Rifle or inexperience? How do I tell

[redmosquito1]

Hello all. New to long range shooting, and snipers hide, and I recently bought a new Remington 700 sps varmint and installed a vortex viper hs 4-16 scope. I took it out to the range this weekend and while I was shooting good groups I wouldn't say they were MOA groups, maybe right on the edge.

I assume the issue is mostly my inexperience with shooting accuracy as I'm coming from a ar15 that I just didn't care about group size as long as I was hitting center mass on paper.

So how do I know for certain that it's not the rifle and it's me keeping me from hitting MOA or better groupings?

Thanks, awesome forum you guys have here glad to be a part of it.

 

[Rhyno]

It's probably you. Don't take it personal.

the only way to tell for sure is get high quality match ammo, and find someone who is a good shooter and let them show you.

 

[I Am Hero]

Did you take it out of the POS tupperware stock? A SPS-V in that stock won't like shoot better than 1 MOA. I dropped mine (a 223 SPS-V) in a XLR Element, slapped a timney in there and got it threaded for a brake and the thing shoots 1/2 MOA all day long with my hand loads or factory Hornady v-max.

If you've done the upgrades and are shooting match ammo, then it is probably you. Factory SPS-V won't shoot like a custom one, but across the board people have got them to shoot sub-moa.

 

[MarkCO]

With that rig, 1MOA is not bad at all. But, yes, a better stock helps, and you can always get a known quality shooter to try out your rig as well.

 

[bkw1911]

Yup. Plastic stock and and factory 5lb trigger you'll probably never do better than 1.5-2 moa. If you really want to know then get someone experienced to shoot a group with it and see what happens.

 

[29aholic]

I agree with have a better shooter try it. I disagree with the stock keeping you out of the game. While I did change mine out and worked the trigger over, I was able to get sub MOA and better right out of the box before I did all that. The upgrades just made it more consistent.

 

[Nate O.]

Hello all. New to long range shooting, and snipers hide, and I recently bought a new Remington 700 sps varmint and installed a vortex viper hs 4-16 scope. I took it out to the range this weekend and while I was shooting good groups I wouldn't say they were MOA groups, maybe right on the edge.

I assume the issue is mostly my inexperience with shooting accuracy as I'm coming from a ar15 that I just didn't care about group size as long as I was hitting center mass on paper.

So how do I know for certain that it's not the rifle and it's me keeping me from hitting MOA or better groupings?

Thanks, awesome forum you guys have here glad to be a part of it.

I'm not being smart with you, but if you don't know, then it's probably you.

 

[djskit]

Missing from this is the ammo you were using. Was it cheaper FMJ type stuff or Federal Gold Medal Match? Or something in between?

If its the cheap stuff, then you are doing great, if its FGM, than there is room for improvement.

I don't buy factory ammo much anymore, but when I'm setting up a 308, I run some FGM through it as the benchmark for what is "possible" with the rifle in the current configuration. That way, when I develop hand loads, I know what my realistic goal is, whether its an AR, M1A or bolt gun.

 

[mark5pt56]

10-4 on the FGMM or Black Hills as a control on a new gun until handloads are tweaked. Helps alleviate doubt for one in the handloads and you with marksmanship.

 

[Rhyno]

Did you take it out of the POS tupperware stock? A SPS-V in that stock won't like shoot better than 1 MOA. I dropped mine (a 223 SPS-V) in a XLR Element, slapped a timney in there and got it threaded for a brake and the thing shoots 1/2 MOA all day long with my hand loads or factory Hornady v-max.

If you've done the upgrades and are shooting match ammo, then it is probably you. Factory SPS-V won't shoot like a custom one, but across the board people have got them to shoot sub-moa.

Mine shot under 1 moa with the factory stock.

 

[I Am Hero]

Yea now that you guys say that, I am sure mine probably would have as well. I think I was putting average quality ammo through there before and that's what opened it up a bit. I replaced my ammo supply with handloads and the stock at the same time, so changing two variables doesn't always help diagnose an issue.

 

[redmosquito1]

I'm not being smart with you, but if you don't know, then it's probably you.

Lol, kinda like if you don't know the sucker at the poker table you're the sucker?

No, offense taking guys I know I'm new and need work. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't the gun, being new I don't know either way.

