I am wanting groups in the 1.5" range or better.
I don't know what your target group size is for a group of <1.5".
If you're happy with 3 shots, then that's probably doable with FMJ, commercial, everyday ammo, some of the time
If you require 5 shot groups, every day all day, if you do your part, to be happy, then it gets a bit harder & the requirements for the equipment & the ammo go up.
If you need 10 shot groups, all day, every day, if you do your part, to be happy, it's doubtful than just any ole off the shelf gun and any ole off the shelf ammo will get you there, all of the time.
The point being, as AH64guy implied, in that $600 price range, uniformity & consistency from gun to gun to gun, gets a little iffy.
That's part of what you will get more of, generally, as the price goes up, especially in the consistency of the barrels..........fact of life is that the barrel is the heart of the rifle for accuracy & better, more consistent barrels cost more money than what is generally found on bottom end guns.
But every once in a while, you find a nugget........., more likely you don't
Probably more likely to get to where you want to be accuracy wise, by building a gun & using a more or less known source for the barrel/upper, than just buying a complete off the shelf low end gun.
JMHO, YMMV.
MM
