Practical Accuracy

[Bart B.]

Zach, the NRA standing records with both smallbore rimfire at 50 yards and high power rifle at 200 yards are 20 shots in about 2 MOA. Yet each shot struck within 1/2 MOA of where it was called. If a shot was fired when the sights werer aligned at the edge of the high scoring ring at 3 o'clock (.5 MOA right of center with smallbore, .75 MOA with high power) when the rifle fired and the bullet struck within 1/2 MOA or less of that point, that's as good as one can get. Their next shot may strike within 1/4 MOA from where the sights were aligned, or where the shot was called, when the rifle fired, that's better. And shots fall all around where they're called. That's how rifles can get a zero on their sights shot from standing/offhand. The better the shooter and rifle, the fewer shots it takes.

Such is life when someone's able to get well aimed shots off and call their shots inside a 1.5 MOA area about dead center on the target. Gary Anderson's high power record shot in 1971 still stands; 200-15X with 15 shots in the 3" X ring and the other five barely out in the 10 ring. Shot with a Win. 70 chambered for the .308 Win using aperture sights.

 

[zach_]

I would not attempt to zero a rifle offhand. I am very happy with a 2" group once in a while from 25 yards offhand with an ar15. Those groups come in the first few groups of a shooting session if at all. Yesterday was not as good. I could only shoot about 100 rounds from my AR before my back forced me to stop. I don't know if it is my stance, or my age.

 

[5whiskey]

Practical accuracy will change from person to person, situation to situation. If you're training for a SWAT entry team, practical accuracy is within 6-7moa as fast as you can pull the trigger. Reaction time and speed on target is more important than holding tiny ragged hole groups. Likewise, the weekend soda can plinker likely wants to hit his target most of the time but he many not be trying to shoot .5moa 10 round groups at 500 meters. As long as he hits his soda can most of the time he'll be happy. The hunter, likewise, usually is happy hitting a deer's vitals out to 200 yards or so. Reaction time can be important in hunting, especially on moving game, but typically there's at least a little time to set up for the shot. Varmint hunters are a different breed and they will likely not be satisfied with a 1.5moa rifle the same way a deer hunter would be.

Then there's the competition shooting circles. There, practical accuracy is measured by a vastly different set of rules. I don't compete, but I come closer to using these standards than the "minute of deer." Although I don't compete, the rifle I shoot primarily has been completely reworked by me. I've changed the barrel, made a stock by hand, did all of the trigger work, bedded the action, and I handload the rounds for it. To me it's about seeing how good I can make this rifle shoot. The act of getting behind the gun and pulling the trigger is rather easy now. I can't remember the last time a pulled a shot with it. It's been a while. I've also put quite a few rounds through it... into the thousands. That's a lot of rounds shooting 5 round groups at a time, moving from 300, 400, 500, 600 yard lines to observe your groups, and setting back up again. So the point is, I should be good with the darn thing and I shouldn't be pulling any shots from the prone since I'm that comfortable with it.

On another note, Bart's mentions of calling shots is something everyone should note. To me, that's when I honestly started to realize that I was an accomplished shooter (at least by my standards). I think just about anyone could take my rifle and shoot 1moa groups from the prone with the bipods with a little practice and some coaching. I used to think small groups was good shooting, but it wasn't until I could shoot various unsupported positions and tell someone where my slight miss would end up with almost 100% accuracy that I honestly saw the big picture.

My opinion is a Rifle should shoot 1/4 to 1/2 at 100 yds on a sand bag and shooting bench . Any lack of accuracy in the field off hand or leaning aginst a tree is my fault .

Production rifles have come a LOOOONG way over the years, but 1/4 to 1/2 moa is an unrealistic standard for your typical production rifle. Custom guns? Sure. The run of the mill Remington 700? Not so much. I'm not saying that no production gun will shoot this well. I've seen a Winchester model 70 and a Savage 110 hold right at 1/2 moa out of the box. I've seen many many others that will not.

 

[psalm7]

My .300 WM has stainless 26" heavy barrel 1 in 10 twist free floated in a kevlar stock and on a good day I can shoot 1/4 . I do have a older Ruger 25-06 M77 that shot 1/2 out of the box and I was trying some new hand loads last week in it and it shoots as good as ever .
What I get from Barts comments is I for one should work more off hand shooting into my shooting but I still like to take a rest and see how small a group I can shoot . As far as zeroing I have always "roughed in ' to get on paper off hand then moved to the bench to zero .