I’m also asking...for all the guys who post pics of their subMOA groups, are they doing it while also shooting off a sled? Are their pics truly representative of their actual abilities, if shot without a sled?
One reason I don't post pictures, and some people claim a lot of stuff.
1. 3 shots in not a test, 5 is the minimum and 10 really tells the story.
(note: I usually shoot 5 shot groups and I get a kick out of a sub 1/2 MOA group, I know I am not in Mississippi league - so I know I am fooling myself, but as long as I know that, and I always put down, if I am ON, I can shoot X)
I know one reason for me is that 5 shots stretches my ability to be that consistent for a 10 shot string. I need to relax and regroup between.
2. People will throw up a common factory rifle and say they shoot really good with it. Some are factual not correct (grin) and some do. They got lucky and got a good factory gun.
Then that same person will extrapolate it out and say everyone can do it with all factory guns. A single point is not data. I always shoot a hole in on my first shot. Its those next ones that screw things up.
Day in day out, you can't shoot better than the equipment. You may be the worlds best and MXISUMIXZE that gun, but nothing you do as a spectacular shooter is going to be BETTER than the gun (equipment)
The answer can vary. I have 3 guns that are solid actions, good stocks, good scopes. I have one that I have a couple of loads for that always shoots 1/2 MOA or a bit better, if I am on that day. Some days I am not and its 5/8 to 3/4.
You can borrow a gun from a friend. Iffy but if he has good loads and shoots it well and you do to, then you know within X, how good a shooter you are with known good equipment and loads.
I also do a lot of test loads. I have had solid loads that went South and I have yet to figure out why they did that.
As Mississippi noted though, data is critical, meticulous data. I suspect I got data wrong and got off.
I am not a minuta kind of guy, to get there I have to work up to that.
The more focused OCCD you are the better off you are (shooting, its probably going to mess with the other parts of your life ( sans some good compartmentalizing).
I do this for entertainment, I don't do it to impress anyone other than myself and sometimes my brother. We get a kick out of it when the other guys shoots a really great group (sub 1/4 MOA in my book)
Last week a causal known guy at the range asked to look at my shooting notes. He is going down my same road. He wanted to know how to take data that was informative.
Happy to let him, but how I do it, suits me, not him necessarily thought it can give him ideas.
Always check the basics. Base tight, scope rings tight. Action screws tight. Check the stock clearance (I use Hornady white lube, smear all over the bottom of the action, tighten the action screws and take out, shows you even contact or uneven and where - a good bedding job on the action helps a lot - I have Boyds stocks and those are very even so they are not bedded - the tang usually has contact though and I remove that) and make sure there is not a pressure point. Free float the barrel if there is contact . Last resort is a pressure point.
I shoot off bags, not lead sled. I don't learn how to shoot off a lead sled.
Granted I likely loose there as well.
But again its for my fun so I prefer it that way.