How Important is Accuracy in a Hunting Rifle?
- Thread starter effinggoof
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The obsession with accuracy in hunting rifles is interesting. The question was suggested, of two identical rifles one shot MOA and the other 2 MOA, which would you choose, I for one would choose the one which always put the cold bore shot on my point of aim. Turns out that legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock's M-70 was a 2 minute rifle, but he made head shots at 700 yards.
For those guys who live in the sticks and can shoot whenever the mood or opportunity presents itself, try this one. Put up a 100 yard target, and every morning for a month, go out before your coffee and fire a single shot at that target. In a month you'll know whether your rifle is up to all the bragin you do about it. I'd do it myself, but there is no month of the year here that you can see 100 yards for 30 consecutive days.
For those guys who live in the sticks and can shoot whenever the mood or opportunity presents itself, try this one. Put up a 100 yard target, and every morning for a month, go out before your coffee and fire a single shot at that target. In a month you'll know whether your rifle is up to all the bragin you do about it. I'd do it myself, but there is no month of the year here that you can see 100 yards for 30 consecutive days.
Yes, I have to agree. The "rush" that I feel when I spot what I am looking for is one reason why I still hunt.
This feeling can certainly interfere with steady hands to shoot with, lol.
"Mauler" is a big buck....sure to get the juices flowing!!
Eagleye
This feeling can certainly interfere with steady hands to shoot with, lol.
"Mauler" is a big buck....sure to get the juices flowing!!
Eagleye
The obsession with accuracy in hunting rifles is interesting. The question was suggested, of two identical rifles one shot MOA and the other 2 MOA, which would you choose, I for one would choose the one which always put the cold bore shot on my point of aim. Turns out that legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock's M-70 was a 2 minute rifle, but he made head shots at 700 yards.
For those guys who live in the sticks and can shoot whenever the mood or opportunity presents itself, try this one. Put up a 100 yard target, and every morning for a month, go out before your coffee and fire a single shot at that target. In a month you'll know whether your rifle is up to all the bragin you do about it. I'd do it myself, but there is no month of the year here that you can see 100 yards for 30 consecutive days.
I am in complete agreement, and I might add that I will not keep a rifle that throws the first shot out of the subsequent group.
If this shot is only from a CLEAN, cold barrel, but not a DIRTY, cold barrel, that is OK. I do not hunt with a clean, unfouled barrel anyway.
My 700SSDM actually shoots a better group, using the one shot each morning, than just shooting 3-5 consecutive shots at one setting.
Either way, it is very accurate, so no complaints there.
Regards, Eagleye.
There is a lot of merit in a hunting rifle that puts the first shot consistently on target. Although its nice to have a hunting rifle that shoots a cloverleaf group, its that dependable first shot that is the most valuable to me. I can however see that other hunting scenarios might have vastly different requirements. If you are shooting prairie dogs for an afternoon, a tight large shot grouping would be valuable. For my whitetail rifle though, its usually a one shot event, as I hunt from a blind or stand and take my time.
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
This. This is probably my favorite part of hunting. Glassing for Moose all week and seeing nothing but black stumps. Then pulling up and seeing horns attached to that stump...it catches you off gaurd and almost puts a lump in your throat
