My 22 shoots 1/2" groups at 50 yards/meters all day! Really? Prove it!

[littlehughey]

Well fellers,

Here is my first (failed) attempt.
Rifle: Cooey 39 - completely stock
Scope: Bushnell Elite Tactical 10x40mm
Ammo: CCI Standard Velocity 40gr
Rest: Sandbags front and rear

The biggest issue I have is parallax as there is no consistency with cheek (more like chin) weld. I need to add a temporary cheek pad to fix this. Secondly, the scope makes it so I have to break my shooting position to load each round as it is a single shot.

I am looking forward to the next attempt after fixing these issues and maybe bedding the rifle!

 

[crowellsr]

Well fellers,

Here is my first (failed) attempt.
Rifle: Cooey 39 - completely stock
Scope: Bushnell Elite Tactical 10x40mm
Ammo: CCI Standard Velocity 40gr
Rest: Sandbags front and rear

The biggest issue I have is parallax as there is no consistency with cheek (more like chin) weld. I need to add a temporary cheek pad to fix this. Secondly, the scope makes it so I have to break my shooting position to load each round as it is a single shot.

I am looking forward to the next attempt after fixing these issues and maybe bedding the rifle!

It's a decent attempt for standard ammo. Keep trying, it's a fun challenge.

 

[BBGUNNER]

Finally success (I believe) after two slightly failed attempts!
Rifle: Anschutz 1416HB
Scope is an Athlon Helos 8-34x56
Ammo was Lapua midas +
Groups
0.112"
0.330"
0.367"
0.381"
0.416"
Average 0.321"

Hi, please go easy on me, math is not my strong suit, isn't 0.112" smaller than a single 22LR which is ~0.223"?

 

[crowellsr]

Hi, please go easy on me, math is not my strong suit, isn't 0.112" smaller than a single 22LR which is ~0.223"?

Yes it is but everyone takes off the actual bullet diameter from the measured group size which gives you center of impact to center of impact

 

[BBGUNNER]

Yes it is but everyone takes off the actual bullet diameter from the measured group size which gives you center of impact to center of impact

Thank you, great shooting.

 

[crowellsr]

Thank you, great shooting.

Thank you.

 

[grauhanen]

Hi, please go easy on me, math is not my strong suit, isn't 0.112" smaller than a single 22LR which is ~0.223"?

Yes it is but everyone takes off the actual bullet diameter from the measured group size which gives you center of impact to center of impact

The size of the deduction is unrelated to a group size being smaller than the bullet diameter. It's possible a .50 caliber rifle could shoot a group smaller than .500".

In this challenge group sizes are measured center-to-center. As a result it's theoretically possible to have a group size almost as small as .000" if all five rounds went exactly in the same hole. While such a very precise group is unlikely to be achieved in practice, it is quite possible to shoot very small groups in the .1's or even less. Such groups invariably look like a literal one-bullet hole group. It appears the smallest group in this thread is .059".

Center-to-center group size is calculated by measuring the outside edge-to-outside edge at the widest part of the group and then deducting the bullet diameter from that measurement. Since .22LR bullets are not wadcutters, the holes they leave in paper targets is actually less than .22". Depending on the paper used for the target, the hole will be from .20 to about .215 inches in diameter.

In this challenge, there is no hard and fast rule for what size to use for deducting when calculating center-to-center group size. Some shooters use .22" or a little more, others use something smaller. For anyone who's a stickler for exactness, using .22" as the size to deduct may only be reasonable when shooting at a distance that is somewhat greater than 50 yards. For example, if the actual distance shot is 60 yards rather than 50, that's 20% further than the distance shot by many other shooters. As a result, deducting .22" would not be out of line.

 

[wesson357]

I finally completed the challenge with my new Anschutz 1416 G-20 HB double stage trigger!
Almost no wind today.
I set-up prone with a bipod and sand bags.
I tested at the same time my home made steel bullet trap (so, way safer, no ricochet)
50m
0.275"
0.387"
0.267"
0.367"
0.107
Average: 0.280"

Even tried at 100m
0.500"
0.595"
0.364"

And, one 10 shots group at 200m
2.500"

I'm really happy with my set-up.
SK long range shoot awesome in my rifle. Not to expensive at 10$ a box!

 

[crowellsr]

I finally completed the challenge with my new Anschutz 1416 G-20 HB double stage trigger!
Almost no wind today.
I set-up prone with a bipod and sand bags.
I tested at the same time my home made steel bullet trap (so, way safer, no ricochet)
50m
0.275"
0.387"
0.267"
0.367"
0.107
Average: 0.280"

Even tried at 100m
0.500"
0.595"
0.364"

And, one 10 shots group at 200m
2.500"

I'm really happy with my set-up.
SK long range shoot awesome in my rifle. Not to expensive at 10$ a box!

Looking good. Same rifle I have.

 

[rmsg0040]

I think I did it!

Annie MPR 64 w/ SK trainer ammo (this is the only ammo I use through this rifle, never tried anything else)

All 5 groups measured end to end, final values minus .22:

0.368-0.22 = 0.148
0.319-.22 = 0.099
0.402-.22 = 0.182
0.606-0.22 = 0.386
0.373-0.22 = 0.153

Average: 0.1936"

IMG_20201024_114344059 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142246064 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142110437 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142100327 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142039890 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142004728 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_141933159 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_141854816 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_152737725 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr

 

[Rod B]

Glad to see that the rifle I sold you is still performing well. Congrats on some excellent groups.

