Who invited them!?

That could well be the problem, the guys next to you suck and they're hitting the edges of your target.As for me I have a built in excuse - I don't shoot well.

Oh man, did I totally miss the joke? I though Mr. Friendly was saying that noise may have distracted me ... Which it may in fact have done.
 
To the O.P.
What do you consider "acceptable" accuracy (size of group at 50 yds or M)?
What ammo are you using?
Is the ammo matched to your rifle? Have you tested several brands/speeds/types of ammo in your rifle under the same conditions?
What do you ultimately want to achieve?
 
To the O.P.
What do you consider "acceptable" accuracy (size of group at 50 yds or M)?
What ammo are you using?
Is the ammo matched to your rifle? Have you tested several brands/speeds/types of ammo in your rifle under the same conditions?
What do you ultimately want to achieve?


Hi,
Right now, I'm happy with consistent 1" groups at 50 yards. I shoot CCI SV mostly, though I did try S&B Canadian match.. shoots about the same as the CCI, but way more failures to eject. 1 or 2 per box with CCI, 5-10 with S&B.

No, I haven't experimented with a wide variety of ammo. I settled on the CCI after trying a handful of the usual mass market suspects.

My goal for now is to shoot more consistently with my basic setup. An old Marlin 989, 4x rimfire scope, CCI SV ammo.

I may play around with better ammo at some point... But I'm not a truly serious shooter. You can refer to post #20 here, if you're curious to see why I shoot at all. That said, I may go for the 100 yard challenge, which I think means that my ammo selection will become much more important. I'll see about that though... For now I'm just a hobby shooter.:cool:

Cheers,
Neil
 
An old Marlin 989, 4x rimfire scope, CCI SV ammo

There you go... cheap gun, scope, and ammo combo have probably reached their accuracy limit...



1. The gun may only be that accurate and better ammo isn't going to do any better. - Maybe look for an older bolt gun, like a single shot Anschutz, shultz&Larson, etc etc

2. At 50m with a 4x scope I can't even see the 'aim point' on the targets I benchrest shoot at... - pick up a scope with more mag, (16x, 24x, 36x etc) aim small shoot small.

3. CCI SV ammo is know to do exactly as you described in a bunch of different guns.. although should be more accurate then that it also isn't really what I would call 'MOA ammo', it might be close some times at 50m in high end rifles but at 100m not a chance.

Good luck on your journey!
 
Last edited:
There you go... cheap gun, scope, and ammo combo have probably reached their accuracy limit...



1. The gun may only be that accurate and better ammo isn't going to do any better. - Maybe look for an older bolt gun, like a single shot Anschutz, shultz&Larson, etc etc

2. At 50m with a 4x scope I can't even see the 'aim point' on the targets I benchrest shoot at... - pick up a scope with more mag, (16x, 24x, 36x etc) aim small shoot small.

3. CCI SV ammo is know to do exactly as you described in a bunch of different guns.. although should be more accurate then that it also isn't really what I would call 'MOA ammo', it might be close some times at 50m in high end rifles but at 100m not a chance.

Good luck on your journey!

Hi,
Thanks. I know it might be hard to believe, but I'm generally content with the accuracy I'm getting I also don't intend to upgrade my gear with anything I would not hunt with. I have a feeling though, that better ammo would have fewer fliers. And having fewer would make me happy.

That said, you may be right that's as good as my rifle will shoot. Keep in mind though, I don't expect it to be much more accurate. For small game though, it's accurate enough.

I'm.curious, how small is your aim point? I normally shoot at crosses 4" across and .5" thick.

Cheers,
Marlin989
 
Last edited:
Well, let's see... a puff of wind after your shot goes off... the guy shooting next to you deliberately put one outside your group - you tugged the bangswitch, shooting bench jiggled - or potentially a 'brainfart;'
 
Hi,
Right now, I'm happy with consistent 1" groups at 50 yards. I shoot CCI SV mostly, though I did try S&B Canadian match.. shoots about the same as the CCI, but way more failures to eject. 1 or 2 per box with CCI, 5-10 with S&B.......
gotta hate fte's
maybe a chamber clean would help, get rid of any 'carbon ring' build up
but those flyers? well so many excuses......:)
 
Well, let's see... a puff of wind after your shot goes off... the guy shooting next to you deliberately put one outside your group - you tugged the bangswitch, shooting bench jiggled - or potentially a 'brainfart;'

My guess straining too much. Eyes started to go out of focus.

Been there, done that. Was out last week shooting apatures for the first time. 4 within a inch at 50y, and then the 5th over 3 inch away. My cause was vision, started to strain to focus, and sent it. I even do that scoped, go out of focus. Cost me couple 3/4" groups at 100, to 1.4", all because a flier.

