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What do YOU consider a good 100yd group?

JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
I have seen many different posts and articles over the years which state that this or that is an acceptable group for big game hunting, or varmit hunting, or for this or that particular caliber. I guess I am particular, also known to my wife as *, about my groups. If I have a modern firearm, and modern premium ammo, not even considering hand loads, I feel that once I find the bullet it likes, it should be a one hole shooter, or at least almost one hole. I would have no problem sending my newest rifle (whatever it may be), right to my gunsmith if it didn't group one hole. So,....I guess my question is, what do you guys feel is acceptable at 100yds and with what caliber? I understand that a 375 or 416 will obviously yield a larger group, due to it's size, even if it is one hole or close to it. I also understand that pencil barreled rifles will not group with stainless bull barreled rifles as well. well,.........what's your comfort range?????

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

Edited by - JustC on 07/19/2002 15:47:18
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Comments

  • concealedG36concealedG36 Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I guess I'm not nearly as good a shot as you. I am happy with 1" groups at 100 yds. I can do this with my M1A with iron sights and my ruger .30-06 with a scope. I get my quota of deer every single year, good enough for me!




    Gun Control Disarms Victims, NOT Criminals
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Myself if I can shoot a 1 inch group at 100yrds Im very happy.

    Best!!

    Rugster
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    If you shoot a 1 holer in a hunting senerio, you dont need to be hunting, you better go into professional competition,

    1 holers are hard to get even shooting from a bench rest, because your eye doesnt line up with the sights the same every time.

    A 1" group at 100 yds is exceptional shooting, I would look at maybe 1 1/2 ' at best

    "A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    CG36, if you are getting 1" with an iron sighted M1A, I can't say anything bad about your ability. That's impressive for field sights. Have you tried a box of balistic tips in the 06 yet?

    Oh yeah, let me say this, I am not trying to come off as some kind of sniper or benchrest record holder, I shoot for groups off of the bench with a 15" bull bag and rabbit ears for supporting the rear. Yes, I do spend time, all year long, shooting rifles at distance, that's what keeps me sharp.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

    Edited by - JustC on 07/19/2002 11:26:36
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    Its easy to shoot one hole groups, just fire one time.lol...

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In reality, a firearm that will produce a 1" group at 100 yards, off of a bench, is by far accurate enough for most hunting conditions. We can't hope to be that precise under most hunting conditions. However, I suffer from the same "one hole" syndrome as you do. When I get a new rifle, I tinker with it until it shoots....I guess you could call this behavior *, but it's a labor of love right? It is by far better then some of the jokers I see at the range that shoot a box of ammo at a 8" pie plate, hit it twice, and say "good enough for me"

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I try for 1" groups with a scoped rifle. That is quite sufficient accuracy for hunting purposes, particularly when most hunting shots are at less tha 100 yards. A lot of times I can get them down to 1.5 or 1.25 inches.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    pigeoncreek1, how right you are!!!!! I am more than happy to pay 2-3 times what someone else pays for land to hunt, just to know that I am out there with people who I know are accurate AS WELL AS SAFE with a rifle. I know exactly what you mean with the pie plate.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

    Edited by - JustC on 07/19/2002 11:35:11
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your signature says a lot on this topic. What the gun will do in a Ransom-type rest with the right load and what I can do with iron sights or a good scope are three different things. I'd expect a good rifle to be capable of being a nearly one hole shooter at as short a distance as 100 yards in any decent caliber, say, .308 Win. I would expect almost that good a performance from a tactical or combat rifle or carbine -- maybe 1-2 inch groups or a little bigger. It's the difference between a combat gun and a hunting gun, a long-range cartridge and a mid-range cartridge.

    Out at 300 yards, I'd still hope to get reasonably small groups from a hunting rifle, maybe 2-3 inches from a non-custom race job, with just a bit of drop to be adjusted for. Tactical rifles at 300 vary widely, but are still capable of decent groups with quality ammo and some adjustment for distance, but groups, maybe 5", not single-hole.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't use factory ammo, but when I get a load down to 1" at 100, I'm happy ... if it wont do 1" consistantly and there is nothing else I can do I usually dump it. Right now I have an HK SR9T that is giving me fits ...

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    MOM= Minute of Moose. With either handgun or rifle and I'm happy.

    AlleninAlaska

    Free men are not equal and equal men are not free
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  • squeakycsqueakyc Member Posts: 204 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use a WW1 SMLE .303 with full stock and battle sights. So a grouping of 2" at 100 yards makes me very happy. I use this for hunting white tail deer in Eastern Ontario.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "minute of moose", now thats a good one. LOL
    I guess with the kill zone on one of those bad boys, you have some margin for error.



