Do better equipment make 1/2 MOA more easy to attain?
- Thread starter 45C
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Best place to buy barrels is from F class shooters selling their used gear for cheap. Most are super long so making it shorter is easy when you rechamber. Issue is the heavy contour if looking for a hunting contour (cheaper to just buy a new blank then screw around recontouring)
But if you wanted to build a heavy barrel tactical rifle or ELR hunting rig, a chopped down FTR or Open barrel yields a contour very similar to the Rem sniper rifle contour (17HV). The big bonus, you know the barrel shot well. Just chop off the first 3 to 4" of the no taper shank to get rid of the majority of rifling damage
Or just buy from the same barrel manfs they use.
Jerry
PS... a truly competitive F class rifle has to shoot in the 3's at 1000yds over 17 to 30rds.... from winter cold to summer heat. 1/2 MOA at 100yds is the least of our problems
The bottom line says it all...
But you can find factory rifles that can.... just alot harder in a magnum of any kind. I wonder if he will allow a 223 with handloads? If you have to use factory ammo as well, that gets to be real tough.
If you can use a factory rifle and handloads, go find an older Savage 10 FV, plastic stock heavy barrel in the same era the Stevens 200 came out new (early 1990s). These shot really well and sub moa with handloads was a given. I had a few tickling 1/2 moa with varmint bullets.
Rem 783's in 223 are also great contenders.
But all the typical tuning should be done.
currently, got a Rem 783 with a factory 223 barrel, chopped w/muzzle threaded (after picture was taken) that can comfortably shoot 1/2 moa or better with Speer 50gr TNT.
Jerry
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A true half inch rifle is sweet and makes half inch groups fairly easy when conditions are right but five half inch groups in a row is a tall order for most shooters...A mediocre rifle can do half inch on occasion but will more than not frustrate if not exasperate you.
Match bullets sure would help.
Match bullets sure would help.
A wise man once said " there are a lot more 1/2 MOA rifles out there than there are 1/2 MOA shooters"
Cat
Weight is likely part of the issue. The guys in here are super knowledgeable and providing great advice. Lots of people claim a 1/2 moa gun but are full of it. A real 1/2 moa gun will in most cases have a heavy barrel, at the very most a 1.5lb trigger (and that’s heavy), and will definitely weigh over 10lbs likely more like 15lb
I don’t think your reloading equipment is your weak link but as mentioned your projectiles probably are
If it was me I would try these steps in order:
- target projectiles
- better rest/bags
- increase rifle weight
- lighter trigger
- have someone you know is shooting legit 1/2moa groups shoot the rifle in person to troubleshoot
There’s a 50 meter range close by so I tried her out.
Factoring Hornady 143 precision hunter
Second picture was mid load 7828 Hornady 143 elf-x.
First three were tight last two opened it up.
Odd thing was mid load 7828 called for 2900 fps out of a 26 inch barrel.
I was averaging 3000 fps out of a 20 inch barrel.
Getting an extraction swipe too
Also, I was using bags and I adjusted the Bix n Andy trigger to just a touch over 1 lb.
She’s touchy
Factoring Hornady 143 precision hunter
Second picture was mid load 7828 Hornady 143 elf-x.
First three were tight last two opened it up.
Odd thing was mid load 7828 called for 2900 fps out of a 26 inch barrel.
I was averaging 3000 fps out of a 20 inch barrel.
Getting an extraction swipe too
Also, I was using bags and I adjusted the Bix n Andy trigger to just a touch over 1 lb.
She’s touchy
Attachments
Yes, factory Hornady hunter and hand loads I had for another rifle 7828 powder which I’ve never had much luck with.
I have H1000 that I’ll try, I e had much better results with that in the past.
The gun comes with a 3/4 moa guarantee, I’d be satisfied with that.
Never shot of bags much and the ones I have don’t have much play, like sandbags
I recently had a Winchester XPR, sporter 19 barrel that I could consistently shoot 1 MOA and sometimes a bit better
There’s a 50 meter range close by so I tried her out.
Factoring Hornady 143 precision hunter
Second picture was mid load 7828 Hornady 143 elf-x.
First three were tight last two opened it up.
Odd thing was mid load 7828 called for 2900 fps out of a 26 inch barrel.
I was averaging 3000 fps out of a 20 inch barrel.
Getting an extraction swipe too
Also, I was using bags and I adjusted the Bix n Andy trigger to just a touch over 1 lb.
She’s touchy
Not trying to be an @$$hole or disrespectful but at 50m it should be easily 5 shots thru 1 hole
You can do 0.50" at 50m with a Ruger Ranch 762x39 with Barnaul Ammo
LOL, hardly.
This is most likely true.
It is never just one thing. Accuracy is the sum total of a dozen factors.
When you say you are shooting "off bags" what does that mean? Like the rifle is resting on a single bag with one point of contact, so it can rock up and down?
If you want accuracy you need a front rest and rear bag with ears so that the rifle is supported front and rear.
Marksmanship is one possibility, particularly when heavier recoil is involved.
Another possibility is that your Fierce rifle may be a dud.
Fierce's reputation for quality control and customer service isn't great. The older Quebec (Antler-made) rifles were well regarded. But more than a few people have had issues with the newer US rifles.
This is probably the best known example of Fierce issues, made by a fellow that received a rifle that had no rifling at all:
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/fierce-firearms-disaster.293232/
Normally the easy answer is marksmanship. Being that this is a Fierce rifle it might not be the nut behind the trigger.
Another possibility is that your Fierce rifle may be a dud.
Fierce's reputation for quality control and customer service isn't great. The older Quebec (Antler-made) rifles were well regarded. But more than a few people have had issues with the newer US rifles.
This is probably the best known example of Fierce issues, made by a fellow that received a rifle that had no rifling at all:
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/fierce-firearms-disaster.293232/
Normally the easy answer is marksmanship. Being that this is a Fierce rifle it might not be the nut behind the trigger.
The OP hasn't been able to achieve 1/2 MOA with any of his rifles according to post #1
He said he can't shoot 5x5 groups all under 0.5 moa. Which suggests he's capable of shooting some 1/2 moa groups with his good rifles. If he said he couldn't shoot 2 moa consistently that would be different.
The targets he posted at 50m are closer to 3 moa. The first 3 shots being close, then opening up significantly, suggests a barrel or bedding (stress) issue to me. Marksmanship skills are certainly a factor, but enough Fierce owners have had similar accuracy issues that the possibility should not be discounted with that particular rifle.
The targets he posted at 50m are closer to 3 moa. The first 3 shots being close, then opening up significantly, suggests a barrel or bedding (stress) issue to me. Marksmanship skills are certainly a factor, but enough Fierce owners have had similar accuracy issues that the possibility should not be discounted with that particular rifle.
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Yes, and I have had lots of rifles.
I may have fluked into a few 5 rnd 1/2 moa groups but not consistently.
Had lots under an inch.
All I’ve ever used was hunting bullets an a Led Sled.
yesterday I was using factory Hornady hunter and a few hand loads I had left over.
Going to do some loading with H1000 and see if I can get something to group.
I have Nosler 140 BT, Hornady 143 eldx and Berger 140 elite hunter.