Personally to the OP, 1 " is acceptable with the setup you're using. You might get it down to 3/4 with better ammo. But you're probably at the limit.
 
My guess straining too much. Eyes started to go out of focus.

Been there, done that. Was out last week shooting apatures for the first time. 4 within a inch at 50y, and then the 5th over 3 inch away. My cause was vision, started to strain to focus, and sent it. I even do that scoped, go out of focus. Cost me couple 3/4" groups at 100, to 1.4", all because a flier.

Personally to the OP, 1 " is acceptable with the setup you're using. You might get it down to 3/4 with better ammo. But you're probably at the limit.

I get that loss of focus too, from time to time. And like you said, I'll sometimes send it too. I used to shoot with aperture sights, but I switched to a scope because of it being harder to focus. I tried using a larger aperture, but that just seemed to take too much off the accuracy.

And yeah, I figure I'm at or close to the limit. Once, only once, I managed to shoot just under 3/4" with the same rifle and setup. This is what got me thinking that it may be possible to shoot like that more frequently, if the ammo was a bit more consistent. Though no doubt, some of the fliers I am getting are my fault - rushed shot, etc.

Cheers,
Marlin989
 
Thanks for mentioning that. I haven't cleaned the chamber thoroughly in a while. Time for the bronze brush...

Soak the bore with a 'bore mop' and a cleaner that cleans carbon for 10-15min, and use a nylon brush after.

I was thinking about your failure to eject, and I would be willing to bet as its a semi-auto that it just needs more recoil behind it. 'target ammo' is generally subsonic 1070fps, clean your gun and try some of the target higher power rounds like 'Eley Force', or the old cheap 'federal auto match' (known to have fliers) ...I bet they cycle it
 
Soak the bore with a 'bore mop' and a cleaner that cleans carbon for 10-15min, and use a nylon brush after.

I was thinking about your failure to eject, and I would be willing to bet as its a semi-auto that it just needs more recoil behind it. 'target ammo' is generally subsonic 1070fps, clean your gun and try some of the target higher power rounds like 'Eley Force', or the old cheap 'federal auto match' (known to have fliers) ...I bet they cycle it

That's also a good thought. At first I was using Blazers - rarely had any FTEs. But the accuracy wasn't there at 50 yards. I'll check out some higher velocity ammo, though I still want to shoot subsonics.... from what I understand, those rounds tend to more consistent.

Federal Automatch was one of the first ones I had tried - and it was just like the S&B - at least several stovepipes per box. The CCI, while not the most consistent for accuracy, are the most reliable from the very small variety I've tried.

Anyway, I'll see what's locally available. It'll be interesting to see how much of a difference a good cleaning will make, before trying different ammo...

Cheers,
Marlin989
 
That's also a good thought. At first I was using Blazers - rarely had any FTEs. But the accuracy wasn't there at 50 yards. I'll check out some higher velocity ammo, though I still want to shoot subsonics.... from what I understand, those rounds tend to more consistent.

Federal Automatch was one of the first ones I had tried - and it was just like the S&B - at least several stovepipes per box. The CCI, while not the most consistent for accuracy, are the most reliable from the very small variety I've tried.

Anyway, I'll see what's locally available. It'll be interesting to see how much of a difference a good cleaning will make, before trying different ammo...

Cheers,
Marlin989

See if CT has Eley Sport. I know here it's going for 7.99 a box.
 
That's also a good thought. At first I was using Blazers - rarely had any FTEs. But the accuracy wasn't there at 50 yards. I'll check out some higher velocity ammo, though I still want to shoot subsonics.... from what I understand, those rounds tend to more consistent.

Federal Automatch was one of the first ones I had tried - and it was just like the S&B - at least several stovepipes per box. The CCI, while not the most consistent for accuracy, are the most reliable from the very small variety I've tried.

Anyway, I'll see what's locally available. It'll be interesting to see how much of a difference a good cleaning will make, before trying different ammo...

Cheers,
Marlin989

For sure, all of the ammo that I shoot is subsonic, but I pretty well only shoot bolt guns so the action isn't the problem, well I can't say that sometimes the action (me) IS the problem. Blazer is bulk stuff made by CCI, the issue is usually the thick waxy lube, more prominent usually in 'match chambers'. But semi-auto is far more finicky, search for some PRS 'Ruger 10-22' shooters comments and see what issues they have.

There are also 'semi-auto match' rounds, but you might be just better off with 'mini-mags' or Federal bulk if you are just shooting for hunting as I would want more 'lethal power' if complete precision isn't the main option. But I would also stay away from 'stinger ammo'
 
Back
Top Bottom