What do you consider a good group

[retrieverman]

I’m kind of a perfectionist and want one hole or at least touching shots at 100 yards, and I’ve sold many guns that wouldn’t/couldn’t produce those results.

I’m a believer that seating depth is critical to accuracy even more so than powder charge precision.

 

[Rez Exelon]

To me a good group really depends on the rifle, and your expectation. Rifle wise, I've got some off the shelf stuff that I'd think 3-5 MOA would be an expectation. I've got some precision stuff that I think 1/2MOA would be an expectation. Pistol wise, I dunno, I figure within 1.5" @ 20 would be pretty good.

 

[swampratt]

I’m kind of a perfectionist and want one hole or at least touching shots at 100 yards, and I’ve sold many guns that wouldn’t/couldn’t produce those results.

I’m a believer that seating depth is critical to accuracy even more so than powder charge precision.

I am with you on seating depth.
Friend gave me some Berger VLD bullets and said jump them at least .060"
I thought you are crazy. I built ammo like I normally do .005" jump.
They did not shoot good and I went ahead and seated them to .050" jump..yea .060" did thot thrill me so much still.

That .050" jump made the bullets almost all touch the same ragged hole.
Who would have thought.
I did not have enough to really ring them out.
Read more here on jumping Berger bullets.

https://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/

 

[rockchalk06]

I’m kind of a perfectionist and want one hole or at least touching shots at 100 yards, and I’ve sold many guns that wouldn’t/couldn’t produce those results.

I’m a believer that seating depth is critical to accuracy even more so than powder charge precision.

If you listen to the experts, seating depth is more important than powder charge.

When I'm developing a load. I pick a single charge and load 5 each at various depths starting at .020" off jam provided there is at least 65% of bullet in the neck. That usually gets me to mag length. I don't put too much stock in these groups, but I do record them as I've been lucky and found a gem or two. I'm looking for single SD's. Then work on a powder charge.

That was how I was taught years ago and so far it's worked. You can find out pretty quick if a barrel is worth a hoot this way.

 

[Rez Exelon]

I am with you on seating depth.
Friend gave me some Berger VLD bullets and said jump them at least .060"
I thought you are crazy. I built ammo like I normally do .005" jump.
They did not shoot good and I went ahead and seated them to .050" jump..yea .060" did thot thrill me so much still.

That .050" jump made the bullets almost all touch the same ragged hole.
Who would have thought.
I did not have enough to really ring them out.
Read more here on jumping Berger bullets.

https://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/

Sounds like that article is making the same point as Mr. Cortina here:

 

[okierider]

What do you all consider a good group for reloads as for hunting? I know some or most mess with seating depth I never have I shoot at 100 yards and as hard as reloading components are to find the smallest group I have come up with so far is about 1 1.25 and I’m using up a lot of stuff searching just curious what you all do

1.25 --That is a dead deer at 100 yards , wait until (if) sanity returns and then work for perfection. And Some will tell you that some rifles at 100 are still settling the rounds and your rifle may tighten up at 150-200 yards.

 

[tyromeo55]

I must have been doing something wrong. My longest shot on deer is maybe 20 yards in western, ok. Most were 10 or so yards. May have put my blind a bit close

Think all my guns are far more accurate than me. I won’t shoot farther than I can keep a group within 4 inches at a given position and distance.

Don’t assume that your equipment is SUB MOA. Have you had any good luck with any factory loads?

 

[kwaynem]

I haven’t bought factory loads in a few years

 

[kwaynem]

Here are the chronograph speeds

 

[rockchalk06]

9.1. Time to adjust your seating depth. Your barrel is telling you it likes that powder charge.