Expected Accuracy from Alternate Firing Positions

[kis2]

Fellow shooters,

This question may end up tailored more towards longer range folks, as is my niche.

I think the standard for most precision rifles is minute or less in general. Most of those rifles loaded with optics will weigh, at a minimum 11lbs. probably closer to 15. So, if your rifle shoots 1 minute at 100yds from prone, what kind of accuracy would you expect from...

1. Standing Offhand
2. Standing Supported
3. Kneeling Offhand
4. Kneeling Supported
5. Sitting Offhand
6. Sitting Supported

All I'm really looking to do here is give people a gauge at what they should be able to shoot reasonably from these positions. as testified by experienced shooters. Arizona98tj said about 4moa is what they preach at appleseed (I've not been) I practice all of these positions, but haven't put enough time in to measure a group.

Thanks for the inputs!

 

[taliv]

1. I can hold the 9 ring well enough in CMP/NRA HP. IIRC my personal best is only around a 94 or 95 (five 10s and five 9s out of ten shots)
2. don't know. never tried
3. only time i shoot this is with an AR at 50 yrds in carbine classes. The target is an 8" circle and it is not hard to hold. However, you just shoot it twice as fast as you can, with a mag change before and after and move on
4. 1.5 minutes or so
5. IIRC my best was a 100-7x in CMP/NRA which was 7 of 10 shots in a 3" circle at 200. of course, that's in 60 seconds from standing with a mag change in the middle. (oh, and with iron sights)
6. can't recall ever shooting this way, unless you mean like sitting at a bench

 

[twofifty]

OK.
At 100 yds:

1. 2 to 6 MOA - Standing Offhand
2. 2 to 5 MOA - Standing Supported
3. n/a - Kneeling Offhand
4. n/a - Kneeling Supported
5. 2 to 5 MOA - Sitting Offhand
6. n/a - Sitting Supported

These figures come from analysing my club match results over 4 years. This is a weekly 6 round match formatted as follows: 1rd from the bags; 2 rds from bags with standing start & gun unloaded, in 20 seconds; 1 rd standing supported; 1 rd sitting offhand OR 1rd prone; 1 rd standing offhand. That's 6 rounds in all, in a weekly Spring/Summer after-work before the sun sets behind the mountain kind of fun match. A trophy is awarded to the winner so there is a lot of bantering back and forth.

In the first year, my average 6-shot group size was 6.03".
In the second year: 4.73". Third year: 4.52". Fourth year: 4.125". Now this doesn't mean that rounds never end up on the edges of the target. Sometimes I'll miss the target entirely. Stuff happens.

Once or twice a year we shoot the same format at 200yds. The groups open up but the MOAs stay pretty well the same, maybe a tad bit bigger because of the psych games going on in our heads.

My improvements are due to shooting thousands of rounds of 22LR, with a buddy or two and for awhile in metallic silhouette comps. This year I shot much less 22 and it showed in my results so I won't tell you how bad I did.

 

[Steve Marshall]

The only one I can comment on is standing offhand. 25+ years ago, I competed in High Power. I used to practice offhand with an Enfield. My BEST was a 4 minute ten shot group. My average was closer to 6 or 7 MOA. My worst was Maine and Vermont.

 

[browningguy]

1. Standing Offhand - I'd be lucky these days to hold even a 4" group on a regular basis, I'm just not steady enough these days.

2. Standing Supported - I actually practice this, either from sticks or supported against a wall, tree or barricade and I expect to be around 1-2 moa, pretty close although it wouldn't be quite as good as prone. Now if you are talking about just a sling for support then it would be worse, maybe 3-4 moa although I don't practice this.

3. Kneeling Offhand - I'd expect 2-3 moa.

4. Kneeling Supported - Again I usually do pretty good supported, I average about 2 moa using a sling.

5. Sitting Offhand - About 2 moa would be my expectation although I don't practice this.

6. Sitting Supported - I do practice this, usually averaging just under 2 moa with a sling.

Never stand when you can kneel, never kneel when you can sit, never sit when you can go prone and always use a brace or rest when possible. That's how I was taught.

 

[kis2]

"Never stand when you can kneel, never kneel when you can sit, never sit when you can go prone and always use a brace or rest when possible."

Same here!

Good inputs all, thanks for the help