what do you consider acceptable for deer rifle accuracy?
 

My 30-06 and my 243 shoot about 1 1/2" to 2" groups at 100 yards which is fine to me. I was just wonderin what yall consider acceptable groups for a deer rifle, just got bored I guess lol.

youre within good kill range for 100yrds...I will say though if you experiment maybe with some different loads or even just a higher quality factory load you'll get a better grouping...especially with the 243....

My Rem 700 in .270 with factory trigger really likes the 130gr Hornady SP factory loads and the Federal Premium loads as well...I played with a few different factory rounds and was happiest with these for both grouping and hunting loads...My 243 seems to favor the Fusion stuff...Most grouping 1" or under...

1 1/2 to 2" is more than good enough for hunting accuracy at the distances the average guy hunts at. I personally strive for sub moa accuracy out of my rifles.

1 1/2"- 2" of MOA works out more like this using the 2" variation is easier with said group size pattern.

100 yards= 2" MOA
200 yards= 4" MOA
300 yards= 6" MOA
400 Yards= 8" MOA
500 Yards= 10" MOA

So between 300 and 500 yards you are getting to the point of you may or may not wound that animal. 10" becomes a large pattern and for a whitetail that's just about outside any true point of aim to hit the kill zone. Especially when you add in Barometric Pressure, Mirage and Wind. Okay all said and done that's the extreme because most don't shoot deer at those ranges. But is a guideline to know your limits. Not saying you still can't shoot those longer distances and still have a great outcome but the odds are stacking against you.

Most rifles will shoot better than 1 1/2" groups by changing ammo. You may have wanted to shoot 150gr bullets out of your 30-06 but maybe the rifling likes 180gr bullets better or vice versa. Reloaders have the advantage of creating sub MOA type groups by experimenting with loads until they achieve the close to perfect load.

My two favorite hunting rifles shoot 1/2"-3/4" groups at 100 yards that is sub MOA. And they will stay under 2" groups at 200 yards. To me that's acceptable accuracy for 500-600yard kill zone accuracy.
My varmint rifle shoots 3/4" at 200 yards. That's a close to perfect load for a standard rifle setup.

All that said 1 1/2"-2" groups at 100yds will take you to 200yd plus no problem. Don't think trying a neck shot at 250yards would be wise. Best way to know what your rifle is doing at further ranges is to shoot paper at the ranges you want to use in hunting situations. I've seen people shoot some pretty horrible groups at 100 yards take big game at 400 plus yards. I think some people shoot more instinctive and natural at a animal than they do paper. My dad is one of the best big game shots I've ever seen. Whether it's a running shot or a really long range shot that animal is going down. Put him on paper and he'll shoot 1 1/2-2" groups at 100 yards. He'll let me sight his rifle in and then test fire it because he knows I'm a better paper puncher and he's a better in the field shot. It's all good.

To me a 2" group is acceptable. Our shots are usually never more that 175 yards at game. My rifles may be able to do better but that's the best I can shoot them.

This is wrong. A minute of angle is = 1.047" at 100 yards. Therefore 1 MOA would be = 2.094" at 200 yards. A 10" group at 500 yards is just under 2 MOA.

Getting technical a 2" MOA group at 100yards would result in a 10" MOA group at 500 yards in all practical information. exactly 10.47". It's not wrong it's just simplified for those that don't know. Good luck judging a 1/2" at 500yards with a standard rifle set up. Even if you had a rifle that shot holes in holes and was sub zero MOA at 100 yds the end result would be 10.47" chance of being off at 1000yards. That would depend on various circumstances and absolute perfect conditions. It's a 1.047 multiplier that's all it is for those that understand the basic concept.

i like all my deer rifles to shoot 1" or less at 100 yards.

I thought that a minute of angle was a minute of angle. I didn't know there was such a thing as 2" moa. I thought an moa was 1" at 100 2" at 200 ... 10" at a grand. Moa being a constant that you dont add inches to.

I'm confused again....

That was my point earlier. MOA is actually slightly more than an inch at 100 (1.047") or 2.094" at 200 and so on. To simplify most people refer to it as 1" at 100 and so on. People use the term 1.5 or 2 MOA gun which basically means that their gun shoots 1.5 or 2" groups at 100 yards. In a perfect world, a gun that shoots 1.5 at 100 would shoot 4.5" at 300. That should still be referred to as 1.5 MOA not 4.5" MOA which is confusing the concepts.

Yup, we're mixing apples and oranges here. "Minute of Angle," or "Minute of Arc" (MOA) is ... a measure of of angle (360 degrees in a circle, 60 minutes in a degree, 60 seconds in a minute if you really want to go crazy measuring). "Inches" is a measure of distance.

They're not intended to be used together (i.e. 2" MOA). Because one CAN measure the distance subtended by an angle (or arc) of 1 minute, one can also assign a measurement of distance to that arc - that's where 1.047XXXXX" at 100 yards comes in.

Those aren't 1/4" clicks in your optics, those are 1/4 MOA clicks. That is, unless you're different and use 1/10 mil turret gear. A mil is another measure of angle or arc.

Bottom line though, avoid mixing inches into MOA references. Technical yes, but confusing nonetheless.

