Rifle accuracy

[unclebuck257]

When you go to sight in or re-sight in your rifle, are you going for complete accuracy or just as I like to call them, "the white paper plate" accuracy shooters? That means as long as the bullet hits one of those 6 inch paper plates at 100 yds, some folks are happy as can be with their sighting in job. As a hand loader myself, I realize that some of the reloading manuals I have will give you two distinct different types of loads to try and use. They list an "accuracy" load and a "hunting" load. Personally, I could never quite figure out why those two were listed like that, but the listed "hunting" load is never quite as accurate as the "accuracy" load in my weapons anyway. Since I am what many consider to be an accuracy freak when it comes to sighting in any of my rifles or any new load for those rifles, I am always looking for the most accurate load. If any of my rifles, or loads, cannot put 5 rounds in a space the size of a quarter at 100 yds, I make the changes necessary so that the load, or rifle, will give me that quality of accuracy. That philosophy has paid off big dividends for me when hunting. It has also earned any one of my rifles the automatic reputation of being dead on accurate by my fellow hunters when they needed to borrow one of my weapons.

 

[gmd52]

I also believe that you should have the most accurate load available for the rifle, or pistol that you intend to use. Sight the weapon of choice as accurately as possible, I like MOA, with the rifle. Now with an accurate rifle you have eliminated one factor or question when in the hunting field or at the range. I have never believed in "jut good enough" sighting in as it leaves too many variables. I would rather be able to concentrate on the game or the target. Besides getting the load ready at the loading bench, at the range , and finding the proper load for the particular rifle is fun. I also believe, as did Elmer Keith, that each rifle should be sighted in with one load, and left that way. I do realize that those who only have one weapon want versitility, but I prefer consistency, besides it's an excuse to gander another weapon for the collection......Gary

[redjamescash]

I'm fussy like you buck.I use to have a Remington 581 bolt action .22.That gun loved shooting Remington yellowjackets.I had it sighted in for 75 yards.You could shot 3 round cloverleafs with it.

[unclebuck257]

In my years with the outfitting business in Colorado, we always made our hunters sight in and if need be, re-sight in their rifles the day before their season actually started This was to make sure that in their drives from Pennsylvania or whatever state, their rifles didn't get bumped around in their truck during the drive there or by some idiot airline baggage handler. Also, believe it or not, the altitude does affect certain weapons., bullet weights, etc. Not many mind you, but a few for sure. I have a 7mmRem Mag that I hand load for here in Texas, and although the center zero never changes, it always shoots 4 inches (exactly)lower in the altitude in Coloado than it does here in Texas. You'd be surprised how many folks come up to Colorado, after spending that money and their rifles are not zeroed in properly. Some have been so bad, I've had to start from scratch in sighting them in again. That's unbelievable to me! Up in Colorado, we recommend that our hunters sight them in a 2-2 1/2 inches high at 100 yds because many of our shots are 150-325yds, and that covers the bigger kill zone on an Elk very nicely. For use here in Texas,I sight mine in a one inch high at 100 yds.

[xlter]

Unclebuck , I think we would have been BEST friends if we knew eachother growing up in Pa. LOL

When I started purchasing my own rifles in my 20s , I started picking up magazines with reviews on rifles I was interested in . That's when I discovered Browning & Winchester introducing a gadget called the " BOSS " that was a Dial Caliper / Muzzel Brake attached to the end of the barrle as an option of certain rifles . When choosing different grain bullets , you just dial 1-9 ( lengthen or shorten the barrle by thousandths of an inch ) on the caliper to tighten your 100yd groups . To explain , it adjusts the Barrle Harmonics / vibration to be exactly the same every time the bullet exits the crown of the rifle barrle . Which in turn , makes really tight groups at the 100yd range . That way I could choose whatever grain bullet I wanted to hunt certain game and be confident that it was also very accurate .

[unclebuck257]

xlter,

Yes, I'm familiar with "the boss system", but never bought a rifle with one on it myself. I am a BIG Winchester rifle fan because of that 3 position safety and also for me the Winchester rifle balance feels just about perfect. I know others that have rifles with the boss system on them and as far as I know, like you they really like them. Your description of what the boss does is and does is spot on the money. Barrel harmonics, or vibration, is extremely important to accuracy. Not impedeing that barrel vibration is probably the most important thing. Even the smallest sliver of wood or synthetic barrel material could cause a problem with accuracy. As a result, everytime I got a new rifle, I always had it "floated and bedded" properly to avoid anything but a completely free floating barrel. I would then use various powders, powder loads and bullet weights to achieve what the boss system does. I have some custom made rifles, made on Winchester barreled actions, that are also sequencial in serial numbers, and neither one of those rifles likes the same thing, load wise. Each barrel on every rifle is different and a shooter would be wise to learn that rifle, that barrel, to see what they like. I have some rifles that absolutely love a dirty barrel. Clean one of those barrels and it takes 2-4 rounds to get them to foul a little and become completely accurate again. I have others that after a certain number of rounds they start to "throw flyers". Clean them and they are exactly on the money again from the jump! That's why I keep current records on each of my weapons, as to their likes and dislikes, from dirty to clean barrel, powder load likes and dislikes and type and bullet weight and type.

[unclebuck257]

xlter,

Oh and yes my friend, we probably sure would have been buds. I really didn't get into reloading and shooting beyond 150 yds though until I came to Texas and started hunting the western US states. Soooo much more space and many a longer shot that you're almost forced to change your accuracy thinking. BTW, that 257 in my handle is for my all time favorite caliber, the 257 Roberts. That was once the most popular deer caliber until the 243 came out. Still like my 257 Roberts best though! LOL!

[xlter]

Both the 257 & 243 are excellent dual purpose rifles . Varmit & Deer . I probably would have gone with the 243 instead of the 25-06 , but I wanted a matching pair of target rifles after I purchased my 22-250 . Ruger was'nt chambering thier target rifle in the 243 when it came time to buy .

As Col. Townsend Whelen said , ; Only accurate rifles are interesting ;

[Limitool]

Jan 8, 2014 13:57:01 GMT -5 unclebuck257 said:

When you go to sight in or re-sight in your rifle, are you going for complete accuracy or just as I like to call them, "the white paper plate" accuracy shooters? That means as long as the bullet hits one of those 6 inch paper plates at 100 yds, some folks are happy as can be with their sighting in job. As a hand loader myself, I realize that some of the reloading manuals I have will give you two distinct different types of loads to try and use. They list an "accuracy" load and a "hunting" load. Personally, I could never quite figure out why those two were listed like that, but the listed "hunting" load is never quite as accurate as the "accuracy" load in my weapons anyway. Since I am what many consider to be an accuracy freak when it comes to sighting in any of my rifles or any new load for those rifles, I am always looking for the most accurate load. If any of my rifles, or loads, cannot put 5 rounds in a space the size of a quarter at 100 yds, I make the changes necessary so that the load, or rifle, will give me that quality of accuracy. That philosophy has paid off big dividends for me when hunting. It has also earned any one of my rifles the automatic reputation of being dead on accurate by my fellow hunters when they needed to borrow one of my weapons.

 

That's a great mindset to have.... The smaller any person can group 5 rounds (no matter the weapon) the LARGER the bulls eye becomes.