What's an acceptable 3 shot Grouping to you??

[halflife65]

am i crazy or is 10" at 100 and a paper plate at 50 acceptable?  I couldn't feel confident shooting any further than 50 or 100 if thats how i sighted in......even at that I wouldn't feel confident i could hit the animal in the correct location.   

Pretty sure that those people are joking.  Nobody in their right mind thinks that's acceptable. 

I

[KimberRich]

I should have clarified the original post more...

I was thinking about big game rifles when I started the topic and should have stated that.  I also demand more from my varmint/coyote guns like most of you.. As for bench rest and competition rifles thats a different story.

From what I've read the average acceptable group so far is around 1" at 100 yards.

My opinion is that if you can shoot a .25" group of 5 shots at 200 yards out of a non custom gun with factory ammo, you should quit your day job and become a professional shooter.  I'm not saying it isn't possible but I would have to witness it to believe it. 

[CP]

Group size is a range thing and by its self it doesn’t mean squat in a hunting situation.  Shooting a one hole doesn’t put meat on the table if it is 2 feet off your point of aim.  POA plus or minus 4 inches (8” group) may sound sloppy but it is good enough to put an animal down effectively.  If I am confident that I can achieve that I will take the shot.  The range will vary with the situation, weapon I’m using, off-hand, solid rest, leaning against a tree, wind speed, how hard I’m breathing, etc, etc, etc. 

[halflife65]

Group size is a range thing and by its self it doesn’t mean squat in a hunting situation.  Shooting a one hole doesn’t put meat on the table if it is 2 feet off your point of aim.  POA plus or minus 4 inches (8” group) may sound sloppy but it is good enough to put an animal down effectively.  If I am confident that I can achieve that I will take the shot.  The range will vary with the situation, weapon I’m using, off-hand, solid rest, leaning against a tree, wind speed, how hard I’m breathing, etc, etc, etc. 

Sure, bench shooting in an unpressured environment is A LOT easier than shooting under pressure.  But if you know that you can trust your rifle to be very accurate and precise, it gives you that much more confidence in your shot.  The more confidence you have (and I don't mean the kind of over-confidence that leads to poor shot selection) the less nervous you'll be and the better chance you'll make a good shot. 

I think that it's important to be able to shoot well at the range because it helps you in a hunting situation - where excitement can get to you. 

[thinkingman]

Groups are nice and I can shoot sub-moa but it's the first shot that counts.
Cold barrel, like it was a game animal and you had one shot to drop it.
That's how I look at my hunting rifles.

[Hillbilly270]

Group size is a range thing and by its self it doesn’t mean squat in a hunting situation.  Shooting a one hole doesn’t put meat on the table if it is 2 feet off your point of aim.  POA plus or minus 4 inches (8” group) may sound sloppy but it is good enough to put an animal down effectively.  If I am confident that I can achieve that I will take the shot.  The range will vary with the situation, weapon I’m using, off-hand, solid rest, leaning against a tree, wind speed, how hard I’m breathing, etc, etc, etc. 

so say u shoot an 8" group at 100..........would you feel comfortable shooting a deer at 300.....i mean shooting AT a deer at 300.

[Bofire]

 :)It is not the recoil of a light rifle that I do not like, I do not like shooting them off hand, a little weight is a lot of steady, that said, there are other things I do not like about Kimber and Cooper.
Carl

[dbllunger]

.5" for 3 at 100yds on my big game rifles.  All shooting done for pure accuracy as that is what I try to determine.  Will not hunt with it if 1" or larger.  Yes I reload, gunsmith, and do what ever it takes.  If it won't do 1" or less then time for a trade or re-barrel, or ?  My Varmint guns have to be under .5".  Most factory guns will do it with reloads, bedding, trigger, and a lot of load developement.

[rasbo]

Im happy with 1" groups at a hundred,all my guns except for the muzzy will do that and I dont reload..hitting a pie plate and calling it good aint right in my mind,but I aint right anyway

[rover747]

i usually sight in my rifle at 200 yards , my latest group at 200 is from 0.5 inch to less than 1 inch max ,but it is shooting from sand bag  . I have 308 Remington SPS tactical ,20 inch heavy barrel . As scope is Leupold . We did bedded rings ,and we put double tapes at scope mounts which really improve groups .I have a buddy who do same groups with his custom semi auto Fulton in 308 .No BS .

[cully]

My featherweight and I can get .75 groups at 100 using cheap ammo, if I couldn't do at least under an 1" grouping at 100 from a bag or sticks, I would get a new rifle/scope/mounts or take up horse shoes.

[MtnMuley]

With all this being said,  and not to get off topic, being able to find the game and get in a steady position to take the shot in the field and make it count, is what it all boils down to.  Confidence is very important.

[cully]

Yep agreed, Being able to calm nerves is another important factor in the field and shooting straight, it's funny how bad one can shoot when one gets the fever, so much for 1" groups then! Not that I would know.

[Bofire]

 :)Groups are great and do boost confidence. but delivery under hunting conditions is different. I see lots of guys I know shoot (practice) at a bench sitting down. That aint much.
How do you do standing sitting leaning quickly laying wet dim light sun in eyes, this is what needs practice.
Carl

[runamuk]

:)Groups are great and do boost confidence. but delivery under hunting conditions is different. I see lots of guys I know shoot (practice) at a bench sitting down. That aint much.
How do you do standing sitting leaning quickly laying wet dim light sun in eyes, this is what needs practice.
Carl

actually sun glare in scope I am getting down pretty good...sitting on the ground off my knee is going well..off stumps kneeling or standing yep.....haven't tried prone yet need shooting sticks as well.......I am pretty good IF I have something to rest on and it doesn't take much I just cannot yet keep my rifle still enough off hand.....and my groups looked a hell of a lot better off a bench with a proper rest... they were touching a whole lot more often than off all the crap found at clearcuts and gravel pits  I like practicing though and my goal is always to have them touching...I don't reach my goals every time but keep improving.....