600 yard 20 round group, asking for feedback

[Leinad]

Hey folks,

Getting my 6mm tikka worked out. Shooting a 18 inch preferred barrel and swfa 3-15, suppressed. I am happy with the 100 yard, 10 round groups Im getting. I shoot these NRA 600 yard matches to practice. I run prone over my pack, same as hunting practice.

What do you guys see, with similar gear, hunting oriented? My last 600 yard match was last weekend, rain, light wind maybe 2 value L-R. My 20 round group is ballpark 12-14 inches total, with my farthest shot about 7 inches from point of aim. Factory Hornady 108.

I use this practice to true my dope as well. I adjusted down 1 tenth mil part way through the 20 round session. After seeing my group, I moved my base zero 1/10 mil Right.

See pics, 100 yard group on the paper. 600 yard on the digital display. Thanks for any feedback @Formidilosus.

Shooting a second 600 yard match this friday. See if I can shrink that down. Need to get into a shoot2hunt course. Until then I am practicing solo. Not too many guys shooting these NRA matches are rocking hunting type setups. Lot of heavy rifles, 30x scopes, locked in front support, etc. Looking for a sounding board. Compared to their scores I am middle of the pack. Am I on the right track here?

 

[wind gypsy]

I'd say you're doing very well for a hunting setup and factory ammo. That's a good indicator of general system capability in very light wind and from a consistent prone position.

What positions do you actually see yourself shooting from while hunting? Practice those as well.

IMO it's easy to remember how close to POA all those shots landed AFTER you already verified conditions and dope with this style shooting which can lead to overconfidence in hunting situations.

 

[Leinad]

I see myself shooting from just about any position. Kneeling with support being common. I do practice positional shooting. But I figure at 600, if I am already struggling to keep on a 12 inch plate, I better work from my most stable position until I can consistently put everything in 8 inches or so.

 

[wind gypsy]

I see myself shooting from just about any position. Kneeling with support being common. I do practice positional shooting. But I figure at 600, if I am already struggling to keep on a 12 inch plate, I better work from my most stable position until I can consistently put everything in 8 inches or so.

Wind, mirage, and factory ammo is going to make it real hard to ever get there "On Demand (trademark)" with 20 shots IMO. Which is why I think 600 is pushing it for ethical hunting distances, even for guys who "practice a lot".

 

[thenodnarb]

Consider putting additional emphasis on the first shot of the day. In a midrange match, that would be your first sighter. Midrange matches are great for learning to read wind and mirage. But in a hunting scenario, the cold bore shot and maybe a follow up is all you'll get.

I used to shoot midrange with my service rifle, so irons a sling and .223. If this is your first midrange match I'd say you did great! but a 6mm should be able to keep them all in the 10 ring unless you just completely miss a wind call.*Actually I think 2 moa is pretty reasonable for most shooters, which is what you shot.*

you'll learn pretty quick which conditions are safer and how to bracket. Fishtailing winds are probably the most dangerous, and a boiling mirage.

There is a great book on reading wind and wind strategy on Amazon, written for the competitor of matches like these. It's called "the wind book for rifle shooters." These matches are great for building the fundamentals of reading wind, and you can improve the positional shooting largely with dry fire. But learning the wind takes actual rounds down range, and at distance.

 

[coyotekilla]

Have you tried a different rifle? Pictured is my 223 tikka, 26" heavy varmit contour & a 500yd target. This rifle shoots sub 1/2 moa at 100. The wind will be your nemesis along with finding the right load.

Im not shooting 20 rnd groups, but running a plate rack down to 1" at 500.

 

[Leinad]

Have you tried a different rifle? Pictured is my 223 tikka, 26" heavy varmit contour & a 500yd target. This rifle shoots sub 1/2 moa at 100. The wind will be your nemesis along with finding the right load.

Im not shooting 20 rnd groups, but running a plate rack down to 1" at 500.

Ive tried my 16” .308 I think this is definitely a “me” problem.

 

[coyotekilla]

Ive tried my 16” .308 I think this is definitely a “me” problem.

What i mean is, say you were local to me, and we shot together. If my group is 4", and your group is 4", then we are roughly equal.

If my group was 2", and yours was 10" with the same rifle, ammo, and wind, that isolates the issues

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Have you tried a different rifle? Pictured is my 223 tikka, 26" heavy varmit contour & a 500yd target. This rifle shoots sub 1/2 moa at 100. The wind will be your nemesis along with finding the right load.

Im not shooting 20 rnd groups, but running a plate rack down to 1" at 500.

I like your shooting spot

 

[coyotekilla]

I like your shooting spot

Me too, private 500yd range over a gravel pit.

Better backstop built since photo was taken.
Going to be starting an east coast 500 yard challenge here soon hopefully.