Correct. Simply a coincidence that 1 Minute at 100 yards is close to 1" at 100 leading to many folks confusing the two.

Stop with the .00001 stuff. LOL


Find the bullet your gun groups the best and then go hunting !!!

What do you consider acceptable for deer rifle accuracy?

I prefer a 2" or less group at the deer's distance.

with a shotgun, if i can put 5 slugs into a apple sized at 25 yards offhand group im happy but i know my guns do better. with my carbines (30-30, 7.62x39's, 7.35 caracano, 6.8 spc) i like to stay sub 3 moa at 50 yards with open sights, 2 moa or less if its scoped. with rifles i keep it as tight as it will get. this means no factory loads if i have dies, no open sights, bring a tripod and/or bipod to the field, strong magnification optics. basically to the point where i dont even think about a given number for accuracy but instead more focusing on working with the wind, range and eviromentals. it is my strong opinion that with a "rifle" that if a shooter has the skill to make a shot, the rifle HAS to be up to the job. deer rifles (note that im not saying carbines) should never hold a shooter back from making a shot in any manner, whether its the accuracy of the rifle or the caliber or even the repeatability of the zero. placing a shot on a deers vitals should never be a measure of the rifle, its a measure of a hunters marksmanship.

With having to agree with RR, Wayspr, and Homers Brother, there are many of us who shoot weapons with great accuracy results due to knowing how both the loads and the weapon handle to both our and its fullest potential.
With that being said, I would just say that if you are only able to get upto 2" groups at 100yds at the weapons best with that particular load, I would try several other loads and brands. BUT, stay with loads that you know you will be using for hunting the game you are after. Don't use a lighter load just because they shoot great but will not have sufficient energy or penetration to cleanly harvest the game. Match your load to the game.
Other thing, KNOW YOUR SHOOTING CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS!!!!! Just because you saw someone do it on TV with what looked like your weapon, don't think that you can also. Spend the time on the bench and hunt both safe and happy!!!!

2" or less with a factory rifle and cheaper factory ammo is acceptable.

Most deer are shot at less than 200 yards (most less than 100 yards). Deer have vitals about 10" in diameter. If you can make a 5" group with your rifle at 100 yards you should be able to reliably take deer out to 200 yards.

Of course, if your rifles can't do better than that, I would be looking to fix or trade the rifle and/or scope. You should be able to get at least get 2" accuracy out of a normal quality mass produced rifle. Experiment with different factory loads to find what your rifle likes.

My rifles shoot more like 1.25" 5 shot groups, and I'm guessing I'm the weak link in the chain.

Now, to add some levity to the math here, let's not forget the primary advantage of a rifle that prints 5" groups at 100 yards. When we miss that 500-yard shot on that trophy elk, it very likely WAS the rifle's fault.

The biggest elk I saw this season embarrassed me. Because the rifle I was using usually turns 1/2" groups at 100 yards, that 200-yard miss was ALL me. I have no excuse. Shameful.

That's the key, if you ask me. Most people can't shoot to the full capability of their rifles. I am a decent shot, but I doubt I'm going to put a 6 inch group at 500 yards.

The longest shot I've made hunting was just over three hundred meters. I doubt I would even bother to take one longer than that - I felt pretty lucky to get a clean kill at 300.

Where I hunt, a long shot is 200 yards. Most shots are taken in the 50 - 150 yard range. Given that, I am fine with 2" groups at 100 yards. I prefer finding a load that shoots more like 1.5" or less, but for hunting purposes 2" will do...

I agree with this too.

You also need to remember though that a cold barrel shoots differently than a warm one. And the difference in that can be as high as another 2 moa.

"...........so always hunt with a fouled barrel
3 shots." Ridge


And there you have it !

hmmmm to answer the question I want them to shoot better than i can..... Honestly I expect with todays guns and ammo to be under an inch at a hundred yds.If they cant do it ... then i send them down the road.

Seeing I don't use a sled when determining groups. I'm good with a 2" @ 100 yard group. I've got rifles that shoot better than that, happens that 2 of them are the ones I usually take to the field. Both those shoot 1 to 1 and a hair at 100

I think the better question would be, if your rifle was as accurate as Ridge Runner's 6.5 Gibbs, what is the maximum distance that you would be able to consistantly hit a deer in a hunting situation? Try shooting at 300 yards from a sitting position, or maybe standing up while grabbing a tree with your forward hand. I doff my hat to people like Ridge Runner who have the ability to shoot at extremely long range.

I'll always remember the longest shot I ever took at a buck, it was 300 paces across a field. I had to shoot sitting because the alfalfa was too high to shoot prone. It seemed like every time my heart would beat, the crosshairs left the deer. I don't worry too much about group size any more, most rifles will give acceptable accuracy for deer hunting. I learned back then that shooting distance is limited mostly by my abilities, not my rifle.

Looks like a lot
 

of Dan'l Boone's out there in the woods these days.

Which Win 71 replica do you have? I have one of the Browning's from the late 80's...moose killin beast it is! Love that rifle!

Nice.......

Very nice...mine too is the carbine...I absolutely love it for my Alaska moose hunts!