 

[rmsg0040]

Glad to see that the rifle I sold you is still performing well. Congrats on some excellent groups.

Thanks, one of best 22 rifle I laid hands on. I got a Tikka T1X coming, will see if it can hang with Annie. Regards

 

[grauhanen]

I think I did it!

Annie MPR 64 w/ SK trainer ammo (this is the only ammo I use through this rifle, never tried anything else)

All 5 groups measured end to end, final values minus .22:

0.368-0.22 = 0.148
0.319-.22 = 0.099
0.402-.22 = 0.182
0.606-0.22 = 0.386
0.373-0.22 = 0.153

Average: 0.1936"

The targets show good results. But they may not be quite as good as the measurements shown indicate.

One of the difficulties associated with using splatter-type targets is that it's hard to get accurate measurements. They tend not to allow the bullet's grey smudge or smear to be left on the target and these should be included in the measurements. To get a reliable center-to-center group size, it's not enough to measure the outside edges of the group's bullet holes themselves.

 

[rmsg0040]

So your saying that it should be measured "smear to smear" instead of "edge to edge"

IMG_20201204_154213122 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr

 

[Thirsty_Fox]

The targets show good results. But they may not be quite as good as the measurements shown indicate.

One of the difficulties associated with using splatter-type targets is that it's hard to get accurate measurements. They tend not to allow the bullet's grey smudge or smear to be left on the target and these should be included in the measurements. To get a reliable center-to-center group size, it's not enough to measure the outside edges of the group's bullet holes themselves.

Copper-plated bullets wouldn't leave such grey mark, so what happens in that case?

So your saying that it should be measured "smear to smear" instead of "edge to edge"

IMG_20201204_154213122 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr

Can't include the splatter as the whole purpose of them is to tear-away additional thin film material when the bullet passes to make a visible outline of the bullet hole. The splatter is much larger than the bullet.

 

[Underthegun]

I finally completed the challenge with my new Anschutz 1416 G-20 HB double stage trigger!
Almost no wind today.
I set-up prone with a bipod and sand bags.
I tested at the same time my home made steel bullet trap (so, way safer, no ricochet)
50m
0.275"
0.387"
0.267"
0.367"
0.107
Average: 0.280"

Even tried at 100m
0.500"
0.595"
0.364"

And, one 10 shots group at 200m
2.500"

I'm really happy with my set-up.
SK long range shoot awesome in my rifle. Not to expensive at 10$ a box!

Sorry I missed it when you posted it. Nice shooting. I added you to the successful list.

 

[Underthegun]

I think I did it!

Annie MPR 64 w/ SK trainer ammo (this is the only ammo I use through this rifle, never tried anything else)

All 5 groups measured end to end, final values minus .22:

0.368-0.22 = 0.148
0.319-.22 = 0.099
0.402-.22 = 0.182
0.606-0.22 = 0.386
0.373-0.22 = 0.153

Average: 0.1936"

IMG_20201024_114344059 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142246064 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142110437 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142100327 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142039890 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_142004728 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_141933159 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_141854816 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr
IMG_20201204_152737725 by Gopes Ram, on Flickr

Great shooting. I added you to the successful list.

 

[grauhanen]

So your saying that it should be measured "smear to smear" instead of "edge to edge"

Your results are good but your pictures appear to show the measurementnts are from the edge of the holes in the paper. The splatter target doesn't allow for the bullet's smear to be recorded. The smear should be included to arrive at a more accurate measurement.

Copper-plated bullets wouldn't leave such grey mark, so what happens in that case?

Can't include the splatter as the whole purpose of them is to tear-away additional thin film material when the bullet passes to make a visible outline of the bullet hole. The splatter is much larger than the bullet.

When it comes to repeatable and consistent .22LR accuracy, shooters should avoid high velocity copper washed ammo. Standard velocity ammo is much better and it's invariably lead nose, never copper washed. For ease of visibility, the splatter targets produce a large visible area where the bullet passed through, but no lead smear. That's why they are not suitable for use when measuring for accurate group size. Group size is not determined by measuring actual bullet holes because the holes themselves are smaller than the bullet diameter. No one should use splatter targets for in a challenge such as this.

 

[goldenbb]

Underthegun,
Thanks for setting up and running this challenge. Since Thanksgiving I have learned more about my rifle than I thought was possible. Here is my submission;

Conditions: according to the Weather Network, temperature 5C, 80% humidity and winds from 8 o’clock 8-11kph.

Equipment: Savage MKII BV with bedded action. Vortex 6-18 scope. Homemade barrel tuner. Caldwell shooting bags front and rear. Lapua Center-X.

Results: Target at 50 yards. Size of reference target hole on paper .209

1. .415
2. .277
3. .344
4. .125
5. .431
Average group .318



On cool days I found that keeping ammunition warm helped accuracy. Below 10C groups were noticeably opening up. Below 5C groups were approaching .75 inch. The messy tape on the rifle is holding two disposable hand warmers, one on either side of the barrel chamber. The picnic cooler contains a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. The tray sits above the warm towel and holds magazines and ammo. Credit to those who have gone before me and came up with these ideas.

 

[neilselden]

All of this great shooting is inspiring. What you guys are accomplishing is amazing!

I'll be at the range, practicing. And dreaming.

Cheers,
Neil