hunting rifle accuracy

[ridgewalker]

Stock factory Tikka. Sadly a buddy talked me out of it. Usually only clover leafed. 2-12x Leupold VX-6 scope.
Bud has now taken 2 elk and a mountain goat with it. He says the accuracy is good enough for him to shoot out to 300 yards (his field self imposed limit). He's taking it to Africa for croc this summer. Should do the job for a brain shot.

 

[blvette75]

My experience…has been as rifle weight goes down and cartridge power goes up, gun hold technique becomes increasingly more critical to accuracy.
9 lb gun scope package and non magnums (2506, 270,6.5x, 280 etc) delivering repeatable easy to achieve pinpoint accuracy with minimal practice and without learning sensitive hold techniques.

I agree with you, when you talk magnum calibers, weather conditions it all adds up, 300 win mag about 9 lbs, field conditions versus range conditions, limited shot window, why it's hunting in the ideal world. Older I get the more I appreciate the techniques learned over time of practice and the things that help me, cant levels, range finders, wind meters, FFP scopes, and other things that will give me an edge that as I get older keep me still enjoying the sport.

 

[Upsidedownjack]

What would most of you consider acceptable for accuracy in a real world 6-7 pound 8-9 pound magnum hunting rifle? I am talking from a bench with rest, bipod, sand bags what have you but as steady as you can get it. What would you want your rifle to do to hunt western big game. out to 800 yards or so.

I think (sometimes) that a one shot, one Kill would be the Aim? I try for not MOA, but MOK min of Kill. 300 WM one shot 180 gr spbt one Elk at Aprox 800 yds. Around 10.500. ft blue skys and No Wind! Shoulder Down never a step!

 

[Upsidedownjack]

I expect any rifle to meet the manufacturers guarantee. You know what your buying. If you purchase a brand new tikka, begara, remington, savage, etc.... for less then a $1000 dollars and it shoots better then 1 moa, then you got a good one. If your talking custom or extremely high end factory guns then they better be half MOA or better.

Bergara HMR-PRO small bore target reduced for shooting @ 50' shot @ 100 yds. Lest that 100 pills out of new firearm, only getting better!

 

[dogz]

Very true. But the point is that even under ideal conditions, a rifle that can shoot 1moa at 100yds won't necessarily shoot 1moa at 600-800yds. It would be careless to assume that it could without actually testing before going afield.

for sure, some assume because the gun and them shoot great at 100 that the accuracy will somehow carry to longer ranges as well.....

 

[myshootinstinks]

MOA is adequate in a hunting rifle at realistic distances. I like half MOA better, but in a true hunting situation, shooting off sticks or a bipod It is very difficult to hold a rifle steady enough to achieve that kind of accuracy.

 

[dogz]

Stock factory Tikka. Sadly a buddy talked me out of it. Usually only clover leafed. 2-12x Leupold VX-6 scope.
Bud has now taken 2 elk and a mountain goat with it. He says the accuracy is good enough for him to shoot out to 300 yards (his field self imposed limit). He's taking it to Africa for croc this summer. Should do the job for a brain shot.

View attachment 438124

Now you're talking! At for considerably less than 5K

 

[Unionsparky46]

My hunting rifles can all shoot better than 1/2-3/4 moa up to 1k. My old eyes and out of practice arse would be lucky to send one through the boiler maker. Tikkas will shoot less than an moa with the right loads. I believe (just my opinion) they are the best out of the box rifle. I guess to relate back to the question, if you don't shoot to the capabilities of your rifle then don't take the shot. A 5 shot string will tell you twice as much as a 3 shot. 800yrds I expect my rifle to be 3/4 or less moa to 1k as long as I do my part. It's about the ethical and humane shot as mentioned. Keep on practicing, loading and have fun! Thanks for the post!!

PS: 300 win mag 24" barrel - 75.3GR VihtN160 - CCI250 - SGK 2160 - 180GR BT seated at 3.36. Money to 1K. Once I develop my new rounds using Berger 215's I'll pass that along too!

 

[BrentM]

MOA is adequate in a hunting rifle at realistic distances. I like half MOA better, but in a true hunting situation, shooting off sticks or a bipod It is very difficult to hold a rifle steady enough to achieve that kind of accuracy.

Why is that? I shoot all my groups off a bipod or a tripod, never use a bench.

 

[cabelasken]

The rifles I take hunting all can produce 3/4 moa for 5 shots and my self imposed range limit is 500 yds unless I'm trying to stop a wounded animal from escaping. At 70 years old, I have confidence in my equipment to do what they are intended to do, but field conditions dictate what is really achievable. I have upgraded my scopes on the hunting rifles to 30 MM tubes and that has really helped with acquiring a sight picture quickly. I have range friends that can print tiny groups all day long, but given a 250 yds broadside mulie have trouble touching hair. I have a few misses over 58 years of hunting big game, but they have been relatively rare. I have found they mostly have occurred from lack of practice. Being retired now I will not let that happen again. I find even practicing with a 22 or pellet rifle is beneficial.

 

[ridgewalker]

I find even practicing with a 22 or pellet rifle is beneficial.

+1 on any trigger time improves or maintains ones skill. I do the same, but I'm over 3/4 century and now most of my hunting scopes have an illuminated dot that really helps my old eyes with target acquisition. Especially with DG!

 

[ruby76]

It would be a rare day indeed that any of my rifles would shoot that well. Nice shooting!

Thanks. This rifle just passed 100 rounds down the barrel, half of those were one light load to get one firing on the brass, plus several more when I did a half grain increment pressure test. I haven't even tried many different loads. Glad it likes this combo as I stocked up a bit of components.

 

[BillLarson]

Why is that? I shoot all my groups off a bipod or a tripod, never use a bench.

Bench and rests...... gun shoot better,be more accurate and will rule out errors.....

 

[cabelasken]

I've found that when i have a rifle that is less than 7 to 7 1/2 total pounds that I am unable to get steady enough to get below 1 MOA as is the case with my 7-08 remington Titanium. I told this to a renowned gunsmith and he replied that it is very difficult to hold a 6 1/4 rifle steady enough in the field to make a 300 yd shot. My newest Kimber will weight just over 7 lbs complete and I'm anxious to see what it'll will do.