Expected consistency from factory ammo

[Wacko]

As always, my maximum range is the range at which I can put 10/10 shots in the 8” circle from a given position under field conditions with that rifle and ammo. The target ultimately determines what controllable factors need more work.

All I'm saying is the ammo can decide for you too. I was shooting at 500 meters with this ammo and was having multiple "misses" high and low with the same dope. Then I switched to different ammo with a much better "lower" ES...what do ya know...my hit percentages increased substantially.

So not choosing a better (more consistent) ammo would limit my range to engage - not necessarily my shooting ability.

 

[Fowl Play]

I’ll just give another data point here. Purchased 1,000 rounds of 6.5 Hornady ELDX for practice/hunting about a year ago. All the same lot. Starting to pick up a box or two here and there as I’m traveling across the country as I’m starting to run low. Most shoot pretty consistently. Last range day I broke into a box I picked up in a small town in Montana. That box shot 5 inches low at 300 yards. No chronograph with me, but definitely an underperforming batch. I was starting to get overconfident on the consistency… definitely worthwhile to check zero with new batches prior to long range shooting.