What Do You Consider A "Good" Group?

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trky chsr

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Went out to the range the other day with a friend so he could sight in and try out his new M700 in 308. I'm not really a rifle guy so I don't know which model he has but it has a basic composite stock and bull barrel. He topped it with a Vortex scope and attached a bi-pod. His initial groups after getting it set up on paper were with Federal factory loads and were about 4" at 200yds. This guy was in the military in Europe but hasn't shot for a number of years. He decided to reload and brought about 50 reloads which he loaded in groups of 5 with increasing powder loads in each group. We were short on time and he was only able to shoot 2 strings of 5. Well those two shot strings (10 shots total) went into 2" at 200yds. He put some kind of marker or paint on the bullets which left corresponding residue on the paper and when he got home and analyzed the target he found he actually had 2 5 shot groups that measured 1" each so that makes the groups .5 MOA. I don't know about you but I think that is pretty darn good shooting. I took a few shots with it myself and shot about a 3" group which I was happy with. TC
 
Although it would depend entirely on what shooting discipline you're talking about, anything less than 1 MOA would be considered good. 0.5 MOA or better is exceptional, especially at distance. Cheers!
 
For my bolt actions I am not happy with my handloads unless I can shoot 5 shot 1/2moa or better. If you are just using it for hunting then 1moa is plenty but most of my shooting is at the range and most of the time I'm doing load development.

For my semi auto's I hope to be able to find loads that will do 1moa or better but anything less than 2moa is acceptable, I usually end up around 1.5moa from them with handloads though.
 
I think it all depends on the usage of the rifle. Hunting rifles, 1 moa or preferably better is what I go for (big game rifles) and varmint rifles, I try for 1/2 MOA.
Target setups, 1/2 moa is an okay starting point, but keep trying for better.

This is the precision forum, so most guys here will be striving for 1/2 MOA or better, I would assume. I was taught and practice it to this day, that you make your hunting setups as accurate and precise as possible. (1MOA minimum) Then when you are in the field, you have the confidence in your equipment that you need to make quick clean kills on game.
Guys that think that a Minute of Deer is good enough accuracy drive me crazy, you owe it to the animals you are hunting to be better than that.
 
The above is good advice. 1 MOA or better is great realistically. But in this forum guys are not after deer, there after making two bullets go through the same hole.
 
JEC said:
Groups are "good" when they are repeatible/consistent. One "of's are nice for the wallet.
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This what he is striving for and why I posted it here. He still has a bunch of reloads to try (probably endless just like my pistol reloading) with the goal of having a consistently accurate rifle/load combo. Thanks for the replies. TC
 
trky chsr said:
....He put some kind of marker or paint on the bullets which left corresponding residue on the paper and when he got home and analyzed the target he found he actually had 2 5 shot groups that measured 1" each...
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Could someone elaborate on this? I've never heard of this...sounds interesting.
 
jjohnwm said:
Could someone elaborate on this? I've never heard of this...sounds interesting.
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I believe he just used different colour magic marker but I'll ask him and find out what he used. He got the idea from some website and I'll ask him about that as well. What he was trying to do was a "ladder test" where you load a bunch of ammo with increasing powder amounts and then aim at the same spot with each load with the theory being the higher velocity loads will shoot higher. TC
 
For me, if I can get under an inch at 100, I'm pleased. It's all about repeatability and progress. In a couple years, I'll hopefully be striving for .75 or better.

I don't use a bench rest, just a bipod so I know I'm at a disadvantage. I'm also new at this and know I've got a lot to learn to get to the caliber of some of the guys on here. For the most part I'm just happy having fun and seeing progression over time.
 
Some you 'precision guys' need to take a step back and join the 'rimfire' forum area, @ 100 1" is not precision with that much power, its a new hunting rifle. you'd be surprised by some rimfire, at the same accuracy for 10th the $/shot
edit ** pretty sure I'm getting flamed for that 1** ...don't care, air guns are cool too :cheers: military hold
 
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Half inch 5 shots groups @ 100 M for a centerfire factory gun is awesome...I can make it with 4 of my heavy barreled .308...But not all day long...LOL

One inch 5 shots groups @ 100 M with a .22 rimfire is awesome too...I have 3 rimfire guns that can do it...Only if I do my part...LOL
 
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