Anyone else tired of tight groups with sandbags galore?

[Mtnhunter1]

Just curious what would be considered an acceptable group size for shots taken using only a front rest such as a tripod or some other forearm support?

I usually do my rifle/reload testing laying prone using a bipod or just a front bag. I can hold steady once I settle into a comfortable position. I try to shoot at a range beyond the standard 100yds. I do use three shot groups as most rifles will start drifting a bit when the barrels heat up. I hunt with a rifle and don't care if a rifle will shoot a tight five to ten shot group. I only care where the first shot lands and if a second and third lands relitively close....if a follow up shot is ever needed.

Bellow is a target from last Monday. Only the groups that are circled in "Blue" are exceptable to me as I am always seeking sub 1" at 150yds or less. On this day I was at 157yds in order to get a clean path to the target from a ground level.



All rifles are "Minute of deer" within the ranges that I would ever be shooting at an animal......but I enjoy testing different rifles with different loads.

The rifles tested.



One downside of shooting from the ground in the spring are the creepy crawlies that want to be your friend.....but it gives a guy something to do while taking a drink break at the cooler.

 

[Darkside]

I usually do my rifle/reload testing laying prone using a bipod or just a front bag. I can hold steady once I settle into a comfortable position. I try to shoot at a range beyond the standard 100yds. I do use three shot groups as most rifles will start drifting a bit when the barrels heat up. I hunt with a rifle and don't care if a rifle will shoot a tight five to ten shot group. I only care where the first shot lands and if a second and third lands relitively close....if a follow up shot is ever needed.

Bellow is a target from last Monday. Only the groups that are circled in "Blue" are exceptable to me as I am always seeking sub 1" at 150yds or less. On this day I was at 157yds in order to get a clean path to the target from a ground level.

View attachment 367650

All rifles are "Minute of deer" within the ranges that I would ever be shooting at an animal......but I enjoy testing different rifles with different loads.

The rifles tested.

View attachment 367651

One downside of shooting from the ground in the spring are the creepy crawlies that want to be your friend.....but it gives a guy something to do while taking a drink break at the cooler.

View attachment 367652

Nice, what cartridge from R to L.

 

[D4570]

Every year before I get out much, I gather up all my "Hunting clothes" and give them a good spray of horse spray and let them air out for a day or two. Do you have your own routine just for ticks?

Farnam Tri-Tec 14 Fly Repellent​

Active ingredients: cypermethrin, pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and butoxypolypropylene glycol.

I never seem to have any problems with tics after I use it. It lasts for several washings, which means all of tick season.
DON'T spray it on your skin, and make sure your stuff is dry when you put it on.

 

[Mtnhunter1]

Nice, what cartridge from R to L.

R to L: Christensen FFT 6.8 Western, Christensen Ridgeline 6.5 PRC, Weatherby Mark V "Hunter" 6.5 RPM, Christensen FFT 6.5 PRC and Browning X-Bolt Pro 28 Nosler.

Note: No brakes or Cans......

 

[Richard22]

Y

Are those 3 different types of ammunition...?

Yes. Federal Fusion 95 grain, Hornady Precision Hunter 90 grain, and Norma Whitetail 100 grain.

 

[Richard22]

Distance? Sandbags?

You clean your barrel after every outing?? Just some swabs? Full scrubby scrub?

100 yards with just a sandbag under the forearm while shooting from a bench since a forearm rest is all I'll have in the field. I do all my practice shooting at a local shooting range. I'll add a leather V-bag in the rear when I want to lessen the impact of my average shooting skills in an effort to verify the accuracy of the rifle and ammo (see what the rifle likes best).

I clean with swabs and a nylon brush using Bore Tech Eliminator Bore Cleaner and use a bore scope occasionally to check for excessive copper buildup. I'm a firm believer that some copper is necessary for better accuracy. Let me add the barrel in this Howa shoots cleaner than any rifle I own, with my two Winchester Model 70's being a close second.

I always give my barrels a final swab with Hornady's One Shot Gun Cleaner and Lube (not to be confused with their Case Lube) for its outstanding protection against rust without leaving any oily residue that can impact clean, cold bore accuracy.

 

[kodiakisland]

Okay Mr cool guy

Cool? No, I’m just not into the 30+ minute videos of stuttering that barely have 5 minutes worth of info. They do seem popular with many though, so I’d be the opposite of cool.

 

[jimh406]

Haha for the tick picture.

 

[howl]

....

I never seem to have any problems with tics after I use it. It lasts for several washings, which means all of tick season.
DON'T spray it on your skin, and make sure your stuff is dry when you put it on.

You may or may not find Insect Shield clothing treatment cost effective.

 

[LIK2HNT]

Shooting prone on the ground across a canyon. Bipod and back pack for rest. Like to practice under hunting conditions after working up load. Steel plate is 12”x12”.

 

[Richard22]

You need to shoot 3 to 5 shot groups with each different ammo on separate targets. And see what your gun (barrel) likes, then buy more of that ammo with the same lot #. If your barrel likes 1 your group's will be smaller. And use whatever rest you have to make your gun as solid as possible.
Practice- Practice.

And never buy more than one box of factory ammo in a given brand and load to try with a new rifle no matter how well that same brand shoots in other rifles.

 

[WapitiBob]

I hate seeing these great white hunters in the field sitting in a heated enclosed blind with their rifle clamped in a bog pod on a tripod.

Bolting a rifle to a tripod is for kids under 10 or the handicapped; kinda like crossbows.

 

[Richard22]

I hate seeing these great white hunters in the field sitting in a heated enclosed blind with their rifle clamped in a bog pod on a tripod.

As they keep checking their watch to see how long before the feeder goes off. Some will try to defend the approach by claiming it's the "evolution of the sport". IMHO, they might as well sit near a feed trough and wait for cows to show up.