Thread: Is the standard for a hunting rifle 1.5 moa?

if one has a rifle capable of 1 MOA or less but cant shoot better than 2-3 MOA then practice required and that can be an adventure in itself and can be a pleasurable one not a chore - now I was lucky at 16 I started with fullbore and smallbore and some hunting - those early experiences at target stood me in good stead for the rest of my hunting days - so if you cant shoot well get a good book on target shooting or you tube it and get out there and practice - a suggestion would be a damn accurate .22 with a good trigger rather than a heavy caliber to start with ( or 222. 223. ) and learn - great fun and the deer will hate you for it

First cold bore shot(clean or dirty 308 barrel) the only one that matters.

Originally Posted by Trout

First cold bore shot(clean or dirty 308 barrel) the only one that matters.

This is my priority also
Single cold clean bore shot.
But I will shoot a composite cold clean bore shot over a number of days.

I have the luxury of a 100m range out my workshop door.

I do shoot controlled rapid fire 5 shot groups just to see if the bullets walk at all.
This mainly because single shot rifles don't have free floated barrels and glass bedded actions

my early Nosler manual...number 3 has a speil about this....when sighting in FOR HUNTING (this IS the relevance) a really steady first round then 2 others as quick as you can simulates a REAL WORLD hunting type situation...stop and think about it before pooh hooing it..... if you can still achieve 1.5moa doing that..you doing really well...
that same manual has story of two chaps hunting groundhogs..one fella killing them well all day the other fella had lots crawl away wounded because he was using a more accurate load...but using match projectiles..moral of that story was a 3/4" group with expanding projectiles is more humaine than 1/4" group with ones that preform like a fmj.... a ground hog isnt very big compared to a deer so up your group size for bigger game appropriately

I always take manufacturers accuracy guarantees with a pinch of salt as I figure they are shot from a rest. I just want to know the rifle is more accurate than I am.

This is a pretty interesting video from MDT. They upgrade a Ruger American to get the maximum potential out of it.

Cig packet group at 200yds good enough for any average hunt.The moa group that gun factorys advertise are shot in perfect conditions not hunting conditions.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Most modern rifles are well capable of sub MOA accuracy, most people aren't.

This....

A takeaway point that I got was that some peoples expectations or assumptions are different to the reality when put to the test.
A number of shooters on this board have proven what their rifle is capable of, but its just as likely that you guys are the exceptions and not the rule. I think the implication here that the average hunter buys factory ammo, goes to a sighting in range once a year and says 'close enough' and off they go. These guys are the largest demographic, and these are the ones who aren't shooting sub-MOA, as evidenced in this video.

Search for @gimp ‘s accuracy challenge and you will see almost hundreds of reasons why forum members cant post a few MOA groups.

By far the most efficient approach is to keep firing and adjusting till youve had 3 shots within 1.5 inches of your intended Point of impact then call it a day and go hunting and recheck once a year.

A lot of new hunting rifles CAN shoot 5 shot sub MOA groups but I bet few if them ever DO. Yet they are great rifles. How many people have actually shot the 3 shot sub moa with their tikka and how many have returned their new rifle because they cant do it ? 1.5 by the average hunter is bl**dy good and perfectly adequate for deer and such.