Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hunting Rifle Accuracy

In other words I think I get more feedback per shot on both my shooting and the rifle by shooting to the point of aim than just shooting a "group" somewhere on the paper.

The issue with "groups" is that the first shot is always a freebie as all one shot groups are equal. For a hunting rifle, the first shot is the most important. How close to point of aim a rifle/shooter can place that first shot and how close to point of aim all the subsequent shots hit means more to me than "group size".

I put a new barrel on my AR last week and finally had things dry out enough to fine tune the bipod/no rear bag zero at 100yds shooting the 70gr VLD.

Dots were shot from bottom left to top right.
After first 3 shot string scope was adjusted down 1/3 MOA
After second 3 shot string scope was adjusted left 1/4 MOA
I lost some focus on the middle 2 strings.



While the "group size" of the middle targets was not horrible the high shots stand out and show more of a shooter issue and not a rifle issue.

In other words I think I get more feedback per shot on both my shooting and the rifle by shooting to the point of aim than just shooting a "group" somewhere on the paper.

Thinking nothing. Except perhaps moving away from the bench frequently.

John;
Good morning to you sir, I trust this chilly Friday morning finds you acceptably well - and warm enough.

Thanks for your last post as when I read it in context with the previous posts from JB, Denton and BobinNH it gelled a few concepts for me personally.

Way back in the dark ages when I was absorbed with group shooting an article by I believe Mike Venturino suggested more or less that only the first two shots from a cold, clean hunting rifle barrel were meaningful.

I recall being more than a tad nonplussed by that revelation as it both made sense and turned my then current theories on their collective ears.....

Anyway John, of all the rifles we've had pass through our hands over the decades in between then and now, the ones that will plant the first two shots from a cold barrel where we want them are the ones that get taken out hunting anymore.

I'll note that at this point in our hunting we don't generally shoot that far compared to many folks here, but if we do begin down that path a rifle that will hit where I need it to with the first round will be the one that goes up the mountain behind the house come fall.

Thanks again for your post John and the rest of our 'Fire cyber friends as well. All the best to you all this weekend.

Dwayne

Yeah, there's a difference between shooting for score and shooting for group. But a rifle that can't group isn't going to shoot a high score. Unless of course you're just a very lucky bad shot.

Travis

John: Agreed.

Rhetorical question: Does anyonebother practicing with a rifle that isn't zeroed?

Rhetorical question: Does anyonebother practicing with a rifle that isn't zeroed?

,,,, an article by I believe Mike Venturino suggested more or less that only the first two shots from a cold, clean hunting rifle barrel were meaningful.

Dwayne