Accurracy Question....

[JackOfAllTrades]

Remember.. Tune your gun/ammo for the best possible outcome from the bench. Then, practice with it offhand, sitting, kneeling, prone, leaning the gun/forward hand on a tree branch/trunk. That is the true test of a shooter and his rifle. I've seen so many people miss long shots on Muley's over the years that were makeable shots if they'd have just taken time to get a little rest/advantage.

-Steve

[44 Flattop]

I personally feel target shooting is WAY underrated by hunters.  You learn much about your gun, your load and yourself when you are trying to shoot li'l tiny groups.  If a hunter can get to the point where he can shoot a 1.5" group, a 1" group or even a 1/2" group at 100 he effectively works out any possible kinks in RIFLE performance.  What is left is now an excuseless hunter/shooter.   

There are no drawbacks being able to shoot small groups.  Too many hunters have never heard an old time rule of thumb.  1 shot for every yard you plan to shoot over, at game.  For instance, if you plan to shoot a deer at 150 yards, that dictates 150 practice rounds fired.  Or at 500 yards you should be planning on shooting 500 rounds.  If hunters followed that rule today there would be much less wounded game.

[Bofire]

  I think you are probably shooting as well or better than most the "bug hole" internet shooters. I am telling you!! there are some bad azz groups shot with a keyboard!
Carl

[dscubame]

I think you are probably shooting as well or better than most the "bug hole" internet shooters. I am telling you!! there are some bad azz groups shot with a keyboard!
Carl

LOL 

[Hilltop123]

"Cold bore shot" nuff said

[JackOfAllTrades]

"Cold bore shot" nuff said

YES!  Know where your cold bore shot hits and you'll only need one shot to make a humane kill.

-Steve

[Bob33]

I think you are probably shooting as well or better than most the "bug hole" internet shooters. I am telling you!! there are some bad azz groups shot with a keyboard!
Carl

LOL 

I think quite a few internet shooters must stop at one shot when measuring group size...

Really, it's just a small part of success.  How well you can find and stalk game, and shoot under field conditions are so much more important.

[sakoshooter]

Bob, you're absolutely right about hunting.
As for group size: I am very picky. And never satsified. That's not to say "I" can shoot that good, LOL. Especially since my eyes ain't what they used to be. It's as much of a hobby as it is a test to find the ultimate accurate hunting load.
Out of all the different bullets I've loaded and shot threw all the different rifles over 30+ yrs of reloading, I've never really seen a 'bad' load. Some are better than others but most would have been accurate enough for most hunting situations.
I do use an adjustable front rest w/leather sand filled rear bag and bed my rifle into it as best as possible at the range on a solid bench. All my loads are shot this way and all info recorded.
Once a load is picked for the upcoming season, I then start practicing off my shooting sticks while kneeling and sitting. Mostly at 200yds at the gongs at Paul Bunyan Sportsmans club in Puyallup. With practice, I can hit the gongs most of the time sitting or kneeling. With my shooting sticks, I can hit them every time and that's important for me and why I almost always use my shooting sticks in the woods.

[GregMcFadden]

"Cold bore shot" nuff said

Just make sure you do everything the same every time.  I have a particular rifle, that shoots low by 3/4" when cold bore shot when it has had at least three rounds fired through it after cleaning, but shoots 1.5 inches right after a good cleaning.  (all at 100 yards)

[demontang]

If im working a load Ill use a good rest and sandbags. My mossberg .243 is shooting .25" groups with 55gr noslers and .50" with 95gr noslers. When I go to sticks and sitting your looking at 1" on average with the same loads. With all my guns I try to shoot with the sticks out to 400yds or more and hit a 8-10" gong. and when I cant hit it every time I back off to where I can and call that my hunting max range.

[Hornseeker]

Lots of great points... thank you.

As for the hunting and stalking and such... this gun is for my daughter and she'll be taught all of that through the years. As for me, I've only taken a "few" long shots over the years...most of my game in the last decade has fallen inside 100 yards... and I think 1 1/2 inch groups will do just fine on an elk/deer/lope at 10 yards!!!

But...the illusive MOA and smaller can still drive a guy mad!!!!