Roscoe

I suspect you are right about bolt sleeving for the common folks. I don't really care about rapid fire with a bolt gun. Its only going to be one shot anyway. And FWIW my AR 15s aren't "sleeved" for sure and I reliably get 3-4 inch average groups at 600 yards with them. And the best "hummer" barrels have taken it down to 2 inches and under on occassion.

Big

Remember I stated originally from XX to XX amount depending. Up till last year I went to Camp Perry each year since 91. FWIW. I suspect that some posters would also be competitors. Its a great way to practice and to learn to shoot long range. Especially with iron sights. Which makes a 300 yard rifle shot with a scope seem easy.

As to groups-- Kirby Allen does a bunch of rifles and most all shoot around that 2 inch mark with load work at 500 yards. Most actually can be tweaked down a hair under even. I believe the 1000 yard record is under 2-3 inches for 5 shots and the 1 mile record is under 12 inches last I heard.

Don't get hung up on SD and ES. I used to and it cost me lots of time. I then found out what should be may not be. I then started just testing my ammo off my 600 yard bench here and the house and found out you have to go with what the target says. Don't get me wrong, I"ll take low figures anyday BUT only if they are good groups. Now stretch that out to around 1000 and it becomes a bit more important.

As Roscoe says, do a bit of work with the brass and powder choices and even primer choices and you can usually knock the figures down also.

Finally I'll have to argue with powder amounts having anything to do with group size. The amount of powder the 50 bmg fires is a bunch. Yet it'll shoot small groups way on out there. At least in my opinion. Though I've never fired a group less than about 15-16 inches at the mile mark. But I've never fired on a windstill day either. I've given the link to longrangehunting.com a few times. Go ask over there. Folks understand the accuracy over there.
I will admit that I get too hung up on accuracy for normal rifles and pistols, mostly due to my competitive background. Thats my fault but how can I avoid it? I want it. Especially in the case of wanting to make a longer shot.

Jeff