Many of the posts here pertain to accuracy and the goal of improving it. Has anyone seen or heard of any tests done with MZ's wherea scoped rifle was zero'd in a vice versus hand held on a bench rest in an attempt to isolate "shooter error" from the equation? Just wondering how much of the average 3" 100 yd. group is gun/load versus shooter variance.
I sight in a bunch of guns each year, both MLs and centerfires....Its amazing how many guys just can't shoot that well...I feel that I can attribute a half inch (at 100 yards) to myself...One sesson I was trying to help a buddy shoot better...the target had a one inch red circle in the bull....I was explaining to the shooter to have the cross hairs split the circle into four equal parts...He said "no way" I just can't hold that still....I realized that much of shooting off the bench is actually concentrating on the very center of the target...I have noticed the same when shooting my bow...Concentrating and follow through really helps me shrink my groups...I also feel relaxing is important...Some guys just can't relax, hold their breath and squeeze the trigger....
How well you have your shooting bench set up is also very important....I have another buddy that works with a gunsmith...This guy will trick out your rifle and then work up reloads...He has a device that pulls the trigger remotely on the gun...So he sets it up in his vise and fires 3 shots....Files the target away...When the guy come in the next week with a 3 inch group, he shows them the target...
Face it NONE of us EVER flinch...
Finally...pertaining to muzzleloaders....You are handloading each and every time....Everything has to be done exactly the same...I do my best shooting when the barrel has been conditioned the same as well...I clean, dry, lube, dry the barrel between each and every shot...
If you want to see bad flinching, go to the TC website and watch the Triump video. I about fell out of my chair the other day when i watched it and the guy shooting the scoped rifle closed both eyes,turned up his nose when he pulled the trigger. Now if you're doing that, scope or no scope, you can kiss any kind of groups goodbye. It happens a little after they explain the sealing rings to that of an engine. Sandbags are a big help too, but shooters really need to learn how to shoot without those kind of aids. Controlled breathing, trigger pull exe. all make the difference between a shoot shot VS a bad shot.
The Caldwell Lead Sled DFT is a great rest if you want to test loads or tune a scope. This rest required basically pulling the trigger almost since the rifle is held is such a stable manner. I would be about as close as a vice to shooting. In fact they are on sale this month.
As for closing eyes.. I was helping a young man sight in and tune his rifle. He was having a terrible time shooting and hitting anything. All over the paper. So instead of watching his target I watched him as he shot. Like Froniter Gander said, closed his eyes, turned his head, and just mashed that trigger. I was surprised he was even hitting paper with that kind of form. So we spent the afternoon shooting caps off his rifle until he calmed down. Then we started with some very light loads, and finally moved up to some hunting loads. With light loads when he realized they would not kick him, he did real well. So much for the idea of owning a magnum rifle with him.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
So we spent the afternoon shooting caps off his rifle until he calmed down. Then we started with some very light loads, and finally moved up to some hunting loads. With light loads when he realized they would not kick him, he did real well. So much for the idea of owning a magnum rifle with him.
Antcipation of the shot has ruined a lot of groups.It shouldn't be the focal point, it should really just gobang - not brace, winse and then bang!
I use sand bags they are cheap and easily built up to be steady. One of things I struggled with is concentratingon trying to hold the cross hairs dead steady on target. I use the acces points of the duplex as my reference guides instead forsquaring upwhile at the range. In my case I know whenI am concentrated to hard as the site picture will become blurred. It's a matter of shooting more and finding what works for you.
It would be interesting to site it inwithout shooter error then shoot one of these targets afterwards at the same distance under the same conditions and see what the results are.
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Jake
I don't promote 'thin skinned' political correctness.
I would like to get a steady rest and eliminate that human error and see what I could shoot. I think I could do twice as good with one of those fully cradling rests sold at Cabela's. When I get the money for one I'll see.
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Browning BPS shotgun, Browning Rage One bow, TC Omega muzzleloader, Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag pistol, Gamo Shadow 1000 pellet gun, Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun
Yes. I got them from one of the free target sites. My wife is a Drill Instructor for the Army and they use these to diagnose the problem shooters on the range and she says they work well. I have the full downloaded targets here on my computer. PM me an email address and I will send them to you.
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Jake
I don't promote 'thin skinned' political correctness.
Shooter error
