Let's talk group sizes at 200 yds

[Peterbilt2007]

Today I was able to shoot a 0.841 inch group @200 yds with my 6.5x284 Remington 700. Its a semi custom build with a McGowan barrel and trued receiver. Handed loaded rounds of course. Just curious of how this group compares to other members here. I'm happy with the group size but I'm wondering if my expectations are too high that this rifle will improve with more load development. Sorry guys guess this is a 2 part question. Thanks Johnny

 

[djskit]

That's a swell group - but see how it groups over the next 100 shots and you'll know more about how good the rifle is and how good of a marksman you are. A single group means nothing, or, only a glimpse of the possibilities.

I posted this on another thread:

I became a much better shooter when I stopped focusing on individual group size at a given day at the range. Early on, I even dreaded shooting too many groups at a given range session for fear of seeing big group and messing with my confidence in the rifle or my shooting abilities.

Any 3 or 5 shot groups you may shoot are just a string of shots in the statistical data pool that is all slow fire fully supported shots from that rifle. Some groups may be very small, some may be larger than you'd like, but only after shooting a hundred(s) or so rounds can you get an idea of what the rifle is truly capable of, on average - and that's the key, on average.

I am satisfied if, on average, I can get my rifles in the .5 MOAish area. Some times the stats are in my favor and I'll drop 5 in less than .25 MOA, but I don't stay away from the statistical average for long.

 

[Jaeger308]

Marksmanship is divided into three components

Precision-What you rifle system is capable of
Accuracy-Your rifle and your ability to move point of impact onto the point of aim
Consistency-This is YOU, how well can you "drive" the rifle time and time again

Shooting groups is a confidence builder, however start talking and thinking of first round hits consistently past 600 yards and forget about groups...