What’s the art behind hunting rifle accuracy

[sinister]

I'll argue the opposing view. When I squeeze the trigger I know a well-executed shot will land where I point it.

I don't shoot dots, but a hit on a large E-type or IPSC target only tells me I have a hit, vice landing within a known radius where I wanted to hit.

 

[Barelstroker]

I'll argue the opposing view. When I squeeze the trigger I know a well-executed shot will land where I point it.

I don't shoot dots, but a hit on a large E-type or IPSC target only tells me I have a hit, vice landing within a known radius where I wanted to hit.

That might seem all good but, shooting IPSC targets at distance won't tell you if the POI matches the POA or if a cold bore shot deviation must be taken into consideration or if differing shooting positions affect POI. I don't see that an IPSC target at distance tells as much as one shot per dot at closer range. It makes far more sense to get the 100, 200, 300 yrd shots worked out before wasting time & ammo at distance. Distance is for wind practice once the shooter/rifle system is proven.

 

[diggler1833]

I draw dots on my steel targets, usually about half-minute large. When I practice for hunting, I don't shoot for a group (the grouping is just secondary), but rather I'm trying to hit that dot.

Practice getting into your position for each shot too. Your body and relationship between it and your rifle at the shot is going to have more effect on POI than your ammo consistency (usually).

And the elephant in the room is your wind reading ability. Nothing takes great shot and makes it a poor one faster than missing that 180 degree wind shift 200 yards downrange.

 

[roostercogburn98]

I draw dots on my steel targets, usually about half-minute large. When I practice for hunting, I don't shoot for a group (the grouping is just secondary), but rather I'm trying to hit that dot.

Practice getting into your position for each shot too. Your body and relationship between it and your rifle at the shot is going to have more effect on POI than your ammo consistency (usually).

And the elephant in the room is your wind reading ability. Nothing takes great shot and makes it a poor one faster than missing that 180 degree wind shift 200 yards downrange.

I thought it was an accepted thought that groups lied anyway?


I do kind of what you do with steel, but I usually only make one 2-4 inch aiming point on my steel to see where I’m hitting in reference to my aiming

 

[diggler1833]

I thought it was an accepted thought that groups lied anyway?


I do kind of what you do with steel, but I usually only make one 2-4 inch aiming point on my steel to see where I’m hitting in reference to my aiming

Groups lie, load development is a myth, seating depth does nothing... I'll probably outlast all of the newer trends as they are proven otherwise.

 

[Ronws]

Groups lie, load development is a myth, seating depth does nothing... I'll probably outlast all of the newer trends as they are proven otherwise.

Not asking for a friend, asking for myself. Is the problem with groups is that it really does NOT predict what will happen on the next shot? That it can only describe what has been done?

As for load development, is the average handloader getting smaller variances in charge weight, maybe leading to more consistent power and does that help?

How much of barrel heat and flex, if any, is a thing?

 

[diggler1833]

Not asking for a friend, asking for myself. Is the problem with groups is that it really does NOT predict what will happen on the next shot? That it can only describe what has been done?

As for load development, is the average handloader getting smaller variances in charge weight, maybe leading to more consistent power and does that help?

How much of barrel heat and flex, if any, is a thing?

I think we were just sharing a little sarcasm.

I trust my "next shot" on critters an awful lot to the drop data that I gather shooting groups at distances. I just practice my actual field shooting differently.

I do truly believe in cold bore practice. That first shot of the day is as close to what you'll get in a hunting scenario. Every subsequent shot of the session is borrowing the data from the first. Drop data should be predictable...it's your wind calls that will get you.

Consistency in everything shooting/loading leads to consistency in accuracy. Equipment advances make it easier for the average handloader to increase their ammo quality. My comment about hearing that 'load development is a myth' etc... is because my testing and logged data suggest otherwise. Very much so actually.

I absolutely believe in barrel heat providing a variable when it comes to POI shift [on cheap factory barrels]. I cold bore map everything that I have, because I'm blessed to be able to shoot off the side of the house and it costs me no extra logistical effort. In my examples, the cold bore shots on my Savage and old Remingtons are .1 - .2 from where the barrel will shoot when warm. Those guns are just zeroed for the CBS.

I've got 7-8 cut-rifled barrels on various guns at the moment. I don't think a single one of those has any noticeable difference in impact from shots 1-20 in a session. It's the reason why I've switched to cut rifled barrels. * I do have a couple CHF barrels, and don't see a POI shift either.

Different dudes will have different experiences. I'm not saying that their results have to mirror mine, I was just making light of the fact that so many guys think that their method is the only viable one.

 

[Ronws]

I think we were just sharing a little sarcasm.

I trust my "next shot" on critters an awful lot to the drop data that I gather shooting groups at distances. I just practice my actual field shooting differently.

I do truly believe in cold bore practice. That first shot of the day is as close to what you'll get in a hunting scenario. Every subsequent shot of the session is borrowing the data from the first. Drop data should be predictable...it's your wind calls that will get you.

Consistency in everything shooting/loading leads to consistency in accuracy. Equipment advances make it easier for the average handloader to increase their ammo quality. My comment about hearing that 'load development is a myth' etc... is because my testing and logged data suggest otherwise. Very much so actually.

I absolutely believe in barrel heat providing a variable when it comes to POI shift [on cheap factory barrels]. I cold bore map everything that I have, because I'm blessed to be able to shoot off the side of the house and it costs me no extra logistical effort. In my examples, the cold bore shots on my Savage and old Remingtons are .1 - .2 from where the barrel will shoot when warm. Those guns are just zeroed for the CBS.

I've got 7-8 cut-rifled barrels on various guns at the moment. I don't think a single one of those has any noticeable difference in impact from shots 1-20 in a session. It's the reason why I've switched to cut rifled barrels. * I do have a couple CHF barrels, and don't see a POI shift either.

Different dudes will have different experiences. I'm not saying that their results have to mirror mine, I was just making light of the fact that so many guys think that their method is the only viable one.

Okay. For some reason, my sarcasm meter has been way off.

Interesting thing, though I have not seen the physical results is a claim made by Wade Chandler at Texas Predator Hunting where he was kind of discounting the Hornady podcast episodes (50 & 52, mostly) about group sizes. So, he said he did a cold bore group. I tend to agree with him that it is probably more a cold shooter than a cold bore.

Each day for 5 days, he would shoot the rifle once. And it patterned the same as if he sat down and ran 5 shots. Which means that the cold bore shot is shifting. For example, if I could trust cold bore was up and left by .5 MOA or whatever, then I could hold low and right to get my PoI where I want it. But if it is going to wander each time you make the first shot of the day, then grouping is necessary IMO.

In hunting, you get the first shot, maybe a second one. Most times, you can't even attempt the 3rd shot. And if shooting 3 times didn't do it, stop and do something different.

So, on a hot barrel, especially the cheaper ones, I wonder what the maximum dispersion is but then I suppose that depends on the how many shots in the string of fire.