I can relate to this. I have a Sako TRG-42 in 338 LM that I have shot enough good groups with that I know that any flier or miss is all me.
I partly agree. I want a gun that is as accurate as I can make it, and want to tune a load to shoot as well as possible, but with a well made rifle, once a load is tuned, shooting the way you would in the field is the primary way you should be shooting your hunting rifle.
Different game shooting at a live animal under conditions you can't control. mtmuleyI partly agree. I want a gun that is as accurate as I can make it, and want to tune a load to shoot as well as possible, but with a well made rifle, once a load is tuned, shooting the way you would in the field is the primary way you should be shooting your hunting rifle.
Didn’t seem to help much this year.
I have always had the point of view Warren Page (old outdoor life writer), only accurate rifles are pretty. I think I put my accuracy definition in two types, small caliber varmint rounds (17's, 20's, 22's , 6mm) from heavy barrel rifles where i consider sub 1/2 minute acceptable. My 6PPC and 556 Ackley still shoot sub .5 groups and have had over 3-4,000 rounds through both. Big bore accuracy from hunting weight rifles I think sub MOA is the threshold and if I could not figure out how to make them deliver they got sold/traded away. My 7mm's, 30's, 338. 35, 375 all deliver MOA, even the big stuff 416, 458 and 505 Gibbs all could put 3 shots into 1 1/2, but was not really relevant. The groups in the picture, two from the 556 Ackley, 5 shot .2 or smaller, a 5 shot 7X57 in the tape, scope adjusted and then 2 shot confirmation 2 inch high at 100. Shilen and Hart barrels, trued Model 70 pre 64 actions and either synthetic stock/laminate with aluminum bedding blocks and epoxy. Loaned the 7X57 to a young gal last season and she shot a bull at 195 yards and I think she really did not care about group size!
Did you tweak the rifle? I have't touched my #1 7 mag..shoots 140TTSX and 130TSX loads under an inch.
Back in 1997 I made a decision to head out west for the first time in the fall of 1998. I spent every chance I could in the spring and summer with my brand new model 70 in .270 shooting at wood chucks in the fields around mid Ohio. Practiced by walking and upon seeing a chuck, taking a sit and shooting just like JOC outlined in his writings. When the time came the next fall, when I bumped those cow elk in the timber, I took a sit, found the cows, and when one made the mistake of stopping for a quick look, BOOM... 150 yard shot was second nature. My first elk.
Stock rifles, both shoot .500-.625" groups off the bench. The 7mm is my antelope gun, the 22-250 for prairie dogs and other varmints.
