Accuracy question

Mumptia

Mumptia

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LaCrete, Alberta
I sighted my BLR in at the range on Sat and I got my groups in to what I consider a kill grouping (not match by any stretch)

With my .308 I am 1/12" high at 100yds and I am grouping 2" and under.

Is there a general rule of thumb for hunting rifles in terms of accuracy?

I mean is there such thing as a short action tack driver or is the long barrel the only tool to use.

I went from a .30.30 to a .308 and maybe I'm still not used to the energy change. I used to get 1/2" to 1" groups with the ol 336, but I can't suck my .308 in any tighter with my present loads.

Wait now..... If I change my loads will that help?

Anyway, this starts the thread.

Sure would appreciate some insight:cool:
 
Any gun, no matter what make or caliber, is going to like some types of ammuntion over another, whether or not they are reloads or factory.

Some rifles I have had shot absolutely everything with aplomb - good groups with practically anything I put through it (just different points of impact.) Others were a real bugger to try and find a bullet and powder combination for that didn't group outside of a wash basin. :runaway:

Part of the fun of shooting is experimentation. ;) If you only shoot factory, there are literally dozens of different loads and combinations you could try within your particular caliber. If you handload, that possibility is increased exponentially as you can make a plethora of different combinations of bullet, powder, primer and brass in your quest for accuracy.

With the groups you are getting with your rifle, I wouldn't really be compaining much; you are well within "minute of whitetail." I am sure that some experimentation with different loads/bullets will find you a substantially better load, but you have to ask yourself for what purpose?

If you plan on shooting deer way out past 400 yards, you may want to do some serious load development (oh, and practice your butt off as well!:p )

But at deer hunting ranges that a BLR is typically used at (200 yards or less) that level of accuracy is more than enough and will guarantee hits on deer sized game, so much as you do your part. Shooting varmints/small game at long range? Yes, MOA or better is a neccessity. Shooting deer sized game at close to moderate range, then that level of accuracy is rather superfluous.

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As long as you limit yourself to animals bigger than 2", you should be alright.

The downside is, you might lose out on a record book field mouse!
 
in reality you should be fine, 2moa is still hitting within 3" of where you're aiming at 300 yards, assuming your point of aim is in the middle of your groups.

I personally like 1.25" 3 shots or better, but it really isnt needed. just gives more confidence
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in reality you should be fine, 2moa is still hitting within 3" of where you're aiming at 300 yards, assuming your point of aim is in the middle of your groups.
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In theory yes,but the accuracy level often drops off as distance increases.Those 2moa groups at 100 yards often become 3moa or 4moa groups at 300 yards.
 
I wouldn't sleep if thats the best I could shoot with a .308. A great accurate bullet shooting like that....I wouldn't have it. There are so many variables but if thats the best I could get....I would get a new gun.

I bought a brand new rifle once and the best I could get with 10 different boxes of shells was 3" @ 100 yards. Cost me another $250 bucks in shells to loose $200 off the price of the gun when I took it back and couldn't get a refund!!!! So I traded it (telling them it shoots like ####) the poor soul who they sold it to .......(I'm sure they didn't tell them the history). NEVER buy a ----- again.

George
 
You're fine unless you're one of those individuals who claim to take game at 400- 500 yards all the time.
I bet if you did a survey most game is taken in the 100-150 yard range, maybe less and your 2" moa would be fine.
 
Let's put your shooting into context. If your rifle shoots a 2" group - that means that every shot lands within 1" of where you intend it to land. In my book, that's pretty good - now, can you shoot up to that?

I have a .375 carbine with a 21 inch barrel, and I have a .308 target rifle with a 28" barrel. The carbine has fired groups which will give the target rifle a run for it's money - therefore I think it is safe to say that accuracy is independent of barrel length. Bore quality, tightness of the chambering, stiffness of the action, and the consistency and concentricity of the ammunition are far more important considerations with respect to accuracy.

Hunting scenarios can create some interesting problems for the marksman to solve, but none that can be solved by attempting to achieve a higher degree of accuracy from your rifle. Tweaking loads might give you a small measure of improvement, but choosing the correct bullet for the job at hand is, IMHO, more important.

Far to much is made of pin point accuracy in hunting rifles - yet we all want a rifle which will shoot sub MOA groups. In hunting, the first shot is most often all that matters. Therefore your first shot must be very close to where you wish to place it. Rather than shooting bullseye targets at a known distance, try to find a safe shooting area out in the sticks, set out a number of targets - say 5 without specific aiming points. Then without measuring the distance back to your firing point, fire one shot at each target from all the field positions - off hand at the close ones, sitting or kneeling at the further ones, and prone - if you can use it and still see the target - at the farthest. Score the targets by measuring from your bullet hole - if there is one - to the dimensional center of the target. Repeat this exercise regularly from different firing points, and in a variety of weather conditions. This simple exercise will make you far more confident when you shoot at game, than will shooting 1" groups at the bench.
 
Calum said:
Where you shooting offhand?
Or was the rifle strapped into a bench rest?
Either way I'd say your fine IMHO. :)
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sitiing position with the rifle on a sand bag tight to my shoulder.


That said, I have no problem hunting with this grouping

I think that I might try some different loads to see if I can get it in a bit tighter.

A set of lungs on a deer or a moose don't have a chance;)

I thought that shorter barrels were always more of an accuracy challenge than longer barrels (levers vs bolts). Now I'm thinking that loads might be more of a viable variable to explore.

Savage 17, no intentions of giving this BLR up. 2" groupings are too close to not try something different;)
 
unless it is open sights, then the longer barrel gives more accuracy due to the fact you have a longer sight radius

old myth - long barrels are more accurate than short ones :runaway:
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stubblejumper said:
Actually if anything shorter barrels are easier to get to shoot accurately because the shorter barrel is stiffer.
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Ok, made sense to me that if a bullet has more time in a barrel it will stabilize better and come out more accurate. I'm wrong.

I'll try some different loads and go fromo there.

Present recipe is 39 grains of 3031 with a 165 interbond

You fellas have any other recipes worthy of the BLR;)
 
I had no luck at all trying to get any accuracy out of 165 Interbonds in my 30-06 which is an accurate rifle... When trying different loads you may wish to try a different bullet. I found Hornady's spire point more accurate, so are Nosler Accubonds.
 
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