Thisis kind of a question for each person as an individual. I'm guessing everyone's different.

What do each of you consider a good, a bad, and an adequate group? Let's say at like 100 yards. What is a very good group for you, a very bad one, and a perfectly adequate one for hunting?

Now, what groups can you consistently shoot at 100 yards anytime? What is your setup, bullets, powder, etc?

What is the difference in your shooting with a scope versus open sights? I'm guessing you shoot much better with your scope. What is your average group with each?

What is your maximumdistance that you shoot when hunting or on the range?

Finally, how do you normally shoot? With a rest? Without? Do you shoot much worse without the rest? If you use a rest, what kind do you use? Does it cradle the whole gun or do you just rest the front? Also, do you shoot better with a full rest versus onethat you just rest the front of the gun on?

I'm sorry for all these questions but it interests me to knowhow each person shoots in the different circumstances. I'm just interested to know how you shoot consistently in each scenario. Please let me know honestly.

Thanks for the help guys.

outdoorslover

@100
Good group with a scoped inline - sub 2"
Good group with a Pivoting Hammer (leanerd a new term for a Hawken) -> I am not really sure yet still working on it but I would like to be sub 3"
Very bad group scoped inline -> any thing over 2.5"
Very bad group with open sights (Hawken) -> 4"

Adequate for hunting 2.5" scoped
Adequate for hunting 3" Hawken - I may be dreaming

Sub 2" with any of my inlines... 100/110 grains T7-2f with a variety of sabotted bullets

Because of my age now I am a far better shooter with a scope than open sights... A ton more confidence with a scope because I shoot scopes 98% of the time... As stated above...

Most of the time I am shooting 100 yards with scopes and 75 yards with open sights... however I can not help myself at times finding the longest breakable target I can find and give it a shot.... Cascadedad and myself foud ourselves shooting at a bush 614 yards away one day. He was shooting a peep site White, I was shooting a open sight (fiber optic) Renegade...

We do not have ranges up here - I have to drive to a couple of rock pits. I use a portable (fold up) bench a caldwell adjusting front front rest and sand bag back rest. By far I shoot tighter groups with the double rest although I often only shoot with just the front rest especially when I start shooting breakable targets...

I gotta tell you those were thought provoking and did not go as quick as I thought they would + I was really trying to be brief...

I was hurt lastyear when i shot my x150 with greatplains bullets and found 3 1/2" groups @ 100,i went with it due to me running time to sight in. I got a doe with it and hit where i was aiming. But i personally feel shaky with that 3 1/2" group. Now ive cut it down to 1" @100 withthe same bullets so im all set and ready to go hunting. If someone can get 2" groups on a rest, i'd like to see what its like when resting the barrel/stock on a rock or tree limb to help steady the rifle. Im down to 2" groups @ 100 with my flintlock and im more than happy with that, considering i find 100 yards to be to far in a hunting situation.
x-150 load is 90grains RS/ 385gn great plains and cci 209's
flintlock, 110 fffg goex and .490 PRB.
Average group is 2 1/2" with the flintlock and im not sure with the x-150 yet, my first outing was 1" and then 1 1/8" @ 100 yards, Im still playing with it . I havnt shot a scoped rifle in 2 years now. Good god you ask a lot of questions! lol. 75-80 yards max off hand with flintlock and i feel good up to 150 yards off hand with the inline. Normally shoot off of my 4 wheeler seat but theres to much snow to set up a 100 yard target so now im using sandbags at the NRA to shoot the x-150. Sandbags under the front part of the stock only.
I honestly cant answer what a good group would be, others feel good with certain groups while the other may think its pushing the limit.

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What do each of you consider a good, a bad, and an adequate group? Let's say at like 100 yards. What is a very good group for you, a very bad one, and a perfectly adequate one for hunting?

Well everyone wants to shoot MOA but that seldom happens. That would be a very good group. Also I will be the first to admit, at long distance I am not the worlds greatest shot with open sights.

With an inline rifle if I can shoot constantly 2 inches or under with a scope I am more then pleased. I have shot at one time all three shots touching. That is not the normal. Yet this is what I strive for. Normally I shoot 2+ something inches and am happy with that as it is hunting accuracy.

With open sights I once shot an inch and a half group. I was shocked. And by no means is that normal. I normally shot a 3+ inch group with open sights, whether its an inline or a traditional rifle...

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Now, what groups can you consistently shoot at 100 yards anytime? What is your setup, bullets, powder, etc?

Green Mountain .58 caliber Barrel with 1-70 twist.. 110 grains Goex 2f, moosemilk patched 284 gr roundball. I can shoot under 4 inches all day long with the open sights.

White Ultra Mag .504 with Nikon Scope, 70 gr Triple Se7en 3f, 500 gr BullShop NEI conical, RWS caps.. I can shoot under a 3" group all day at that distance.

All of this is done off a Dead Shot rest with only a front bag. For some reason I do not like a back bag under the stock of my rifles.

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What is the difference in your shooting with a scope versus open sights? I'm guessing you shoot much better with your scope. What is your average group with each?

