What are the characteristics of a highly accurate rifle?

[gizamo]

What does it take to get the last bits of accuracy out of a rifle?

Shot more then my fair share. I'm going to say for consistent accuracy ~ that a properly reloaded single shot has to be the basis from which we judge all others. Assuming all other things equal, how can you improve on that....?


giz

 

[OKFC05]

I would have trouble faulting a good bolt action Palma rifle for outstanding accuracy from a rifle that can be carried.

The 30-pound benchrest crowd has its place, but not for me.

 

[gizamo]

OK, agreed...

Let's exclude bench rest...


giz

 

[Evil One]

Floated barrel, action properly bedded to stock, stock that properly fits shooter, well adjusted and defined sights/scope, A GOOD TRIGGER... lots of things come together to make a superbly accurate rifle.


Jim

 

[gizamo]

OK,

Let's let the discussion take it's track...

But as a sub-topic ...
Let's build a rifle while were at it. Hunting rifle, not a range gun. However, sometimes they can be both....


Best caliber?


giz

 

[Evil One]

Well, I am in the middle of building my hunting rifle.
Savage
.300 win mag
Replaced pencil barrel with heavy varmint style barrel
Adjusted barrel for tight chamber
Relieved stock for heavier barrel
Trigger adjusted down to lighter pull.

Coming
Wooden/laminated stock
Better optics
I have the dies for loading my own, still collecting brass.
Bipod, yes, on my hunting rifle... I dont shoot it offhand. I use earth berms, truck hoods, limbs, fence posts...

I have always wanted to put together a rifle... and the way a savage is assembled I can pretty much do it all without a large investment.


Jim

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Without benchresting a rifle, too many man caused varients come into play. I bought an old Sears model '94 Winchester 30-30. I took it to the range and fired a single shot off-hand straight through the bullseye at 50 yards. I mean dead freakin' center. Does that mean it's an accurate rifle, or that I was just plain lucky? I'm going with lucky!

All other shots printed as good as I could hold the rifle. A bench rest is absolutely necessary in being able to assert the accuracy of a rifle. Ammo is another big varient. Unless you've shot groups with at least five different factory offerings, you won't get a definitive answer as to the accuracy of said rifle.

As to what makes an accurate rifle accurate, there are several things. The harmonization of the barrel, an absolutely perfect crown, the chamber length, meaning that the chambered rounds OAL has the bullet just touching the rifling, and of course a smooth light trigger.

I know folks who index their rounds when reloading as well. These are the folks who strive to put every bullet through the same hole at 100 yards. Some come pretty close!


WG840

 

[G-Mac]

When I used to race motorcycles, we would discuss what it takes to win a race. Most motorcycle racers usually agree, given decent equipment, it's about 90% the rider.

I think the same logic applies to shooting a rifle accurately...I'm going with 90% depends on the person pulling the trigger.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Usually, it's the screw loose behind the trigger.

Accuracy is different things to different people.

For instance, accuracy to the bench shooter is different from that the silhouette shooter. The silhouette shooter will have a different definition of accuracy from the BPCR shooter. The BPCR guys definition of accuracy differs significantly from that of the tactical/sniper guys. The sniper guys usually have little in common with the guys with hunting rifles. The hunters definition of accuracy is substantially skewed from the the accuracy defined by most handgunners.

All of the above have nothing in common with shotgun shooters- which all want different things depending upon their selected sport or discipline...except slug shooters.


Heck, I figure that trying to define accuracy among a group of shooters is like trying to ask different religions about their belief systems and compare them. There is no definitive definition to "accuracy."

However, even though there is no definition of accuracy, anyone can realize when it isn't there.

We can only define accuracy once we figure out what we want that accuracy to be.

 

[DGNY]

Highly Accurate Rifle

Like cartridges that are modest in size and "bore-ratio" - believe they promote consistency, or ease the battle to achieve it. So I think of 7mm-08, 308, 6.55x55mm Swedish Mauser. Big works, too,- and good for extreme/uncertain range - but greater recoil, blast, wear.

Like glass bedded action with floated barrel. Stable stock that fits shooter well with good cheek weld for relationship between eye/stock/scope.

Well-loaded ammo. Consistent trigger. Rested shooter.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[gizamo]

OK, again....what about caliber?

Conditions dictate efficiency. Not wanting to shoot my .204 Ruger on a high crosswind condition...but the dang thing shoots almost flat to 250 yards. A 458 Lott will put down a squirrel pretty well...

So for all around hunting...what falls into the ideal range of calibers for North America? ...excluding Elk, Grizz, Moose...

Me, I'm thinking the .308 but am open to suggestions. Remember...we are seeking calibers capable of great accuracy over various distances...


giz

 

[Evil One]

Myself, I love the .300 WM.
It, to me, is the .44 magnum of rifle calibers.
It can be downloaded to be like shooting a .308, fire light bullets for smaller prey... or loaded up with heavy bullets for the bigger stuff.
That said, for 99% of what a person will want to hunt... its hard to beat a .308.
Great selection of ammo, and components for the reloader... a HIGHLY know commodity for figuring out trajectory, drift, etc.


