Accuracy for a varmint rifle?

A

abrahamsmith

New member
For those of you who shoot small critters, what accuracy do you find acceptable? How many rounds do you usually fire in a "session"? At what ranges? What calibers?

if you really want to get specific, what velocities and bullets?



just curious..
 
Acceptable accuracy depends on the critters your shootin. If your shootin p-dogs, crows or squirrels, It needs to shoot pretty tight. If your shooting coyotes, bobcats, etc. you have a little more wiggle room. The gun doesn't HAVE to shoot 1/8" at 400 yds, but it wouldn't hurt either.

The number of rounds fired depends on how many critters come to the call. For me it's crows at @ 100 yards or less with a .22wmr.
 
SFAIK, the only varmint hunters who really need near-perfect accuracy, and who shoot many rounds in one day, are the prairie dog hunters. As challenge, they try for hits at ranges well over 400 yards. In the larger PD towns, they might fire several hundred rounds in a day.

For other varmint hunting, many fewer shots are fired in any one day (or night). The density in terms of animals per square mile is just not that high.

The only time I ever got involved in many-shot, high-population density shooting was in northern Nevada some 20 years back. There was an incredible explosion in the jackrabbit population. A buddy and I parked his truck overlooking a few-acres area; we killed some 120 or so in just over an hour. We came back a week later; no evidence we'd reduced the population any.

(In Idaho farming areas at that time, the farmers built mile-long net-wire fences; a couple of hundred people would drive the rabbits into the vee and club them. Crop protection. Per a 1950-ish study from Texas A&M, seven jackrabbits eat as much grass as a cow. Sounds low; but, higher metabolic rate...)

FWIW, Art
 
Accuracy?????

Abe, I try to squeeze all the accuracy I can from each of my rifles and pistols. Then it does not matter what I used them for. But I am a year round shooter. I shoot 99% more in the off season than during hunting season. Bottom line, if I had a gun that would not shoot under an inch at a hundred, I would not be satisfied with it. That is not to say that it would not still be good enough to hunt with. I want all my rifles and pistol to shoot true and all my knives to have a razor edge. I get a lot of enjoyment in the time achieving both.:D Michael
 
I've been shooting PD now for 10yrs.Win,70 in .223 Heavy barrel Leupold scope 6.5X20 Timmy trigger.The first barrel lasted 9yrs. Shot about 5000rds through it.Bullets were "Key holeing" at 100rds.With NEW barrel, I now shoot "5 Shot" 1/2to3/4in groups all day 100yds at a bench. And I am NOT a Bench rest shooter. If more info, is needed please fill free to E-mail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top