I do shoot better with a scope. Better ability to see, better aiming device, I shoot better. Plain and simple. Groups are answered above.

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What is your maximumdistance that you shoot when hunting or on the range?

On my personal range, out to 125 yards (it will be longer once I get the chainsaw out and take a part of the woods down. I hope to reach 150 yards). The max distance when I hunt is about 75 yards. Where I hunt, I really can not see much further then that except when I hunt the farm. There are hay fields there and I could technically shoot 300 yards, but never would.

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Finally, how do you normally shoot? With a rest? Without? Do you shoot much worse without the rest? If you use a rest, what kind do you use? Does it cradle the whole gun or do you just rest the front? Also, do you shoot better with a full rest versus onethat you just rest the front of the gun on?

Normally on the range I shoot off a single front bag rest or off shooting sticks. The bag is a Dead Shot. It only rests the rifle on the frontforearm. When I hunt I like to shoot off shooting sticks. When they are not handy, I lean into a tree and use that as a rest.

I was going to write a post on this, but Cayugad hit every nail on the head. I honestly think that the distance at which your gun can reliably hit a grapefruit, from a rest,is its maximum effective range. With open sights and a good load, that distance is about 175 yards. With a scope, maybe 50 yards further.

I honestly think you guys try too hardI consider myself ready to hunt whenI can hit a pie pan every time at 100 yards. That is the size of the deer's vitals and is adequate.

I know my limits and don't exceed them butI don't push myself too hard. I strive for perfection but never get there.

The best way to know when yoú're ready for deer hunting is to get a deer silhouette target and practice on that. That is the only way to know. Hunting only requires hitting an 8 inch vital zone.

Don't be to hard on yourselves

By the way, I tailored my loads today and can get 3.5 inch groups every time now at 100 yards. I think that's adequate for me.

I have friends that hunt by the pie plate standard as well. And they take a lot of deer. The only reason I push myself to get as accurate as I can is for the "what if's."

What if the deer is standing behind some brush and all you have is a very small shooting lane?

What if its the only deer you have seen all year (like me this year) and the shot presented is not a text book broadside shot, so extreme placement will be needed...

etc.

What do each of you consider a good, a bad, and an adequate group? Let's say at like 100 yards. What is a very good group for you, a very bad one, and a perfectly adequate one for hunting?

Good, group <=3", MPI <=3", this is my hunting requirement ,all shots on a 6" circle. Anything else is bad.

Now, what groups can you consistently shoot at 100 yards anytime? What is your setup, bullets, powder, etc?

Can't say. Still working on that consistent load. So far, the Sabetoorh 270, 80 RS, 4X scope, CVA Mountain Rifle, #11 Mag caps.

What is the difference in your shooting with a scope versus open sights? I'm guessing you shoot much better with your scope. What is your average group with each?

Haven't shot BP w/o scope in +/- 8 yrs.

What is your maximum distance that you shoot when hunting or on the range?

Range, no limit. Hunting, 50-100, depends on conditions, rest etc..

Finally, how do you normally shoot? With a rest? Without? Do you shoot much worse without the rest? If you use a rest, what kind do you use? Does it cradle the whole gun or do you just rest the front? Also, do you shoot better with a full rest versus one that you just rest the front of the gun on?

Range: rest on bags, stock on left forearm crease of elbow on table. Hunting: primary stand has pivoting 2x4 lagscrewed on edge w/foam. Definitely shoot better full rest. Front only, like sticks, ok at 50, not so good at 100.

I'm sorry for all these questions but it interests me to know how each person shoots in the different circumstances. I'm just interested to know how you shoot consistently in each scenario. Please let me know honestly.

Thanks for the help guys.

I take each bullet that I shoot and work with the powder levels until I find the best group it will shoot. Most of the bullets I've tried will group under 2" with the right powder load. The best I've found for my inline is a 348PB over 100gr of 777 2F that averages under and inch and has shot sub .5" on occasion with a scope. Without the scope the groups are about 50% larger.

I, like most, perfer to use the most accurate load for whatever bullet I use which is based on what I'm hunting. My theory is to eliminate as much variance out of the load so that the remaining factor is my ability. I use a basic front rest and a combination of a rear bag and my hand for the rear rest when checking loads.

I shoot a little better with a scope than with iron sights but that depends on what type of sights they are, some are harder to line up for my eyes than others.

I practice out to 200 yards fairly regularly at the range I'm a member of but thats the longest target site we have there. I sometimes go to another range that a friend is a member of and shoot out to 300 yards but that is not very often, they actually have ranges out to 1000 yards but I haven't got a chance to shoot on that one yet.

When shooting at game I will limit the shots to where my load will retain enough energy and accuracy to get the job done based on the circumstances the shot presents. If I'm shooting a very accurate bullet in a no wind condition that has plenty of energy at 200 yards and I'm confident in my ability, due to practicing at that range, to make the shot I will take it. If I'm not comfortable with the shot, I won't. Thats a decision that every hunter must make based on what is presented to them. Whenever possible I will use whatever I have, limb, pack, rock, etc., to steady the shot, even at close range if available.