Jim

 

[BobK]

I think that the .30-06 is generally accepted as being THE cartridge for all American big game. It is also a very accurate cartridge. It is a
.308 bore....like all .30 caliber cartridges, but has been extensively developed by the military, at the Springfield Armory, and the major munition companies. 100 years....... is a pretty good track record!
I'm convinced!!! Bob

 

[zercool]

Bolt-action, carefully finished lugs and raceway, ideally with a bolt rotation no greater than 60-75 degrees. 22-24" barrel properly bedded and free-floated, with a proper crown, preferably slightly recessed. Tuned for the specific load if possible. Laminate or synthetic monte carlo stock, LOP properly sized to the owner. Trigger pull 2.5-4lb and crisp crisp crisp. 3-9x40 optics, proper 1907 sling and swivels, decent recoil pad. Blind box magazine or even single-shot to maintain stiffness through the receiver.

Caliber? I'm a tremendous fan of .270Win. It'll handle nearly every large game animal in North America; and let's be honest, how many of us are *really* going to Africa or Alaska for dangerous game?

Handloaded properly with premium bullets and truly tuned for the specific rifle, anything like the above from a quality smith should be a 400yd sub-MOA rifle... in the right hands. It's the nut behind the bolt, donchaknow?

 

[keith44spl]

Giz,
I've had a few sub-minute varmint weight rifles, but one medium bore I'll always remember was a sporter weight German Sauer bolt rifle chambered in .300 Wby.

Back in '89 I was checkin' it out right before an upcoming elk hunt, shooting off the bags, I stuck 5 shots ( 180gr factory ammo) inside 2 1/2" at 400 long steps (read 400 yards there abouts). I think that stiff action with those rear locking lugs contributed to the accuracy of this one rifle.

My present huntin' rifle is a pre-64 M70 chambered in 300 Win. Mag. and with a couple of favorite handloads she'll shoot under an inch at a 100 yds.

I guess accuracy is in the use of the beholder...If it's got a decent trigger and will shoot a long heavy ( high B/C ) bullet I might hit somethin' with it...At least most of the time.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Edited for language, English

 

[K38]

I think you will find the .308 ahead of the 30-06 in potential accuracy. All Palma rifles are of course .308. Usually with a 30" 1 in 13" Medium Palma taper barrel (Kreiger, Pac-Nor, etc.) and a custom single shot action (Barnard, Millenium, Quadlock, Stolle Panda, etc,) The long barrel is needed to keep the 155 grain bullets supersonic at 1000 meters. They are dedicated to shooting a 155 grain bullet at 800, 900, and 1000 from prone position (with sling) and Iron sights (Warner or such) A commercial action such as the Remington 700 needs to be trued up by a custom gunsmith to do it's best before giving it a Kreiger barrel or such. I don't remember if the distances are in Yards or Meters, forgive me.

D.

 

[Smith357]

A GOOD TRIGGER...
Jim

+1

The trigger often overlooked when discussing how to squeeze every bit of performance out of an accurate rifle.

The other most often overlooked thing in this sort of discussion is practice, knowing your rifle intimately and knowing how to make it perform perfectly when the conditions are far from perfect. The most accurate rifle in the world is pretty much worthless unless you know how to dope the wind and know you external ballistics for properly ranging your target.

 

[dennis40x]

Most everyone talks equipment. Usually the talk centers on sub minute of angle rifle accuracy at “X” distance. For the discussion lets assume we have sub minute of angle rifle and ammunition. What is problematic is the shooter who can’t hit the ass end of an elephant with the muzzle touching it. You can’t buy competency

 

[ky wonder]

a tool is no better than the guy using it, in the picture below there is a pre 64 win model 70 target setting across the the top of the bed
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/kywonder/DSC00108.jpg?t=1261880829 this rifle is capable of shooting micky mouse ears ( Three shot group all touching) at 100 yards, but then again so is the out of the box savage
tactical with the accu trigger system, pictured below.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj55/kywonder/now003.jpg?t=1261881256
the biggest varible is the shooter, my definition of a accurate rifle , is one that consistantly places the rounds down range to the same point of aim if all other varibles are the same.

as a long time competition shooter and former military sniper shooting instructor there are so many variables that have to be mastered to achieve top performance it is not funny. but i will give you a small hint lay off the caffine before shooting and learn to controll your breathing and heart rate the simple beat of your heart can and will affect your sight picture at long range,

i have shot many custom rifles throughout the years from anshultz to super customs, however i am now a devotee of the savage line of tacticle rifles, with there acu trigger system, by far the best shooting rifles i have ever picked up straight out of the box bar none!

 

[DeathGrip]

Nice ky wonder.

D.G.