    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • 223believer223believer Member Posts: 128 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I consistently shoot one whole groups at 100 yards with
    all my rifles. I just use good form, regulate my breathing,
    squeeze the trigger, and I can easily keep 5 shots on one
    whole piece of paper.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    223, I *like* your attitude! Me, too. I do try for that nice group, but if ol' Betsy will put 10 rds into 2" at 100 yards, I figure anything I want to shoot at in that range is not about to care. Besides, in the Eastern forests, 100 yards is a *long* shot. The one time I had a chance at a deer at long range (300+ yd) I grabbed the Swift with some confidence that number would do the work with a head shot. Damn deer didn't stick around to find out, though.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    100yd groups:

    8" = Minimum Requirement
    4" = Decent
    3" = OK
    2" = Good
    1" = Great
    1/2" = Excellent
    Anything under is awesome.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:
    I understand that a 375 or 416 will obviously yield a larger group, due to it's size, even if it is one hole or close to it.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.


    A 1 inch group from a .223 and a 1 inch group from a 700 NE is the same thing, because you measure from center to center (or outside to outside minus 1 bullet diameter, same thing) although it's harder to do with the big stuff.
    That being said, for deer hunting, I look for consistant 1/2 inch groups off the bench, or as close to that as the rifle is capable of doing with it's best load. Why, you ask? When I need to reach out into the 500yd neighborhood I want the all the confidence in my rig that I can get.
    For a short range brush gun or iron sights I'll settle for 1 1/2, benched, groups however.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm happy with a grouping the size of a man's head.
    I don't hunt.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Off the bench...match bolt gun 1/2 inch. With a match service rifle I'd expect 3/4 inch off the bench. Combat service rifle with minimal tweaking 1 1/2 inches. I hear a lot about these "cyber" one hole groups but with the exception of some truly tricked out bench rest rifles that have been tweaked "in extremus" that's just not a realistic expectation. Beach
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ditto Beach - and with factory ammo ... even "Match" ammo, I don't think thats realistic ... one ragged hole yes! ... but one hole?

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • bama55bama55 Member Posts: 6,389 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1 inch or less at 100 yards.

    Don't send flowers when I die. Send money now, I can buy more ammo.
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    10 Shots, in the wind, Reminton 700PSS 308. She's had some work since then.


    ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
    Will270win@nraonline.com

    Edited by - will270win on 07/20/2002 14:13:50
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  • Rob GreeneRob Greene Member Posts: 102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with leeblackman. 8" is the minimum acceptable group. This way, the shots will all be within the kill zone of a whitetail deer. The smaller the group the better. If I can get my rifle to shoot 1" groups, I'd never settle for the 8" group. If I can't get the rifle to group 1" groups either because I haven't yet found the right ammo or the weapon itself isn't capable of anything that tight, I'll take the smallest group I can get. The end result is, if you're hunting, the prey should die with one shot. If you're target shooting, you better reconsider if you only get 8" groups.

    **It is your right to posess a firearm. In case of questions, please refer to ammendment 2, United States Constitution.**
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  • sodbustersodbuster Member Posts: 2,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most of the fellas I shoot with are satisfied if they can cover a three shot 100 yd. group with a quarter. I feel that I am just as good a shot as them if I can cover the group with two dimes and a nickel.

    "Just my opinion."
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  • .280 freak.280 freak Member Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sodbuster -



    Gonna remember THAT one!
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    Will270, What did you let that one little bullet stray for? It was probably still .5. Just think what it would have been if you had done your part!! Us accuracy nuts are all a bunch of freaks!! I've sold guns once they opened up to .6!!! I kill a lot of paper though!! GHD
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    I like that $.25 thing!


    ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
    Will270win@nraonline.com
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  • 4wheeler4wheeler Member Posts: 3,441
    edited November -1
    I guess I will admit to being the weird one when sighting in my hunting rifles. I do not use a rest when sighting them in,I shoot from one knee,standing,etc.Most of my shots are in the 40 to 60 yard range when hunting because there are no open fields only heavily wooded areas. Most of the time my groups are reasonable,about 1.5 inchs at 100 yards. I have not figured out why I sight in at a 100 yards being I never get a 100 yard shot.There are times when I could not hit the side of a barn door,but I won`t talk about that.
    "It was like that when I got here".

    Edited by - 4wheeler on 07/20/2002 23:56:53
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My best is a .270 Abolt SS topped with a SS Leupold
    with federal perimum it shoots 1 to 1.5" groups......
    I'm a whitetail huntin nut........

    I love the group RugerNiner has..............


    coonass

    We Live in a World of Give And Take, But A Lot Of People Won't Give What it Takes.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am happy with one ragged hole or almost that. I guess my non-specification threw a few of ya'll off. .5" 0r .6" are great for my 7mm mag or my .308. Now my .222, I have a .33" I saved from that one!! My philosophy is this,.....if you can't shoot a ragged hole or touching shots at 100yds, then you can't expect to drop them at 500yds either. My closest shot on the crop permits this year has been 333 lazered yds. I just want to be sure when the hammer falls!

    GHD, I'm killin my share of paper too. Gotta know where she's goin before you can put her there.

    Will270Win, Sweet shooting. That's what I'm getting at, after you have a rifle doing that, there is no going back.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wish one of you like justC loved by me......I would love to learn
    how to "fine" tune my abolt or my 100's or 88's

    We Live in a World of Give And Take, But A Lot Of People Won't Give What it Takes.
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