Hunting Rifle Accuracy, what's "good enough" ?

[Guy Miner]

We've got some very experienced and capable handloaders and gun tinkers here on the forum. Sometimes I wonder though if we make it appear that a rifle which won't deliver 1/2 MOA accuracy is no good.

Truth is, that level of accuracy is seldom needed from a hunting rifle.

Along with others here, I'm fortunate to have acquired more rifles than I actually need, but they're fun and interesting. Time to time, even useful. Only four of them are actual 1/2 MOA rifles, and a couple of those teeter on the edge of not being that capable.

.204 Ruger CZ 527 varmint rifle. It had better be accurate! I shoot it at itty-bitty ground squirrels, 1/3 the size of a prairie dog. Factory heavy barrel, set trigger, 12x scope, and I use Wilson dies and an arbor press for my .204 handloading. Either Nosler Ballistic Tips, Hornady V-Max bullets, or Berger hollow point varmint bullets. It's right on the edge of 1/2 MOA, and sometimes I just can't quite manage. But when I miss in the field, it's my fault. The rifle & ammo are good.

.25-06 Rem 700 CDL. This one truly pleases me. I have but a simple fixed 6x Leupold on it, yet with 115 gr Bergers, or 115 gr Ballistic Tips I often see groups in the 1/2 MOA area. Pleases me greatly, because the barrel was rough as all get out when I got it. Always reasonably accurate, but initially a real pain to clean. Coyotes, mule deer and one pronghorn have fallen to it. Destroyed a few rockchucks as well. The 1/2 MOA accuracy wasn't mandatory, but it sure has been nice when I've made those 400 yard pokes at coyotes. Again, I use the Wilson match type dies and an arbor press to help me attain that accuracy level.

.308 Win, Rem 700 "Green Machine" - built for SWAT use, and rifle competition, it's also been hunting a number of times, from varmints to bear. It really ought to be my most accurate rifle, and it is. The Krieger barrel is key. I also load it on Wilson dies and an arbor press. Was very gratifying to learn that not only would it shoot HPBT match bullets well, but it would also shoot the Nosler Partitions and Nosler Ballistic Tips very well. Still, it's a little heavy for general purpose hunting.

.300 WSM, Model 70 "Coyote" - Only have a couple of loads that deliver the 1/2 MOA level accuracy, but they do so reliably. Seems I have to use 210 gr Berger VLD's to get that level of accuracy, not a terrible limitation though. This one seems to thrive on Hornady dies, with that floating sleeve.

All my other hunting rifles hover somewhere around 1 MOA, or 1.5 MOA, or perhaps even 2 MOA accuracy... Yet I enjoy shooting and hunting with them. Am thinking of the:

.30-30 Glenfield
.30-06 Rem 700 CDL
.30-06 Win Model of 1917
.375 H&H Ruger Number One
.50 cal Thompson Center traditional muzzle loader

They're all fine hunting rifles, just fine. Only the 700 CDL and the Number One break the MOA barrier, and not by much usually. With the muzzle loader, I settle for minute of paper plate at 100 yards. Usually manage that... yet I never missed with it when I hunted the muzzle loading seasons back 20 years ago with it.

A 1.5 MOA rifle is still printing a 4.5" group at 300 yards. That somehow seems quite reasonable and useful to me. Beyond 300, or when seeking itty-bitty game (ground squirrels) is when I really appreciate the superb accuracy some rifles deliver.

The rest of the time, I'm happy as all get out with reliable performance, even if it falls well short of match grade accuracy.

What do you demand from your hunting rifles?

Guy

 

[DrMike]

Good post, Guy. Like most people, I appreciate little, tiny bug holes when I pull the trigger. However, some of my hunting loads are MOA or even larger. The longest shot I've ever taken was ~320 yards. My average shot on moose is ~120 yards. For black bear, I tend to get closer. Deer probably average about 120 yards, as well. The depth of chest on a deer is about 18 inches, so a rifle that will deliver three MOA would readily work out to 300 yards. I like the confidence that comes from building a load that delivers great accuracy, but realistically, if a load delivers excellent velocity with a suitable bullet, I'm prone to use it for hunting. Interestingly enough, my lever guns all deliver ~MOA or better. I would have expected these to be the least accurate of my rifles. However, they deliver good accuracy and hit hard at reasonable distances. Consequently, I really enjoy carrying them afield. I can honestly say that all my rifles deliver better than MOA with selected ammo, but I don't always carry the "selected" ammo when I go out. I want the bullet that will maintain integrity at the less than optimal impact angle and distance.

 

[pre6422hornet]

Great post Guy.

I hold my rifles with variable power scopes to a higher standard. 1MOA is my cutoff for those. Anything fixed 4x or less get a little more wiggle room. Peep sighted rifles are mostly under 100 yards for me so I am happy at 3MOA off the bench.

