Shot groupings

[43.6N]

Newish to hunting, first elk hunt but plenty of rifle experience. What do you guys consider a good enough grouping to be confident at a given range? I’m trying to extend out to 300 and feel good about it before first rifle. I was hitting shots within a couple inches of each other at 200 yards and feel pretty good about that being precise enough to confidently kill an elk at that range.

Heres the standard I like to be at before hunting season: for me personally, with my guns/my ammo, 8” steel/milk jug 500 yds. Every single time, from any position I might be in. 15 sec or less to set up and start shooting.

My process:
-Find target, ID wind.
-Range, note wind again.
-Dial
-Build Front rest
-Build Rear rest
-Hips in line, basically fine tuning my natural point of aim.
-Focus on target, focus on reticle, adjust parallax as needed. All the while being aware of wind/mirage.
-Final wind hold chosen in reticle.
-Big breath in
-Big breath out
-Execute trigger squeeze
-See impact, rack bolt and prepare for follow up

 

[43.6N]

Newish to hunting, first elk hunt but plenty of rifle experience. What do you guys consider a good enough grouping to be confident at a given range? I’m trying to extend out to 300 and feel good about it before first rifle. I was hitting shots within a couple inches of each other at 200 yards and feel pretty good about that being precise enough to confidently kill an elk at that range.

One more answer, if first elk hunt, start with a 10” plate at 300yds. Get so you can’t miss no matter what. Go from packed up to shooting in whatever amount of time you think is reasonable. For me 15s as noted in my post above. Imagine shots over tall grass, logs, and sage. Seated and kneeling with improvised rests seem to be most common.

Please do not think that if you can hit 6” prone at 300yds, that automatically means you’re g2g. We all need to practice the uncomfortable shots. Very important for us to get off the bench and off our bellies while practicing.

Then do 8” standard.
Then 6”.

Good luck with the hunt!

 

[Jack321]

Id also recommend getting a .22 or a .223 and practicing good form and trigger pull and practice, practice, practice!

Practice all types of shooting. From bench, to off a bipod, to sitting, kneeling and from a bag. Practice with Quick-Stix and hug your pack for a rear support.

Everything builds off of itself, and everything you practice should be deliberate and for a purpose.

When you first sight your rifle in, be as absolute rock solid as possible. Ive seen and shot even different rear bags and was shocked at the differences! My current set up is a Caldwell hot dog style "Tack-Driver" out front and a Varmageddon XL bag in the rear. That Varmageddon bag is unbelievable! I then shoot different boxes of ammo (I dont reload) to see what groups best, then sight my rifle in for that ammo.

Then I go out to 500 to see my drops.

I like to shoot 6-8" gongs at various ranges at 50 yd increments from 100-500 yds.

Then after I know my dope.

Then I shoot in different positions. Prone off my back, bipod with the meaty part of my hand between my thumb/index finger, kneeling off a PRS triangle, quick sticks while hugging my pack, and any other I can think about. I even shoot off of giant bolders as I shoot in a quarry.

And I also do it with the same gun, scope and ammo combo I plan to hunt with.

The .22 or .223 are just to practice and get good form and trigger pull so Im not pulling shots. When I shoot my .22 I get one with the same trigger I use with my "bigger" gun. So if Im shooting my savages for p-dogs, I shoot my savage .22LR with the accu trigger, etc.