Precision/Accuracy Check: Would You Hunt with this Rifle?

[General RE LEE]

These are groups from my Howa Mini in 6 ARC. My Tikkas are more accurate, but I really like the 6 ARC cartridge. I’m 3/3 with kills at 250, 501 and 250. Would these groups be “acceptable” to you on a hunting rifle with ranges out to 500 yards?

100 yards



100 yards




600 yards





600 yards




100 yards




100 yards



300 yards

 

[hereinaz]

For me, It’s on the edge, 1.75” moa growing to 8.75” groups for the biggest group, but I would run it to 500 if wind budget won’t take me out of vitals.

As for odds, looks like about 80% or more of the bullets are in the 1 moa area across all group sizes.

This also assumes that you zero and center the group over your POA. If you are left half MOA then you add error moving another 2.5” left.

Also, I shoot out to my max distance to look at actual hits out there. A funny quirk to my shooting is my group sizes are often very close to the same size at 100 and 200 due to mental stuff, scope magnification, etc.

And, when it comes to just banging a vital sized steel plate at 500, my performance changes when I just give in to the wobble and go with it. I think there is a part of the brain that can “time” shots if we let it go to autopilot. I don’t think we can control it because of the time it takes to send a signal to fire from our brain to finger.

 

[General RE LEE]

For me, It’s on the edge, 1.75” moa growing to 8.75” groups for the biggest group, but I would run it to 500 if wind budget won’t take me out of vitals.

As for odds, looks like about 80% or more of the bullets are in the 1 moa area across all group sizes.

This also assumes that you zero and center the group over your POA. If you are left half MOA then you add error moving another 2.5” left.

Also, I shoot out to my max distance to look at actual hits out there. A funny quirk to my shooting is my group sizes are often very close to the same size at 100 and 200 due to mental stuff, scope magnification, etc.

And, when it comes to just banging a vital sized steel plate at 500, my performance changes when I just give in to the wobble and go with it. I think there is a part of the brain that can “time” shots if we let it go to autopilot. I don’t think we can control it because of the time it takes to send a signal to fire from our brain to finger.

I shoot every week with this little rifle. 100,200,300,600 and occasionally 800 and 1K yards.

I might get an Oryx chassis for fun and see what that does for the groups. I shoot the factory trigger and with the B&C M40 stock, it’s easy IMO to torque it a little when shooting.

 

[hereinaz]

I shoot every week with this little rifle. 100,200,300,600 and occasionally 800 and 1K yards.

I might get an Oryx chassis for fun and see what that does for the groups. I shoot the factory trigger and with the B&C M40 stock, it’s easy IMO to torque it a little when shooting.

What’s your groups like at range? You find the groups are better or same out there?

 

[General RE LEE]

What’s your groups like at range? You find the groups are better or same out there?

I think they are slightly better. Here are two groups at 600 yards.

 

[hereinaz]

boom!

 

[General RE LEE]

And 300 yards

I think I need to relax and not overthink things.

 

[hereinaz]

And 300 yards

I think I need to relax and not overthink things.

View attachment 806927

Yeah, I was there too. I sweated it at 100 yards way too much. Slowly, I realized from shooting matches, that a "1 moa" gun was enough to put steel on target if I could build a position. I could get .5 to .75 5 shot groups and targets were 2 and 3 moa. That's when I realized "the scoreboard" is all that matters.

I was also drawing tags and hunting more, so, I started taking hikes and shooting rocks. Now, at the range, I zero at 100 and get velocity. After that, all my shooting is at distance in practical positions. Its nice to just plop down and shoot steel and not overanalyze stuff.

Ultimately, I started to realize that groups at 100 only tell part of the story and my performance at distance was not a direct reflection of my 100 yard groups... I can't quantify it, but there is something that happens and groups can shrink at long range if we get out of our way and let our "reflexes" shoot.

One way I think about it is hitting a baseball/softball, there isn't a whole lot of "thinking" in the process. Our mind processes so much for timing, bat speed, bat angle, etc. as a natural function. Pressing the trigger is like that.

Slumps happen when "we get into our heads" and think about stuff too much. That's the mental aspect. I do a little visualization/breathing/meditation/mind clearing before shooting.

 

[General RE LEE]

Yeah, I was there too. I sweated it at 100 yards way too much. Slowly, I realized from shooting matches, that a "1 moa" gun was enough to put steel on target if I could build a position. I could get .5 to .75 5 shot groups and targets were 2 and 3 moa. That's when I realized "the scoreboard" is all that matters.

I was also drawing tags and hunting more, so, I started taking hikes and shooting rocks. Now, at the range, I zero at 100 and get velocity. After that, all my shooting is at distance in practical positions. Its nice to just plop down and shoot steel and not overanalyze stuff.

Ultimately, I started to realize that groups at 100 only tell part of the story and my performance at distance was not a direct reflection of my 100 yard groups... I can't quantify it, but there is something that happens and groups can shrink at long range if we get out of our way and let our "reflexes" shoot.

One way I think about it is hitting a baseball/softball, there isn't a whole lot of "thinking" in the process. Our mind processes so much for timing, bat speed, bat angle, etc. as a natural function. Pressing the trigger is like that.

Slumps happen when "we get into our heads" and think about stuff too much. That's the mental aspect. I do a little visualization/breathing/meditation/mind clearing before shooting.

Very similar experience. My Tikka groups better at 100 yards, but when hitting a vital sized steel plate at 600 yards, my 1 MOA + Howa 6 ARC gets just as many hits. Also easier to spot 6 ARC hits vs 6.5 Creedmoor.