Lever Gun Practical Accuracy for Hunting
- Thread starter Devlin
- Start date
for what its worth, peep sighting is the way to go an quite accurate for up to 100 meters hunting, which i nthe woods is quite far- an the gaps in trees become small. most shots in the 50-75m range are good to go.
i use a 375winchester with slow cast bullets- hunt deers with it in spring/summer, about to dust it off for a bit of gong shooting this week
i use a 375winchester with slow cast bullets- hunt deers with it in spring/summer, about to dust it off for a bit of gong shooting this week
I have lever actions from Winchester, Marlin and Browning that will shoot 1" groups at 100 yards when scoped. My eyes are not as sharp as they once were, so not sure what I could do with open sights now, as I haven't shot them opened sighted for awhile now. Used to be able to keep 3 in less than an inch.
I do have a couple newer rifles (to me) that I do need to try out, as they will be shot with open sights only (30-30, 356 and 375 Win). I do try different types of ammunition when possible, to see which the rifle prefers, and try to keep 100 rounds on hand for each after that.
I would suggest trying various types of ammo in your 30-30 to see which it prefers. You may find one that will do better for you.
Also, peeps can aid in improving your accuracy as you will have a longer sight plain than with a regular barrel mounted rear sight.
As far as acceptable accuracy, a 4" group at 100 yards will keep you in the 8" vital area of a deer at 100 yards. A 2" group will double your range to 200 yards.
Knowing your rifle's accuracy limitations is part of the shooting and hunting equation. Know your limits and stay within it and you should be just fine, as most big game animals are harvested within 150 yards.
Many people find that a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards with their scoped rifle is an acceptable accuracy level for most big game hunting. So don't get too caught up in a rifle not being accurate enough for hunting if it does not meet the 1" (or MOA) group size, in your iron sighted lever action rifle.
I do have a couple newer rifles (to me) that I do need to try out, as they will be shot with open sights only (30-30, 356 and 375 Win). I do try different types of ammunition when possible, to see which the rifle prefers, and try to keep 100 rounds on hand for each after that.
I would suggest trying various types of ammo in your 30-30 to see which it prefers. You may find one that will do better for you.
Also, peeps can aid in improving your accuracy as you will have a longer sight plain than with a regular barrel mounted rear sight.
As far as acceptable accuracy, a 4" group at 100 yards will keep you in the 8" vital area of a deer at 100 yards. A 2" group will double your range to 200 yards.
Knowing your rifle's accuracy limitations is part of the shooting and hunting equation. Know your limits and stay within it and you should be just fine, as most big game animals are harvested within 150 yards.
Many people find that a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards with their scoped rifle is an acceptable accuracy level for most big game hunting. So don't get too caught up in a rifle not being accurate enough for hunting if it does not meet the 1" (or MOA) group size, in your iron sighted lever action rifle.
my good for 100m load, is piss poor at a gong at * est for now 150m? (will fact check this next few shots)
im going to go out an shoot some 100m an work back in 25m to see where i fall off the gong-
Velocity is "low" to begin with, think of 38-55 spec... this doesnt aid distance with no hold over-
i was a target low with holding on , easily under the deers feet- not a thing to hold over- per se with the peep setup imo- but it does come down to being a Horse for its own course.
that is for me, 100m shots max, an obviously not in wide open fields..
ill post up a video to this tonight *
im going to go out an shoot some 100m an work back in 25m to see where i fall off the gong-
Velocity is "low" to begin with, think of 38-55 spec... this doesnt aid distance with no hold over-
i was a target low with holding on , easily under the deers feet- not a thing to hold over- per se with the peep setup imo- but it does come down to being a Horse for its own course.
that is for me, 100m shots max, an obviously not in wide open fields..
ill post up a video to this tonight *
Whatever distance you can keep them in a 8” circle is your hunting distance IMO.
I use to practice too much trying to shoot tight groups. Now I have steel plates at 75,100,150 off the back deck.
Definitely improved my realistic hunting shot accuracy.
I use to practice too much trying to shoot tight groups. Now I have steel plates at 75,100,150 off the back deck.
Definitely improved my realistic hunting shot accuracy.
i agree 100% on that, for me huntnig has never been about groups it was gettin close enough to be sure, how am i 'sure', by doin this ^ , ive even cut out or drew deer shaped animals with heart and lungs, front leg bones, an sat them at whatever range to shoot at, it is that 1st shot to me that counts, not walking 3 in an then hittin them all day...
ideally, i just set up somewhere between A and B- might be 100-200 say, range it, an try hit it- move in or out- generally out- from this you find you have a comfortable range, which can be your safe limit
for now!.. the smaller the gun grups the 'easier' an more 'reliable' this becomes- end of day, gota be hittin it , each time, every time
hooroo
This/\/\/\/\
groups are fine to determine accuracy potential in a load. As a hunter none of that matters if you cant hit the vitals with your first shot everytime from the position you will be hunting from. Practically if you cant hit the plate who cares how tight your groups can be. A sub Moa capable rifle can potentially move that maximum hunting distance out...unless the shooter is not capable of the amount of precision needed. A 4 Moa rifle just means you may have to shoot your game closer...again if your skill level allows you the precision to land your first bullet in the vitals.. practically speaking there's probably not a rifle on the market who's accuracy is so bad they could not be used for hunting....bow hunters kill big game all the time at ranges well below 100yds.. if your rifle/ skill limits you to under 50 yds so be it...learn to be a better hunter and close that distance...