 

[Vince]

Given that I hunt a location where most shots are over 300 Yards and my most frequently sought after big game animal resembles a German Shepard in size I don't keep a rifle around long if it's not capable of sub MOA accuracy with it's chosen load.

I happen to think more rifles than not are capable of 0.4" - 0.6" accuracy on a consistent basis if one takes the time to find the right load. Today's manufacturing tolerances and consistency in manufacturing gives us rifles off the shelf with accuracy that was unheard of a generation ago. Why should we short change ourselves? I am of course thinking of bolt action rifles in this regard and will accept the more traditional "minute of deer" in other platforms.

I think the level of accuracy is dependent upon the conditions in which the rifle is used. Not trying to pick a fight, or argue, but I just think sometimes we are too willing to settle for a level of accuracy we don't have to when the rifle is capable of so much more.

Vince

 

[Anonymous]

Great post.... I've got 2 sub MOA rifles right now, a Steyr Scout and my Nosler and both shoot outstanding.

My son's Savage shoots well...not reliably sub MOA but definitely better than 2MOA.

But in reality...the rifle I own that's taken more game than any other rifle I own is my hand me down Marlin 36 in .30-30... on a good day it might get 4MOA and yet it has taken more game than a lot of folks will ever see.

As much as I am a rifle looney- killing game takes a lot more than an accurate smoke pole.

These are the salad days though. I haven't messed with a factory rifle that wouldn't shoot at least something well in a long time.

 

[EOD Diver]

Guy,
Been away for a little while and not sure if you've had a chance to burn some new loads through the new CDL in 30-06 after the recent bedding job. That kid did a nice job and I was just wondering if it may have tightened things up a little.
Joe

 

[SJB358]

My Alaskan struggles to keep the 210 PT's under MOA at 100 yards but will turn in 2.5" groups or so at 300. I was sorta miffed, then thought about it, I am shooting elk out to 500 yards, I realized I am doing just fine. I knocked the elk down last Fall around 400/410 yards so I think it's doing just fine.

I really only look for consistent MOA type accuracy. If it won't do three touching, I am not heartbroken in the least with full power hunting loads. The 1 shot group in the field means more to me, I want that first shot on point and would rather put the other two rounds back in my pocket.

Like Mike though, my lever rifles have all delivered MOA or better accuracy with little load work. Really spins my head as they shouldn't be that accurate, but from the 30-30 to the 45-70, they all deliver.

 

[SJB358]

Joe, it is great to hear from you brother! Hope you can pop in more often.

I am headed back down to MARSOC at the end of the month for the last tour before I retire. Going to be a geo-batchelor, so if your around Camp Lejeune ever, let me know.

 

[Darkhorse]

Any rifle I own that might be asked to shoot an animal at 200 yds or more must shoot well under 1 inch at 100 yds. I can't help myself. I need to see tiny groups to feel good about the rifle and load. It's just a personal thing.
If a rifle shoots 1 MOA that is 4 inches or so at 400 yards. Figure I wiggle at least 4 inches off target from field positions and that makes that bullet strike anywhere inside a 8" diameter circle. Plenty enough to miss. Or worse make a gut shot. I want this variable out of the equation.
An example of my total analalitie (I just made up that word so the spelling doesn't matter) my .300 Win mag was shooting 165 gr. deer loads under 3/8's. Now this was with prepared cases, neck turned, neck sized, etc.
I worked up a load for 180 gr. Then I took 3 virgin ww cases and neck sized them and chamfered the flash hole and case mouth and that's all I did to them. Loaded them with my chosen load and shot for group. They shot .520" and I went home all disgusted and was prepared to go through a lot of trouble to get better accuracy. It took a couple of days of muttering before a friend asked me "How many guys in camp will be able to shoot a .520 group. Really!" That sorta got through my hard head and I shot for group again. This time it was a little under .520.
I took those full length sized cases to Colorado and shot a Bull at 400 yards with complete confidence.
BTW when we sighted in before going up to higher ground not a single hunter in our group shot under 2"s. But they all killed elk.

 

[skidmark]

As Hand loaders and Hunters I believe each of us try to get the best
accuracy out of each rifle we have whatever it is. When we take them to the
field we know our equipment is as good as it can be. We usually are the only
variable in the process. With that said "what's good enough ?". I think everyone
will know what is his or her comfort zone. This is a good post.

 

[REDGREEN]

For me, it has to be sub moa, or it's down the road. Last falls mule was shot at 432 yards. The elk was 370 yards. Minute of barn just don't cut it with me.

