selected for accuracy, usually short and fat, 220 Waldog, 6mm PPC, 6.5x284, .308, .338 Lapua. The typical bench gun is not pratical for any type of hunting other then shooting prarie dogs, which really is alot of fun.
Scope: Special purpose target scope, desigened for a specific comeptition. For bench rest shooters they are typically fixed power, high magnification, 20-45x, with 1/8 moa adjustments, with excellent glass. An example would be the Leupold competion series which range from $600-1000 in price.
Ammo: You may also see arbor presses (sometimes they come earlier), and these shooters may use custom bullets from small houses.
Level 5: Expected accuracy: What ever the new world record would be.
Is there really a level 5? I don't know, but you could begin swaging your own custom bullets:
http://www.corbins.com/
What is the Accuracy progression?
You are never more accurate then your weakest link. Much of the discussion within the shooting community revolves around taking the accuracy potential of our equipment to the next level. Here's my basic vision of the basic evolution shooters equipment and reloading techniques as go through as they go from beginner to world class expert. This is not fixed in stone, and you will see cross over between levels. In addition, with increased quality of factory firearms and premium ammo, and premium brass, these lines are becoming even more blured. Considering how we all have limited gun money, but wish to get the most out of out equipment, I hope this can help some member be efficent with some of that spending. I welcome comments where others think this outline can be improved.
Level Zero: Expected accuracy: 1 1/2 to 3 inches....or worse.
Out of the box standard quality factory gun, standard factory ammo, cheap Chinese scope with parallax.
Level one: 1" to 1 1/2" or better.
Rifle: Out of the box gun, trigger adjusted, barrel free floated, recoil pad added. These are all simple low cost adjustments within the capabilities of the typical fixer-upper. Many of these upgrade and adjustment are now common on many factory guns.
Scope: $150-$250. Parallax free at typical hunting ranges. Leupold rifleman to Leupold VX II
Ammo: Premium ammo, or Beginning reloader. Equipment consists of the typical kit, such as an RCBS rockchucker kit with standard dies. He's reloading factory fired cases, every box of cases if from a different lot, if not different brands. All cases are full length resized. The loader experiments with different components, power, bullets, and primers for accuracy. An advanced level one loader may try to only buy loaded ammo of the same manufacture.
Level Two: Expected accuracy, 5/8"-1" or better.
Rifle: As level one, plus a bedded action. and/or upgraded stock, drop in trigger. These are still relatively simple adjustments that take a little more skill or money. Some rifles, such as the Tikka T3, and Weatherby Vanguard Sub MOA rifles are effectively at this level out of the box, althought the Weatherby's may benefit from a drop in trigger.
Scope: Parallax adjustment $250+ Leupold VXII to VXIII+, or Leupold Mark 2 for the distance shooter.
The level two loader attempts to squeeze everything they can out of stock equipment. This level is highlighted by advanced case prep, and advanced usage of standard equipment. The level two loader will buy bulk brass, all of the same lot number, weight sort, and debur the flash holes. If you purchase Nosler Custom Brass, this work is already done for you, but I would still match lot numbers. They will use advanced sizing techniques, such as the partial full length size, and begin adjusting COAL. The loader may use standard neck sizing dies. New equipment should include a chronograph. At this level you ammo may surpass the quality of the average hunting rifle.
Level Three: Expected accuracy: 1/4-1/2 inch, or better.
This level is about getting everything to line up perfectly with the bore.
Rifle: Rifle is rebarreled with a custom barrel, action is printed (action squared, bolt face squared, lugs lapped) This is mated to a high quality stock such as an HS Percision, McMillian, ect. An out of the box rifle in this catagory would be the Nosler 48.
Scope: $400.00+ such as Leupold VXIII to Leupold Mark 4 or better. Depending on the shooting style, the optics may become more specialized and include mil-dot, tmr or other advanced reticles, target knobs ect.
Ammo: In order to get everything to line up perfectly, we begin using benchrest/competition die set, and advanced case prep. This usually includes benchrest/competition dies sets, Bushing style neck sizing dies and neck turning. This level is also highlighted by concentricity and runout gauges.
Level 4: World Record Class. Expected accuracy: .005" To be competative today, you need to shoot 5 consecutive, 5 shoot groups with an aggregate group size of .025" or better.
Rifle: Purpose built target rifle. Single shot action, such as a Remington 40xbr, Nesika, Stole, or other $1000+ action. Top of the line custom barrel, Lilja, Kriger, Lawton, Chanlin ect. These rifles may include a tight throat, and tight neck. They may be out of SAMMI spec and unable to fire over the counter ammunition. The loader may actually do all the above described case prep to create a dummy round, with the anticipated preferred bullet and COAL to provide to the gunsmith before he even begins work on the rifle. Cartridge will be selected for accuracy, usually short and fat, 220 Waldog, 6mm PPC, 6.5x284, .308, .338 Lapua. The typical bench gun is not pratical for any type of hunting other then shooting prarie dogs, which really is alot of fun.
Scope: Special purpose target scope, desigened for a specific comeptition. For bench rest shooters they are typically fixed power, high magnification, 20-45x, with 1/8 moa adjustments, with excellent glass. An example would be the Leupold competion series which range from $600-1000 in price.
Ammo: You may also see arbor presses (sometimes they come earlier), and these shooters may use custom bullets from small houses.
Level 5: Expected accuracy: What ever the new world record would be.
Is there really a level 5? I don't know, but you could begin swaging your own custom bullets:
http://www.corbins.com/
