GOOD BETTER BEST....POOR? 5 SHOT GROUPS

[RHINOTEX]

Is there a guide, or standard?   I mean when shooting for groups to determine accuracy, let's say at 10, and 20, and 30 yards do we have a generally accepted  guideline?    1"...3/4"...1/2"...and so on?   Of course old Davey Crockett could stack 5 out Betsy's snout from who knows how far, but Disney had a little to do with that....ha ha.    Nothing iron clad, or written in stone, but....a general idea....for conversation sake.     Your opinion please......thanks Bob

[ac12]

It will also depend on shooting position; benchrest, prone, kneeling, standing.
My good standing group would be a disaster if shooting from a bench.
And conversely I would be ecstatic if I could shoot anywhere near my bench size group when standing.

I can easily do 1/4" groups at 10meters w my benchrested match rifle, but standing would open it up to about an inch (on a GOOD day)

[Big_Bill]

Hey Bob,

Everything depends on YOU, the rifle and pellet combination and if you are doing everything consistently.

If you do not hold the air rifle exactly the same way each time that you shoot it, your groups will suffer. And that's in any position !

You must find the position for you forward stock holding hand, that your air rifle likes, and hold it there every time for maximum accuracy.

And most air rifles like to be held gently, no tightly ?

If everything on your air rifle is not tight, accuracy will be erratic.

If the pellet that you are shooting is not the one that your air rifle likes the best, you will have larger groups.

There are so many things that must be taken into consideration that it can be mind boggling ! But consistency and follow-through are very important !!!!

I hope this helps you !

Bill

[Carl]

I think Mr. Bob is asking more like (for example) @ 20 yds benchrested what would be considered a good group. 3/8's 1/2" or 1". What is the standerd to be judged by if you just saw the target and knew the distance.

[timegoat]

It's an interesting question and I wish there was an answer too, but there are so many variables that I don't know if a standard even exists.  I do know my personal opinion though and it's based off my experience with the GTA 30yd bench rest match. The rings on the match target are 1.5", 1.0", and 0.5" so it's kinda subjective.

Poor > 1.5"
Good = 1.0" - 1.5"
Great = .5" - 1.0"
Inconceivable(!) < .5"

Dunno if that helps in any way, but it's all I really got.

- Mark

[RHINOTEX]

hey mark:
    thats the kinda thing i was asking about.  being so new to this, and yet so foutunate to stumble, but know i won't fall because of the GTA, and members like yourself. I really like the "no stupid questions" attitude.
more to come i am sure, but it makes me not shy about asking.    thanks    Bob

[timegoat]

Ask away! These guys have taught me more than I ever knew I wanted to know and the improvement in my shooting has gone from "poor" to "great" with moments of borderline "inconceivable".

Oh, and shooting in a variety of matches here is a great training tool... at least they have been for me. 

- Mark

[Jeff D]

As has been mentioned, it depends upon many factors but I'll add my twist.

I have rifles that I'll shoot offhand at 10m and be happy with a 1.5" group because the rifle shoots 1" groups from a rest at that distance. (Don't make fun, it's a 22xx with a tiny barrel that I put together to pop soda cans while the kids were shooting airsoft - I hit most cans out to 20y).  I also have a few rifles that I expect MUCH better results from.  Moving up from my can popper the limiting factor is me.

Once I shot a few 1.5" groups (regardless of distance) from a gun I knew could accomplish better... I no longer thought 1.5" groups were much of an accomplishment.  That progression continues... higher expectation/smaller avg groups.

For example, the 10m open rifle match. I have several rifles that are more than capable of shooting a 200 with a high X count. Have I ever done it - no. But as my scores improved logic says that my groups got smaller.  (of course I should add that I topped out a while back and have seen no real improvement since, so there are personal limits)