 

[Guy Miner]

Guy,
Been away for a little while and not sure if you've had a chance to burn some new loads through the new CDL in 30-06 after the recent bedding job. That kid did a nice job and I was just wondering if it may have tightened things up a little.
Joe

Joe, matter of fact I've been out in the shop, loading some ammo specifically for that 700 CDL. Until now I've just been "borrowing" from the ammo I'd previously built for our old 1917 .30-06, and it's shot well, but not outstanding. I hunted with it last year though, heck it was a 1.5 MOA rifle, with ammo loaded for the other rifle.

Right now I've got some fresh Nosler Brass, Federal match primers, H4350 and 165 gr Noslers, both the Partitions and my favorite, the Ballistic Tip. I'm looking for 2800 - 2900 fps and MOA. We will see! :grin:

 

[Guy Miner]

I can honestly say that all my rifles deliver better than MOA with selected ammo, but I don't always carry the "selected" ammo when I go out. I want the bullet that will maintain integrity at the less than optimal impact angle and distance.

Right. I made that decision 12 years or so ago when I went up into the Wind Rivers for bull elk.

The 175 gr Sierra Gameking shot better on paper than the 175 Nosler Partition, from my 7mm Rem mag, but... I was pretty hooked on using the Partition. In retrospect, either bullet would likely have done just fine, but I've always been a Nosler fan.

Sometimes it's worth while to sacrifice a little accuracy to get that famous Partition performance.

Sometimes it's not necessary at all, as Partitions these days tend to shoot quite well.

Guy

 

[OU812]

Like others here I strive for the best accuracy I can get in my hunting rifles. If I hit 1 MOA or less I'm done. I see no reason to try and wear out my barrel trying to shave off another 1/4-1/2 inch when I'm going after deer and elk sized game at distances of 500 yards and less.

When working up loads I fire 3 round groups but in all honesty what I care about most in any of my hunting rifles is repeatability of the first shot because that is the shot that IMO counts the most. After working up what I feel is an accurate load I will come back to the range and fire one round from a cold fouled barrel and wait until the barrel is completely cold and fire a 2nd,then 3rd round. If I know where my rifle will put the first shot time and time again then it's up to me to make sure it gets to the POA. After that the animal is dead whether it knows it or not.

 

[cloverleaf]

I believe Jack O'Connor felt that anything under 1.5 MOA was the stuff of legend". 2" was acceptable for him If I remember what I read correctly. Im never satisfied with that but its certainly reasonable. Hitting a 6 inch circle off hand reliably is a lot more telling as far as hunting accuracy goes IMHO. CL

 

[Elkman]

Scotty
I knocked the elk down last Fall around 400/410 yards so I think it's doing just fine.

I think he is confused, the one he shot was about 100, mine was much farther.

Right now I have three rifles that will do 1/2 min. even with me behind the trigger. The 300 win mag has been a bug hole shooter since day one as has my little tactical .308. The STW has turned in some fine groups recently under .300, but I am still for searching for consistency. There is a couple of more in the safe that do under an inch a Remington .223, 98 Mauser .280 and another Remington 700, 7mm, mag thats a consistent shooter. I have done no load development for the whelen.
My guide with the rifles I consistently hunt with is, that if it won't shot under an inch, someone else will own it. I am picky about that. My longest elk kill to date has been over 500 yards. And my lifetime average range is probably close to 300. If you are shooting 2 inch groups at 100, that 10" at 500. A little wobble, and you may have a cripple instead of a steak.

 

[nvbroncrider]

I like mine to flat shoot my 280AI is unreal 338 is okay it's under an inch and a half but to me it's not good enough. 7 Mauser 1/2" then my 22-250 is probably the most accurate rifle I've ever seen outta the box. Factory .098" CFE hand loads .141" H380 .240" which to me in that gun is unacceptable. When I get time I will have to test another charge of 380 that has promise.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I won't keep a rifle that won't consistently shoot at least MOA...and I prefer sub-MOA.

Have owned a few rifles, and the only ones I was never able to make shoot was a Ruger mini 14 and a Remington model 7 in 308.

I go at things differently than some when loading ammo...I've never cared for sacrificing velocity/power to get accuracy...I'll keep at it until I find a load that has it "all" for a given round...I go into it knowing what velocity I want, and work on accuracy after that.

Some rifles are more contrary than others...but most will shoot pretty darn good these days...you just have to find what they like.

 

[FOTIS]

For me, it has to be sub moa, or it's down the road. Last falls mule was shot at 432 yards. The elk was 370 yards. Minute of barn just don't cut it with me.

Ditto!

Unless it is a lever with a maximum effective range of 150 yards.

 

[Anonymous]

Have owned a few rifles, and the only ones I was never able to make shoot was a Ruger mini 14....

Amen to that...I've tried like heck to make three of them shoot. No can do...