What do you consider an accurate load?

[John Browning]

I just started trying to handload rifle rounds that are as accurate as possible. I'm starting out building a load for my Stag 6H w/ 2-stage RRA trigger. What would you consider to be an accurate load? How good can I expect to do?

My best 5-shot group yesterday was with this load:

LC09 brass: uniformed primer pocket, deburred flash hole, trimmed to 1.750
53gr V-Max
CCI 400 primer
22.5 gr 8208-XBR
2.244 COAL

It turned in a .450 inch group. The average of three 5-shot groups was .700. Should I be expecting better? Should I try other powders? Is this about as good as I can expect?

[huckberry668]

It won't get better than .7" average groups especially out of an auto loader.

[huckberry668]

Let me qualify that. 100 yard groups.

[Bongos]

Groups should be measured in 5rd, better 10rd... to me, in 223 if I can acheive .4-.7" it's good enough, for 308 .75-1 MOA. To get any consistency for smaller groups, you will have to weigh every single bullets, brass (as well as making sure they are from the same mfg)..

[Bongos]

It won't get better than .7" average groups especially out of an auto loader.

not true, out of my AR, I can get on avarage 5rd .40's groups.. granted it's a custom Shilon, but it's an semi auto

[mif_slim]

I need to re-tune my ammo.... I never get .400"!

[killshot44]

Consistently tiny groups are not easy but you're on the way.

I would try a few different weight bullets and try Varget and H-335. The 53gr may be a little short for the twist. You might also find joy with longer than mag-length OALs if you don't mind single-loading.

The fallacy that auto-loaders are less than accurate is being disproven on the firing line. Last year the NRA had an "AR' class in Benchrest matches as a trial, not sure if it continues. The development of high-BC projectiles in .224 and .243 have leveled the field a little.

[huckberry668]

Accuracy claims by E-snipers are hard to believe or prove. .4"-.7" average groups tell me the load has better potential than that. You've got a good gun and load that is my point.

[damndave]

I'm waiting on my dies for my 223 loading, but on my 308, I stopped load developing when I hit .3" 5-shot groups @ 100 yrds. I am aiming for .25" with the 223. It all comes down to the equipment and what you are satisfied with.

[noylj]

You could expect better, but it would require a lot more money and a .22PPC or 6mmPPC benchrest rifle and hand-made match bullets that will cost about $3.00 each.
Or, get a job with a gun magazine and your groups will shrink in half over night.

[Rust]

Groups under .50 are getting into the territory where it becomes hard to tell whats going on. Is it the gun, the ammo, the shooter? I personally start looking at my averages at that point rather than at specific groups. I shot A group wednesday at .247 but in my mind there's a better chance that I "missed" those shots into one hole than that I actually had a perfect hold and shot that group on my own merit. (I'm averaging low .6's with that gun) Do you know how tight a group you can consistently shoot?
My opinion is that if you have a load going that will average half inch and don't know what you're personal consistent best should be stick with that load and start working on your trigger control and shot calling and then pick up load development again when you know if its you or the rifle/load.

[Audredger]

Good start.... I have found TAC to give me better results than Vargent. New upper arrives on Monday so I get to start all over. :>(

[Darklyte27]

Stag 6H? you mean 7H chambered in 6.8 SPC

or you mean Model 6 Super Varminter?

I have the model 6 lefthanded, i shoot about half in groups with match factory 75 gr PPU ammo

[Bongos]

Consistently tiny groups are not easy but you're on the way.

I would try a few different weight bullets and try Varget and H-335. The 53gr may be a little short for the twist. You might also find joy with longer than mag-length OALs if you don't mind single-loading.

The fallacy that auto-loaders are less than accurate is being disproven on the firing line. Last year the NRA had an "AR' class in Benchrest matches as a trial, not sure if it continues. The development of high-BC projectiles in .224 and .243 have leveled the field a little.

Amazingly the 53gr are excellent in 1:7 twist rifles, my Scar 16s get half MOA, in your case you have a 1:8 twist barrel, 55gr fmj with 25-25.3 gr of H335 will yeild consistent half MOA... the question is, are you a half MOA shooter.. as funny as it may seem, I've yet to meet a half MOA shooter, I shoot every other week and at best I'm a sub MOA. The groups mentioned on the previous post was done in a solid rest and no wind at ASR.

[huckberry668]

The fallacy that auto-loaders are less than accurate is being disproven on the firing line. Last year the NRA had an "AR' class in Benchrest matches as a trial, not sure if it continues. The development of high-BC projectiles in .224 and .243 have leveled the field a little.

the auto loaders are definitely not 'less than accurate'. but bolt guns have some definite advantages when it comes to being able to squeeze out every bit of accuracy. If accuracy potential being equal. Autoloaders don't work well with:
*'fire formed' brass even out of the same gun.
*bullets loaded to touching/jammed into riflings.
*neck turned brass.
*auto loaders generally scratch up or cause misaligned (run out) bullets in the loading process.

I did some testing a year ago with a FAL. hand fed rounds gave me 1.25" average groups and autoloaded rounds gave me 2.25" groups out of the same gun/ammo/condition. I pull each one out to examine, auto loaded rounds had a lot of scratches and some had increased bullet run-out or shorter OAL compare to new.

similar results in ARs but much less in difference. Some ARs showed almost no change in accuracy lose. can't remember the numbers since it's been over 15 years when I did the AR testing.