Group size?

[J-Bar]

I recently bought a beautiful Smith and Wesson Model 17, a .22 LR revolver, 6 inch barrel. I’m sure it shoots more accurately than I do; early cataracts and arthritic fingers ensure that I will not be producing groups comparable to a Ransom Rest.

So, an informal poll:

If you were shooting such a revolver two- handed with elbows rested on a table, what size group would you expect at 20 to 25 yards?

Feel free to post photos and brag!

 

[Kittie]

This was not a .22, but was shooting 9mm un-supported from a Glock 19. Was shot at 9 years while testing reloads. I used to have a Smith & Wesson M & P Compact. LOVED that thing.. used to hold really tight groups with it. At that range I was easily doing golf ball sized groups with the M & P (usually a bit smaller) un-supported.

 

[JohnKSa]

If you were shooting such a revolver two- handed with elbows rested on a table, what size group would you expect at 20 to 25 yards?

Rimfires can be pretty ammo sensitive and rimfire ammo can vary wildly in quality.

With good ammo that the gun "likes", I would expect that someone with good vision and the shooting technique you describe should be able to make 5 shot groups that are smaller than 2". The vision thing is a real wild-card though. If you can't see the sights clearly it's really hard to shoot precision groups.

 

[chicharrones]

I recently bought a beautiful Smith and Wesson Model 17, a .22 LR revolver, 6 inch barrel.

So, an informal poll:

If you were shooting such a revolver two- handed with elbows rested on a table, what size group would you expect at 20 to 25 yards?

Feel free to post photos and brag!

Congrats on the revolver!

I'm not so good shooting a handgun using my elbows as a rest. If I'm two hand shooting and want support, with the gun in a firing grip I rest my hands directly on a bag of some sort. I'm more stable if I can get my arms straighter than the elbow method.

That said, I'm not a competitive shooter and my eyes aren't what they used to be. But, if I can cherry pick a group from when I first got my long barrel Single Six, this 6-shot group was shot while resting my hands on a shooting bag from 25 yards.

View attachment 786233
The lower two holes have two shots each in them.

 

[MrBorland]

From a Ransom rest, and with it's preferred ammo, I'd expect your M17 to shoot under an inch at 25 yards (approx 3/4"). A good shooter can consistently shoot a 3" standing unsupported group into an appropriately-sized bullseye-style target. I'd predict, then, that good groups using the same target and with resting elbows resting on a bench would be about 2". I agree with @JohnKSa, though, that ammo and your vision are the wild cards.

Feel free to post photos and brag!

Well, since I'm barely shooting now (change in life's priorities), I can look back and brag about the ol' days

4" S&W617 .22LR, 5 rounds, 25 yards, standing unsupported, double action:


From an on-line postal match. 4" DAO S&W686, 3 rounds @ 10 yards resting off a bench and 3 shots standing unsupported. Shot DA.


Same as above, but with a Ruger MkIII:

 

[Armored farmer]

If you were shooting such a revolver two- handed with elbows rested on a table, what size group would you expect at 20 to 25 yards?

Thats a goid question.
As soon as this 15-20 mph wind lays down, ill take one of these:

...and find out.

 

[Varminterror]

I generally consider if a rack grade revolver can’t hold 2.5-4moa, it doesn’t earn a spot in my shelf. Some do better, but none of any I keep are worse - and in saying that, it is VERY rare I have had to resell any of over a hundred Taurus, Ruger, or Smith production revolvers because of lacking accuracy.

 

[Waveski]

Given the criteria you stated , 20-25 yards (9-10 yard targets do not count...) , .22 m.17 , unsupported , "older" physical characteristics , I'd feel ok at about a golf ball sized grouping. Good chance I'd have an outlier due to lapse in technique.

 

[Hanshi]

At one time I'd have to get sub 1" groups with at least one ammo brand to have a handgun endear itself to me. Now, 2" makes me happy as long as I get occasional groups of about an inch.

 

[JTown]

From a resting position you should be able to shoot groups under 2" consistently. With practice you should be able to do that unsupported.
WHP

 

[PapaG]

My 617 from sandbags would put all ten in about a 3/4" circle at 50', but my eyes, at 73, aren't what they were when I had my original K-22. It was fantastic.

 

[NoirFan]

In my hands, with my wrists braced on the table, the best I can do is about 3” at 25 yards.

 

[Danoobie]

I'd say teacup saucer size pattern at 25 yards, with iron sights, so @ 6" pattern.

 

[Ru4real]

Your Model 17 should shoot better than both of these pistols. Neither are target guns. The Colt doesn't even have adjustable sights. I've been slowly opening the chambers up on the HR 999 and I've got a little more work to do. Not a single FTF with any of the newly purchased ammo listed. One inch bullseye, so 2 and 3 inch groups at 25y. Just fun guns to shoot!





View attachment 787948

 

[chicharrones]

I don't think I could ever shoot my 999 that well. However, I have new glasses and I lightened the trigger spring a touch, soooooo maybe?

 

[J-Bar]

Thanks for all the responses.

My free time the last few weeks coincided with lousy weather conditions, so I have not been able to do a realistic outdoor test with my new (to me) Model 17. When I get a target not spoiled by 30 mph wind gusts I will post some photos! The indoor range available has very dim lighting, not friendly to my aging eyes.

Here’s hoping I can do the gun justice.

 

[Jerseykris]

I'm old, but I'm not THAT old, yet it seems my eyes are definitely failing.
Not too too many years ago, with my Model 17, I could usually get consistent groups inside 1-2" at 20-25yrds unsupported, and usually sub 1" with either elbows on the bench or using a shooting bag (I attribute that to the accuracy of the gun, low recoil and good ammo as much as any skills of my own)

At the indoor range this past December with the dim lighting and my worsening perma-blur, I was lucky to land 5-6" groups at 20yrds using a shooting bag for support.
I had slightly worse results trying out my nephew's PX-4 Storm unsupported.

It's the future, weren't we all promised we could have bionic eyes by now?

 

[MrBorland]

weren't we all promised we could have bionic eyes by now?

Yup - and we have them - they get mounted on the revolver & are called “optics” .

 

[Jerseykris]

Yup - and we have them - they get mounted on the revolver & are called “optics” .

Whew... For a moment there I thought you were going to say "glasses" Too many traumatic childhood memories of those coke bottles 'til I was eleven.
Optics it is.

 

[lionking]

I tried doing accuracy tests on a table, found out it was better just to do a two hand hold weaver stance for checking accuracy.