Thread: Accuracy is Relative

Another thing people do is only shot/measure 3 shot groups. If they shot 5x 3 shot groups what would the average or combined group be?

5 shot 1.5 moa used to be good for my hunting rifles, if i can get it tighter that's good, but i'm not going to stress or do another 100 rounds of load development. I'm now shooting further and further so 1 moa 5 shot groups.

Exactly its horses for courses. For those hunting medium game at practical distances super tight groups is not a necessity.
The platform might be capable of 0.25 moa accuracy from the bench.
Add in field conditions.. add a bit more.
Add in fatigue and higher heart rate.
That 0.25 moa accuracy is well out the window.

how often would you expect to FIRE five shots at animals at once??? yes I will at wallabies but VERY VERY seldom would at deer....cant think when last I fired 3 off top of head....must be a while back thats for sure.
one of my early reloading manuals....pretty sure its the 1st edition Nosler suggests that for hunting rifles you fire first shot well aimed then next two as fast as you reasonably can....which if you think about it gives you a hunting senario type group which if its a hunting rifle is all that really matters.

I can see that point that one three shot group doesn't necessarily prove anything, but if that first careful shot misses.... chances are that emptying the rest of the magazine at a running target might not be wonderfully successful. Nevertheless, it is good to have a rifle that will group well with a number of cartridges being shot in a short period.

Do you eat wallabies Micky? Any good?

Blue Cod... interesting. Where did you get the 195 grain projectiles?

hi i make my own cast bullets 195gn round nose bullets if you want some i can make you some to try out in your gun 5 gns unigue works a treat

That's a generous, friendly offer thanks Bluecod. I might just take advantage of that when I've experimented a bit more. What mould is it and where did you get it? Do you use .357 brass or .38 Special?

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

how often would you expect to FIRE five shots at animals at once??? yes I will at wallabies but VERY VERY seldom would at deer....cant think when last I fired 3 off top of head....must be a while back thats for sure.

Match the number of shots used to determine accuracy to the likely number that will be required for the game that rifle is for ?

Originally Posted by Puffin

Match the number of shots used to determine accuracy to the likely number that will be required for the game that rifle is for ?

I think it was r93 that did a cold bore repeatability test over several months. Except when shooting "pests" its consistent first shot accuracy you want. Nine round groups may be the best for zeroing/learning load characteristics but its single shot cold bore results that count for the hunter in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I think it was r93 that did a cold bore repeatability test over several months. Except when shooting "pests" its consistent first shot accuracy you want. Nine round groups may be the best for zeroing/learning load characteristics but its single shot cold bore results that count for the hunter in my opinion.

Thanks for reminding me. I learnt a lot out of that wee experiment and planned to modify it a bit.
I will get off my ass when I get home and do something about it.



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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

how often would you expect to FIRE five shots at animals at once??? yes I will at wallabies but VERY VERY seldom would at deer....cant think when last I fired 3 off top of head....must be a while back thats for sure.
one of my early reloading manuals....pretty sure its the 1st edition Nosler suggests that for hunting rifles you fire first shot well aimed then next two as fast as you reasonably can....which if you think about it gives you a hunting senario type group which if its a hunting rifle is all that really matters.

there you go Puffin.....put quote IN CONTEXT and it makes sense....accuracy is relative is the title of the thread...hunting accuracy is relative to hunting...a 3 shot group is arguably more relative to hunting senario than a five shot group.

i use 38spl 358430 lyman mold #2 alloy size 358

Thanks Bluecod.

As long as you can make a good fatal shot on an animal at ranges you are comfortable with that's all you need, whether that range is up to 200 yds or further that's up to the individual. Now that I've been forced to revert back to a bolt action my current rifle , .223 , is good enough to consistantly hit std clay targets out to 400 yds. More accurate than I need. Have shot goats out to 328yds , most shots under 50 yds mainly bush shooting. And it has to group well enough for 6 shots, rifle capacity, when dealing with a mob of goats. As a side note my old semi was a better shooter than this Howa.

hi i am playing with the 9mm devistator 125gn hollow point mold in my rossi straight lino type alox lube in 38spl 5 gns ap50 and also tried 5 gnains of unique best group with tang aperture sight was 3inchs at 50meters my overall best group was inch and a half at 50 meter 195gn round nose with 3.5 grn unique great to see some one else playing with the 38/357 havnt tried 357 cases yet cheers

wallaby tail makes an awesome VERY rich casserole/stew...find an oxtail recipe and go from there...cut it close to base so you get plenty meat.... steaks are ok roast ok but I found it very bland...like lamb or young goat but with darker meat.

Most rifle/ammo combinations shoot better than most of us will shoot unsupported.