WhelanLad,
I recall a time during the late 90's/early 2000's when there were a number of WLR primers that would fail to fire, both in handloads and factory ammunition. Several people I know experienced this problem too. Winchester got that one figured out and quickly fixed; but for a while I only used Federal primers for loading my 375 Win ammo.
I generally stuck to the 220 gr Hornady FP bullet. I did try some of the heavier bullets once, but found that they shot so much slower that the bullets were about 3' feet low at 100 yards as compared to the 220 gr bullets, that I did not pursue the loading any further. The 220 gr bullets worked well on black bear, moose and caribou, so I left that load alone in my Marlin, and also use the Winchester 200 gr PP ammo, as they shoot to very close the same point of impact in my rifle. Sorry, but I never did chrony that handload in my rifle, but it should be close to 2000 fps according to the old Hornady manual I got the load data from (they used a Winchester Big Bore for their load development).
Now that I again have another Winchester Big Bore in 375, I am going to try the Sierra 200 gr FP bullets in it, along with the HSM ammo loading the same bullet, that I have on hand. May get to the range on Monday to try it out, along with my '94 XTR in 30-30.
I recall a time during the late 90's/early 2000's when there were a number of WLR primers that would fail to fire, both in handloads and factory ammunition. Several people I know experienced this problem too. Winchester got that one figured out and quickly fixed; but for a while I only used Federal primers for loading my 375 Win ammo.
I generally stuck to the 220 gr Hornady FP bullet. I did try some of the heavier bullets once, but found that they shot so much slower that the bullets were about 3' feet low at 100 yards as compared to the 220 gr bullets, that I did not pursue the loading any further. The 220 gr bullets worked well on black bear, moose and caribou, so I left that load alone in my Marlin, and also use the Winchester 200 gr PP ammo, as they shoot to very close the same point of impact in my rifle. Sorry, but I never did chrony that handload in my rifle, but it should be close to 2000 fps according to the old Hornady manual I got the load data from (they used a Winchester Big Bore for their load development).
Now that I again have another Winchester Big Bore in 375, I am going to try the Sierra 200 gr FP bullets in it, along with the HSM ammo loading the same bullet, that I have on hand. May get to the range on Monday to try it out, along with my '94 XTR in 30-30.
For a lever gun both my Marlins are capable of Moa or better with my handloads. My 336 is easily a 150yd gun with the iron sights. My marlin dark is more like 50-75 yd gun due to the corser XS sights at distance. The rifle is capable....my sighting system is not...running a red dot I can stretch my huntung accuracy out to past 100..
Scoped, prone on bags both guns shoot right at or below MOA. For hunting I much prefer these guns using irons.. this limits the distance potential not because the gun/ load is not accurate enough but because my ability for precision using the sighting system. Since both these rifles spend thier huntjng time in the thick brush calling elk and rattling WTs the speed in which they can get shots off are much more advantageous than hitting vitals 100s of yards down range.
Scoped, prone on bags both guns shoot right at or below MOA. For hunting I much prefer these guns using irons.. this limits the distance potential not because the gun/ load is not accurate enough but because my ability for precision using the sighting system. Since both these rifles spend thier huntjng time in the thick brush calling elk and rattling WTs the speed in which they can get shots off are much more advantageous than hitting vitals 100s of yards down range.
The only standing offhand 1 inch group (100 yards) I've ever shot was with an old Marlin 336 with the stock iron sights that I bought off the EE for $300.00
That think just hit's what ever you point it at with basic federal power shocks
That think just hit's what ever you point it at with basic federal power shocks
nice one mate-
the primers may of been touched or had some oil/luvbe or who knows , i use the stuff that falls on the floor gets touched etc for thie old lever....
yeah no doubt there s alot of oomph available in the 375, im only usin 20 grains of what you call 4198..... manual starts at 34 or so! Availibility of those .375 FN hornadys are poor down under at present.
cast is reasonable only way at moment. without cuttin tips of SP an im not doin that
Thanks for all the replies gents truly appreciate it, I want to keep the gun as stock as I can and where we hunt (Northeastern Ontario) is primarily pretty thick woodlots so irons are preferable for the most part especially on driven hunts. I'm not opposed to a scope entirely if I need to use one I will but am also interested in trying out a red dot setup or holographic sight like those used on pistols.
I have the Williams foolproof on it currently but don't love the front sight, I've got a skinner peep and front sight on their way to me that I may switch to. It's going to sound odd but I want a set it and forget it setup and I am tempted to mess with the Williams every time I shoot it (bad habit can't leave well enough alone and like to tinker ;-)
I have the Williams foolproof on it currently but don't love the front sight, I've got a skinner peep and front sight on their way to me that I may switch to. It's going to sound odd but I want a set it and forget it setup and I am tempted to mess with the Williams every time I shoot it (bad habit can't leave well enough alone and like to tinker ;-)
I think the reflex sight is a good option as well.
I built a 1022 in the spring. Put a Busnell rxs100 on it. Faster then any irons I’ve ever used.
Small and out of the way.
Shot gophers all summer with it and a handful of grouse this season so far.
I have a H&R 3030 that I think I am going to put one on now. (Or at least try the one off my 1022)
for inside 100yards they are awesome.
Mine is a 4 MOA dot. If I buy another I will look for a 2 MOA dot.
