Sako A11 Deluxe .243 Win

[LennyM]

Good point about how benchrest accuracy is almost irrelevant to hunting accuracy. Consider the following example.

You have two rifles, one capable of 1.5 MOA accuracy from the bench and the second .50 MOA.

And let's say that, with a perfect rifle (0 MOA), you are capable of 3 MOA--that is, your own personal accuracy.

What is the accuracy potential of the two rifles when you are shooting them?

With the 1.5 MOA rifle, your effective accuracy is 3.35 MOA, and with the .50 MOA rifle, your effective accuracy is 3.04 MOA. So no really practical difference in the field under normal hunting conditions.

And personal accuracy of 3 MOA (keeping all shots in 3" at 100 yds.) is better than most are capable of. If your personal accuracy is more like 4 MOA, the effective field accuracy of a 1.5 MOA gun is 4.27 MOA and of a .50 MOA gun, 4.03 MOA--a completely inconsequential 1/4" difference at 100 yds

On the other hand, there are some guys like me for whom shooting tight groups from the bench is really important in its own right--quite apart from how it translates (or doesn't as shown above) into effective accuracy in the field. Maybe just knowing that your rifle is capable of .50 MOA accuracy gives you confidence in the field!

Indeed, a very good point you have made. In practical terms while out hunting the success of the shot depends more on the hunter than we care to acknowledge. I have failed to pull the trigger many, many times
because I was not confident of a successful shot and it does not bother me. A good rifle properly zeroed is the first critical step for me. My own skill must then ensure the successful shot.

 

[kirkbridgershooters]

One constant shooters seem to overlook is the fact that any given rifle shooting any sized group, the bullet impact is only half the group size from the aiming point. A rifle that shoots a 3 inch group at 200 yards, is still only 1.5 inches from point of aim in worst case.

 

[stonecreek]

In a hunting rifle it is far more important that it place the first shot from a cold barrel reasonably close to zero than that the group be very small. After all, it is always the first shot at game which is the most important.

Think of it this way: If a rifle's first shot from a cold barrel is always within, say, an inch of point of aim, then it doesn't much matter if the rest of the group is one, two, or even four inches. Second and third shots at game are typically offhand and at a running target. The least variable factor in such a situation is "accuracy" as defined by group size. That's why I always attempt to check a hunting rifle's zero with the first shot from a cold barrel to assure that it is on target -- a small group from subsequent shots is just a bonus.

Of course, this applies only to rifles used for hunting game and not to rifles used for things like shooting colony varmints where nearly all shots are with a warm barrel. In this instance it is more important to have a rifle with which its zero doesn't wander as the barrel heats.