Factory Rifle great groups

ffgats

ffgats

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Lets limit our discussion on Factory Rifles not custom built, what would you consider a good accurate rifle either with factory ammo or handloads. Not a one time 5 shot group but consistent all day.

My Tikka T3X Varmint 308 20” occasionally will shoot. .40” , but .70” is the real accuracy in a 100 round session.
The Tikka T3X 223 Varmint 24” shoots better and .500” is the norm, .sometimes.250” shows up. in a 100 round shooting

Maybe a little twicking and tuning on my load?, bullet/ powder combo? Btw tried different Ogive oal and no difference at all, could also be my powder measure.
Or Should I just leave it and shoot.
My load for 308 , 175SMK with either VV 140(43grs)and N150(43.5grs) 155grs Hornady- 44grs N140
223 Load- 62gr.Hornady and 22gr of H335, same load as my “late” retired AR
Merry Christmas
 
Load development is getting expensive acquiring different brands of components, maybe should call it good for now.
 
So going back to the original topic, what groups would you consider a good accuracy for a factory rifle, this not about brands and makes but groups.
 
Well - Bear in mind that groups represent the uncertainty imposed by both the rifle and the shooter. If you are a 0.4 moa shooter, and your rifle is 0.4 moa, the result is (sides of a triangle) 0.6 moa. If you have a 0.2 moa rifle with the same shooter, the result will be slightly more than 0.4 moa. Can you see where I'm going with this?
Not too many years ago, getting moa at 100 y out of a factory rifle was considered to be an accomplishment. Now it is commonplace, but getting closer to 0.5 moa becomes exponentially more difficult, if not impossible if the shooter cant hold their end of the bargain.
 
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I may not have a good concept on expectations,
But if a 1500$/1750$ rifle (or less) shoots sub 3/4 minute all day with hand loads, I consider it a good rifle.
 
Thanks for all your inputs, although inside of me wants to continue finding the best load for my rifle, I guess its the fun and the motivation you get in reloading,,
 
For a few years after I started shooting paper, I purchased 3-4 factory rifles / yr .... worked up loads...and sold them (usually after about 300 rounds). Among the dozen or so rifles I had during that time, I could get most to agg about 3/4” @ 100M. These included sporter Tikka’s, Sako’s, Kimber’s, and TC Icons. I also had a couple of heavy barrel factory rigs that would agg about 1/2” @ 100M. (A Sendaro and an LTR ...the latter was closer to .4” aggs).
 
I'll sell a factory hunting rifle if it won't shoot at least 1/2 moa out to 300. Factory varmint rifles I strive for 1/4 moa or better. As a competitive shooter and anal retentive hand loader, I admit to placing too much expectation on most factory rifles I currently or previously have owned.
 
Rem 5R gen 1 was my first rifle that shot one hole 3 shot groups more often than not, and 1/2" at 200 very common 3 shot... with factory FGMM or the standard smk175/42.1g 4064/gmm210/lap brass/2.80 coal load. 5 shot many opened up to 1/2-5/8 MOA - still good groups, football shaped.
Sig 3000 308 was another rifle that shot 168smk's 5 shots into 1/2moa to 200 yds more often than not - 300 yds they printed inside a 3"x3" square
Both were straight factory everything rifles. All I did was turn the triggers to their lightest safest setting, and played with torque on the action bolts

Rebarrelled the 5r to a 260, and the sig to a 6.5x47
When the targets really shone was when a new quality barrel was spun on, both rifles... was able to get sub 4" 600 yd loads with regularity, which for me was stellar!

My abilities were the limiting factor for consistency.
 
hend238 said:
I'll sell a factory hunting rifle if it won't shoot at least 1/2 moa out to 300. Factory varmint rifles I strive for 1/4 moa or better. As a competitive shooter and anal retentive hand loader, I admit to placing too much expectation on most factory rifles I currently or previously have owned.
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Well those are some pretty high expectations of factory rifles!
 
Buckmastr said:
Well those are some pretty high expectations of factory rifles!
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Yes they are. I usually can achieve those results but I should state that I don't buy budget factory firearms and my loading techniques are far from amateur.

With all that said, I once had a factory Savage Fclass in 6.5-284 that would consistently shoot 15 shot 1/2+ moa groups at 900 meters. I couldn't believe how well that rifle shot. It took 300 rounds for the barrel to settle in and to find a load mind you but man did that thing shoot for the remaining 600 rounds or so of its barrel life. I sold it in favour of building a full custom. I now shoot a 284 Shehane built on a Bat action, etc, etc and it's not much better than that Savage was. More consistent perhaps.

I'll add that those 900m groups were shot in competition with the benefit of eyeballing the shot markers on the other targets when they popped up. I'm not a good enough wind reader at those distances to judge conditions simply on my own.
 
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Buckmastr said:
Good shooting. The 900m targets are tricky, so they say. Apparently where the match is won or lost.
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Thanks. I always seem to do better beyond 600 for some reason. Anyway, back on track. Sorry for the hijack OP.

I personally think it's hard to find a more accurate factory rifle than a Sako 75 era or older providing the barrel is not shot out. That goes for early Tikkas as well. Every single one I've owned meets my accuracy expectations with little effort. Remember when TRG's were only $1200?! I should have bought them by the case full. Awesome factory rifles but holy smokes are they spendy now. I'm sure Sako 85's are very accurate rifles but I don't feel they are worth the money, like TRG's, and most factory rifles these days actually that are in the price range of the average joe.
 
Just got a new Anschutz 1771 in .222
Also bought the GRS stock.

Put it through a 50 round breakin.

Then strapped on my Kahles 625i and loaded up a quick middle of the road ladder.
N-130 with 55gr Lapua SPs in Nosler cases.

Was very pleased to yield a .42” 5-shot group my first outing, especially since it was bitterly cold and I was using a glove.
Another load produced a .30” 4-shot group but the “flyer” opened that up to .47”

Looking forward to continued load development with this setup.

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When assessing initial “capability”, I always shoot at least four consecutive 5 shot groups on a single target panel @ 100M to establish the agg. Keeps me honest:)
 
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