Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What accuracy do you expect from an inexpensive bolt action factory rifle?

I have a very condescending flintlock. It kept telling me, “My way or the highway.” It was a challenge to be sure, this doing it different from my way. In the end I submitted. It will put 5 balls (yes, it has more than me) in about 1.5” @ 50 yds, offhand. It’s totally bizarre that it shoots better than my carbine shoots off a bench rest.

Someone asked earlier about who shoots offhand? I ain’t never killed a critter shootin’ from a bench. Not never.

Shooting sticks? I've killed multitudes of prarie dogs from a bench though.

Never used shooting sticks and the only dogs around here bark and growl. Never figured MOA for a load of buckshot. No sir, I don’t shoot anything but paper from a bench. I have leaned against a tree for a shot on occasion. Even squatted a few times and rested an arm on my knee. You fellas out west got to deal with different affairs than us swamp critters.

Guess I must have been lucky. I don't remember having any bolt action rifles going back as far as the late '70's that shot as bad as 3 MOA. Of course I shot few "out of the box" and would routinely glass bed and adjust triggers even back then.

My old 788 that my Dad bought from me in 1975 for getting good grades (I was 15) is a 1/2" rifle. I killed a bunch of groundhogs with it at all kinds of ranges. It has never had a factory round shot through it though. A couple years ago I saw a T/C Compass package deal at my LGS complete with Vortex 3-9 scope and I took it home with me. It shoots right at an inch at 100 yds with Hornady factory 143 grain ELD-X ammo.

Ron

Which cartridge did you use in the 788?

I expect 1.5" at a 100 yards for 3 shots. All of my rifles but 1 do better. A 30-30 Contender carbine barrel is the one that won't. I have tried a bunch of bullets and powder combinations and 1 approached 1.5. The other carbine barrel I have shoots great.

Seems like everything posted now turns into a pissing contest.For those who don`t like someone use the Ignore feature.Internet call outs are a joke.I think this was a good topic but since I don`t use factory ammo and don`t own a Savage or RA ,have no input to give.

No worries. I think most of us know what you mean.

The only new stock rifle I have is a 308 Ruger American from the first year they were available. When I bought it, I did buy a box of factory Remingtons to try it out, but like most people here, it got reloaded stuff since that initial try out.

Steve;
Good afternoon and Happy New Year to you and yours, I hope the weather is behaving out east better than it has been here so far this winter.

Thanks for the thread and thanks for the replies that made it an interesting read.

Back in the fall of 2020 I did a rough and dirty review of a Remington 700 which a neighbor had won at a game banquet and he decided it was going to go north moose hunting on a cancellation hunt.

Here's a link to that thread for any interested.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...gton-700-bdl-report-sort-of#Post15290275

The Cliff Notes are that after I lightened the trigger and worked on the fore end pressure, it shot Winchester 190gr Accubonds better than I thought it would.

It went on to get him a really decent bull the first night they went up there, though the return trip on a choppy lake, in the dark and in a boat loaded with people and moose was more adventure than he or his wife who was along too were bargaining for.

When I ran some old Winchester White Box 55gr Ball through my Ruger American it shot pretty well now that I think of it, but like most firearms that end up here, they're all apart and on the bench before range day so that's not exactly in keeping with the spirit of the thread. For that matter I did fool with the fore end and trigger on the 700 so that wasn't out of the box either.

Regardless it's been an educational read and I do appreciate all the participants.

All the best to you folks in 2022 Steve.

Dwayne

I have had several Ruger Pred. rifles that shot as good as some custom rifles I have had

Hi Dwayne,

I admit that whenever I have purchased a new, bolt action econo-rifle, I started filling out a modification sheet. I have always enjoyed making over rifles with good bones.

pullit,

I understand what you mean. That's the reason why I never did anything to my American except buy a single shot mag for it. That was primarily for load testing.

I have it in my head that everything should shoot to 1". I would not be happy with a two inch group with anything (which doesnt really match up with reality). a two inch group looks horrible on paper, just my inexperience showing through. I used to sight in and hunt. Never really shot groups, still have not perfected shooting off a bench. I was off hand at rabbits, off the truck hood or tree branch for a long shot, off hand walking for anything inside of 200 yds. It is tough for me to shoot a good group off the bench.

Yep. Same results with my Ruger America Predator in 6.5 CM.
Shot several brands of Factory Ammo under an inch.
I might get around to reloading for it someday. But why bother when it shoots that good with Factory Ammo.

Unless you just couldn’t find any ammo anywhere.

Has anyone had similar experiences of great accuracy with other chamberings such as 6 CM, 7-08, 308, 243... and factory ammo?

Or is this only a phenomena with 6.5 CM factory ammo and entry level bolt action rifles?

Sample of one. But, we have a RAR in 243 Win topped with a Weaver K6 that my boys share. It's no trick to keep 3 under 1.5" at 100yds using Federal Fusion 95gr ammo. More than good enough for their uses and a level of accuracy that I have no problem with. It's take whitetail and pronghorn from 50yds to 267yds. None have gotten away and none have made it more than 70yds from being shot. I'm pleased with it.

For me, I'd expect about any rifle to be able to keep 3 shots inside 2" with some flavor of factory ammo. My 1 sample does this and so do all those of my friends with inexpensive rifles.

With proper trigger control, and even the cheap scope that comes with it, just about any factory gun out of the box is less than 2" and usually close to 1". even 2:" is fine for 100 yard shots on big game.

1.5", but I feel the worst detriment to good accuracy is poor triggers.

The only truly factory cheap rifle that I own, is a Ruger American in .308. I did lighten the trigger a bit and other than that, nothing add-on. It shoots 1/2 moa with 150 Hornady Interlocks, over CFE223. In my opinion, many people worry about how a rifle looks, instead of concentrating on how they shoot. I have some real nice rifles, but have always concentrated more on functionality.

A friend of mine has three Thompson Ventures. They all shoot as good, or better than any of his expensive rifles.

I think that if all you can get is the expensive factory ammo and don't want to do a lot of testing, two-inch groups and under should suffice for the average hunter.