texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,017
Posts9,719,434
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Becoming a 'group size' snob #6151819 01/24/16 04:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
6
603Country Online Content OP
THF Celebrity
OP Online Content
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
so, yesterday I was shooting some reloads in the 260, trying to find the best load of R17 behind the 120 gr Nosler BT. The load that the previous rifle liked was decent, but the next one I tried (42.9 gr) put 3 in one hole and two just outside. Looking through the glass, I wasn't that pleased with the group. I took a stroll down to the target and measured the group, which turned out to be 1/2 inch center to center. There was a time that I'd have been thrilled with that size group. Now though, I was thinking that if I'd done my part they'd all be in that hole. I think my expectations are becoming unrealistic. 30 years ago, a 1 inch round group would have had me excited.

Ya'll are just as bad as I am, and some are worse. And I'll try that load again on Monday.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151845 01/24/16 05:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,502
R
RiverRider Online Confused
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Confused
THF Trophy Hunter
R
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,502
That's just the human condition, 603. We always want more and better, never satisfied. It's a good thing, really, but there can be "too much of a good thing."


[Linked Image]

"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty."

-Augustus McRae
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151928 01/24/16 06:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 402
drycreek3189 Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 402
As for myself, being a hunter, and not a target shooter, a 1" group is still plenty good enough for me. I can understand how a target shooter would think such groups not quite good enough though.

Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151943 01/24/16 06:30 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868
T
Txhillbilly Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868
I used to grin ear to ear when I shot under 1/2 moa groups, now a days they seem pretty big. The best that I've ever shot was a .122" 5 shot at 100 yards with the 6.5 Creedmoor that I built. That rifle has ruined me!

Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151945 01/24/16 06:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
This line of thinking is a form of ambition, in my opinion. Striving for perfection with your loading and your shooting can create nothing but improvement. Weather you are a P.R.S. competitor, an F-class competitor, or a bech-rester, and also a hunter, it produces more hits, and less misses. You are eliminating problems with your equipment as well as becoming a better shooter for it.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151956 01/24/16 06:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
6
603Country Online Content OP
THF Celebrity
OP Online Content
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
Heck, I'm really just a hunter that has maybe gotten to be a little too picky of a handloader. It sort of sneaks up on a fellow. One day you're just loading ammo for hunting and before you know it, you're worrying over uniforming flash holes and turning necks. And then your barrel isn't good enough and the lugs need lapping. And on and on it goes. But, I can't say that I don't enjoy it. And maybe tomorrow I will put all 5 into one hole. And I'll tell my wife all about it. And she has no idea what I'm talking about and could care less, and she'll say "we could use one more pig for the freezer". Oh well...


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151964 01/24/16 06:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
6
603Country Online Content OP
THF Celebrity
OP Online Content
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
I think I'll know when this shooting and hand loading really is out of control. There'll come a day when the pig or coyote is out there at 200 yards and I'll sneak out of my blind and low crawl 300 yards in the OTHER direction to make the shot challenging. And ya know...there's probably somebody on this forum that's actually done that. They need to confess...


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6151967 01/24/16 06:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
Same exact road so many of us have walked down.

Hunter
Hunter desires more precision and/ or the ability to make kill shots farther away.
Become a hand loader to control the ammo and tune it to the rifle.
Learns more precision can be achieved.
Upgrades loading equipment
Upgrades scope
Upgrades rifle barrel
Precise ammo and shooting does improve.
Can I get even tighter shooting?

Like the heroine addict constantly chasing the dragon.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6152016 01/24/16 07:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,502
R
RiverRider Online Confused
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Confused
THF Trophy Hunter
R
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,502
The first attraction I had for handloading was the reputed savings, when I was about nine years old. The process just seemed tedious to me at the time. After the glow of "cheap" ammo wore off and I saw the accuracy potential I became more interested in how that was done.

I suppose I'm a fair shot and a so-so hunter. I like to take care of what might be holding a rifle back, short of pouring a paycheck into it. I don't care to measure bullets, but I'll take steps to achieve some consistency in my handloads. But what really drives me is trying to understand the things in handloading that work and WHY they work. For me it's not so much doing it as it is understanding it.

Everybody's approach is probably as unique as their own DNA.


[Linked Image]

"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty."

-Augustus McRae
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6152700 01/25/16 01:20 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,275
J
jeepercreeper Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
J
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,275
The other day I was gearing up to head to the range and casually mentioned to the wife that I needed to pick up some ammo on the way. She about flipped and said "how on earth could you need ammo? you spend hours in the garage loading ammo". Then I had to explain that not all guns shoot the same ammo and that I dont load pistol ammo.

Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6152900 01/25/16 02:47 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
M
Mike Honcho Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
It happens, its like golf, always room for improvement. That challenege is why its addicting.


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6153182 01/25/16 11:40 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 234
B
bobsumner Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
B
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 234
The journey is the pretty much the same for all pursuits.

Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6156077 01/26/16 08:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
6
603Country Online Content OP
THF Celebrity
OP Online Content
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606

Well, I guess being a picky handloader is good. I bumped the load of R17 to an even 43 grains of powder, and put 5 120 gr Nosler BT's into one hole. Ok, it was an enlarged hole, but still just one hole. That's good enough for me. And, even better, at 100 yards the POI of the 120's is the same as the 100's. Can't get much better than that. I bragged to my wife. She said "is that good?"


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6156434 01/26/16 11:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,835
5
5 Stand Dan Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
5
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,835
Keep at it, the world record for five shots at 100 yards is 0.0077"


[Linked Image]
Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 5 Stand Dan] #6156453 01/27/16 12:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,072
C
cabosandinh Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
C
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,072
Originally Posted By: 5 Stand Dan
Keep at it, the world record for five shots at 100 yards is 0.0077"


agreed

I used to be happy with .25" group, until I put 5 shots in the same bullet hole for a size of 0" with my PPC

Was not a match but I was pretty happy, 1998 at Collin Co. Range. I retired that PPC and have not shot it since

Re: Becoming a 'group size' snob [Re: 603Country] #6156617 01/27/16 01:24 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
6
603Country Online Content OP
THF Celebrity
OP Online Content
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
I'm pretty sure the world record is safe from me. This is just a hunting load.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3