Hunting groups

[Kwaynem]

Have you all ever settled for a less than stellar group for hunting say a 1”” group at 100 yards I’m getting short on components and it’s almost impossible to find anything right now

 

[troy fairweather]

Like my dad if they will stay on a pie plate at the range we will hunt at then that's ok, so 2-3 moa is normally fine. Try to get the best as possible with what we got tho.

 

[Kwaynem]

Best I can get so far with this 243 with H4350 is 1 1/4 or a little less and we all know H4350 is some what of a unicorn especially now

 

[jmr40]

I want the most speed possible that still maintains 1 MOA. Anything less is nice to have for bragging rights, but I don't waste time or components chasing tiny groups. Especially at the expense of speed. Many of my rifles will do a little better than 1 MOA. But I don't consider it a requirement.

In the real world, fired in the field from typical hunting positions a rifle capable of 1/2 MOA off a bench won't shoot any better than a 1 MOA rifle. And for 90% of what most hunters do 2 MOA is enough. But I suppose I'm spoiled. While I know 2 MOA will work, it is just not that hard anymore to find a rifle and load that will do 1 MOA.

Best I can get so far with this 243 with H4350 is 1 1/4

That's close enough.

 

[AJC1]

You may try vit n160. It's more expensive but generally more available. Ramshot hunter may also pop up.

 

[wbm]

Have you all ever settled for a less than stellar group for hunting say a 1”” group at 100 yards

Yes I have.

Years ago Carlos Hathcock was asked that same type of question in an interview with a writer from Precision Shooting Magazine. The question was "what kind of accuracy is necessary for a sniper rifle? His answer? 1"

 

[Kwaynem]

Thanks that make me more relaxed I rarely have a shot (or the kids and grandkids) over 125 yards

 

[wbm]

Cool.

Carlos also gave another piece of advice...not to be real concerned about groups as much as where that very first round goes out of a cold barrel! Bottom line? If that first shot goes where you want it to go consistently, then your probability of killing the game you are shooting at is way high!!

 

[stillquietvoice]

Best I can get so far with this 243 with H4350 is 1 1/4 or a little less and we all know H4350 is some what of a unicorn especially now

As stayed good enough. It's about the same size groups that I get with my 223, but that took a small doe 2 seasons ago.

What's your best load, bullet weight you are using, and oal? I load 100 gr hornandy interlock spbt over h4350 as well as ramshot hunter at 2.675" those gete sub moa from my m11 savage.

 

[Kwaynem]

H4350 with 95 grain sst col 2.630 per the hornady book

 

[stillquietvoice]

H4350 with 95 grain sst col 2.630 per the hornady book

You might try a longer oal to shrink your group size, hodgens web site shows an oal of 2.65" .

I wasn't able to get a shot on game this past season but it hits hard at 300 on steel plates. I did have a buck in my sights, but there was too much brush to shoot through, then he moved and I couldn't clearly see his vitals so I let him walk.

 

[jmorris]

Have you all ever settled for a less than stellar group for hunting say a 1”” group at 100 yards I’m getting short on components and it’s almost impossible to find anything right now

I have lots of hunting guns that couldn’t shoot 1” 100 yard groups, especially in the positions and conditions I have killed stuff with them.

 

[bsparker]

I have lots of hunting guns that couldn’t shoot 1” 100 yard groups, especially in the positions and conditions I have killed stuff with them.

Positions and conditions. My dad rarely ever let me shoot from a rest growing up and never cared much for groupings. He had me sitting, kneeling, using a tree or a knee to learn how to get a steady shot. We always hunted from the ground so you never really knew how your shot would be taken. That said, he always made sure I could hit a 6” plate at 100yrds either way.

@Kwaynem, that .243 will get it done. As stated the first shot out of a cold barrel on a pie plate every time is really telling.

Happy hunting!

 

[mcb]

I have hunted several years with a 450 Bushmaster that would do about 2 MOA with a 5-shot group at 100 yards. Last year I hunted with a 30 RAR that would do about 1.75 MOA (again 5-shots). Then again on the property I am hunting 120 yards is a long shot so it has worked just fine.

 

[horsey300]

Thanks that make me more relaxed I rarely have a shot (or the kids and grandkids) over 125 yards

1.5 moa is my worst acceptable, we also have longer shots on occasion. If I knew for sure and for certain I'd never kill past 150, I could deal with 3 moa(in a world where ammo/components are inhibitors to thorough precision chasing), your load is just fine!

 

[Walkalong]

Have you all ever settled for a less than stellar group for hunting say a 1”” group at 100 yards

Yes.

 

[Random 8]

Tight is better, but unless I'll be shooting long range from a solid position, any gain under 2" is absolutely moot on a game animal from field positions. My components and time are better spent practicing offhand, folding chair sitting and improvised rests as well as target acquisition in cover and shooting through windows in brush from odd body positions.

 

[mcb]

All you guys saying you only accept 1.5 or 1.0 MOA or better have clearly never had to hunt deer in a slug only state. Pie plate at 40-50 yard was good to go with my old smooth bore BPS with only a front bead site.

 

[brewer12345]

Horses for courses. My last two shots at deer were at 50 and 60 yards with a muzzleloader that I was happy with 2 inch groups at 50 yards. If you are shooting inside of 100 yards, 2 MOA is more than adequate to make some meat.

 

[NMexJim]

The first time 4350 disappeared, I figured I’d better find something else for .243. Reloader 17 worked nicely for heavier bullets as did H4831SC (short cut). If you drop down in bullet weight, RL15 worked for me.

 

[Thomasss]

Aim small, miss small! I'm at .3 MOA and still trying for better with an .06 or with a .270 Try extending you bullet out more than Sammi recommendations.

 

[swg1]

I quit wasting Nosler partitions on paper if the load is about 1.5. Two inches wouldn't break my heart either if I'm in a hurry.

But I'm also unlikely to shoot much past 300 yards either.

 

[stillquietvoice]

All you guys saying you only accept 1.5 or 1.0 MOA or better have clearly never had to hunt deer in a slug only state. Pie plate at 40-50 yard was good to go with my old smooth bore BPS with only a front bead site.

I started out using a 12 ga 11-48 rem smooth bore, shooting Forester slugs. I just want the most accuracy I can get because depending on where I'm hunting shots are possible to 500 yds. So the least hunt of error is paramount.

 

[lordpaxman]

My Dad taught me to take game as humanely as possible. Whatever combination of hunting implement, conditions, and hunter that translates to. I passed this on to my kids.

All you guys saying you only accept 1.5 or 1.0 MOA or better have clearly never had to hunt deer in a slug only state. Pie plate at 40-50 yard was good to go with my old smooth bore BPS with only a front bead site.

I started out using a 12 ga 11-48 rem smooth bore, shooting Forester slugs.

I’m with you guys, an 870 with a smooth bore and a bead, but then again most shots within 50-75 yards. Anything farther and you had to make hard decisions.

 

[Dale Alan]

I have many old hunting rifles that are hard to get 1" groups from at 100 yards consistently , I use those when my visibilty is limited to 50 yards in the woods . When I can see 100 yards or more I choose my guns that shoot 1" or less . That one inch can grow a great deal under hunting conditions , I want my gun to shoot small so when human error comes into play accuracy is still good enough for the task .