I do plan to change the stock to a bell and carlson medalist but haven't decided on which model yet. I really like the feel of the grip on the stock stock so I'm leaning towards either the tactical or tactical adjustable, more towards tactical cause it looks better and I can raise the cheek piece with my ammo bag.

As for ammo, I was shooting winchester super x 180 gr bullets because that's what meijer had and they were the only ones with in a 15 min ride that had ammo. I'll have to pick up a box or 2 of better ammo and see how she shoots this weekend.

I don't know if I'm allowed to post links or pictures yet but this was my target after I shot 20 rounds zero'ing my scope. The few errant shots were me adjusting in the wrong direction and/or known flinches.

 

[redmosquito1]

I'm waiting on a moderator to approve my reply, but if/once it's approved I should note that the group in the upper left I had the retical on the orange bull, adjusted the windage after the stacked 3 and shot the 2 on the right. The upper right, I don't know what I was doing. The center bull groups were shot moving the reticle around and shooting 3 shots, I moved around a bit trying to get 3 shots where I wanted them, was somewhat happy I guess.

All of these shots were at 100 yards.

 

[Darkside-Six]

I'm waiting on a moderator to approve my reply, but if/once it's approved I should note that the group in the upper left I had the retical on the orange bull, adjusted the windage after the stacked 3 and shot the 2 on the right. The upper right, I don't know what I was doing. The center bull groups were shot moving the reticle around and shooting 3 shots, I moved around a bit trying to get 3 shots where I wanted them, was somewhat happy I guess.

All of these shots were at 100 yards.

You need to learn the proper fundamentals. you're new, and this is natural so don't sweat it. Try watching some of the Snipers Hide instructional videos. learn about how to build a proper position behind the rifle. learn about natural point of aim and proper trigger pull. when you're throwing shots horizontally right/left then more than likely it's improper trigger pull.

 

[redmosquito1]

You need to learn the proper fundamentals. you're new, and this is natural so don't sweat it. Try watching some of the Snipers Hide instructional videos. learn about how to build a proper position behind the rifle. learn about natural point of aim and proper trigger pull. when you're throwing shots horizontally right/left then more than likely it's improper trigger pull.

Good tip on the videos, paid my entrance fee and off to light a cigar and enjoy some fine educational cinema. Thank you

 

[Nomad0001]

You need to learn the proper fundamentals. you're new, and this is natural so don't sweat it. Try watching some of the Snipers Hide instructional videos. learn about how to build a proper position behind the rifle. learn about natural point of aim and proper trigger pull. when you're throwing shots horizontally right/left then more than likely it's improper trigger pull.

+3. I thought my technique was OK until I watched the videos here. Boy was I clueless. One small example out of MANY: my bipod would jump an inch off the bench after each shot, and I thought that was normal; DOH!!!

 

[redmosquito1]

Wow, that might be the best money I've spent so far. The recoil management set pointed out exactly what I'm doing extremely wrong. The main thing is I'm shooting off a bench and using a 9"-13" bipod so I am sitting pretty tall and agular so my rifle would bounce and move all over. Calling my shot was way out of the question in that set up, now I know what I need to work on next range trip. There is a few other things I'm doing wrong but that's probably going to get me shooting much better. Lots more videos to watch but man that set was enlightening, thanks for the tip on signing up for that.

 

[supercorndogs]

Lol, kinda like if you don't know the sucker at the poker table you're the sucker?

No, offense taking guys I know I'm new and need work. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't the gun, being new I don't know either way.

I do plan to change the stock to a bell and carlson medalist but haven't decided on which model yet. I really like the feel of the grip on the stock stock so I'm leaning towards either the tactical or tactical adjustable, more towards tactical cause it looks better and I can raise the cheek piece with my ammo bag.

As for ammo, I was shooting winchester super x 180 gr bullets because that's what meijer had and they were the only ones with in a 15 min ride that had ammo. I'll have to pick up a box or 2 of better ammo and see how she shoots this weekend.

I don't know if I'm allowed to post links or pictures yet but this was my target after I shot 20 rounds zero'ing my scope. The few errant shots were me adjusting in the wrong direction and/or known flinches.

my sps v 308 will open up the groups like that when it gets hot. takes about twenty rounds doesnt matter what stock it is in. i started a thread posing the question to rifle owners heat vs accuracy degradation in stock and match barrels. a lot of people said their sps did the same as it got hot. my 700p 300wm does it too.