As a newbie doing bench shooting at paper targets, I've had a steady progression towards a setup that is working for me, I'm now getting some consistency at 1/4 to 1/2 MOA for 5 or 10 shot groups, not all, some .... for now.
I think that's not too bad for a shortsighted (-4.1 left eye, -4 right eye) 50 year old IT manager that only got their license 3 months ago.
I'd credit a rifle that shoots well as the thing that makes it possible, a high power scope as the thing that makes it possible for me, a steady bag and rest setup that makes it repeatable, help and advice from you guys and watching a ton of videos about posture/positioning/technique the thing that lets me get better.
I went to the
SISC Ballistics Testing Range and paid the $70 to do the ballistics testing on my rifle, that's where they clamp it in a vice and run 5 different brands and version of ammo (your choice of which) for 10 shots after a few fouling shots, and record the groups and speeds. This is all about your rifle and what it can do, it eliminates you and your abilities from the picture.
For my particular rifle, I found ammo it likes this way without all the guesswork and I found where and what I'd need to do to improve the group sizes it's capable of. I ended up lightening up the trigger, a full pillar and bedding job, bedding the picatinny rail and reshaping the firing pin surfaces.
During my journey I did notice the heartbeat issue where the scope would sway left and right in time with my heartbeat, and my groups showed it with what I called vampire bite mark groups, aka two sets of holes with horizontal separation. This is caused by my heartbeat being transferred to the rifle through contact with me, It has nothing to do with the scope zoom.
I eventually eliminated the transfer of movement by changing my posture and technique and as importantly, the front rest and rear bag setup to something with a little more stability. By posture and technique I mean I stopped fighting against the rear bag and rest to get it aimed in, my cheek weld now does nothing but push the rifle down into the rear bag.
I no longer use the squeeze bag method to adjust the point of impact up/down and I don't push against the rear bag to adjust left/right because neither is good for repeat ability, instead I use the front rest elevation and windage. Basically trying to leave the rifle in the rear bag and front rest is as neutral state as possible.
My setup is;
Front Rest: Caldwell, The Rock BR (bought it, stripped it down, modded and re lubed for smoother operation)
Front Rest Bag: Protektor, for Caldwell Front Bag 3 inch
Forend: Kaizen 3" Bag rider
Rear Bag: Protektor Custom Rear Bag Cordura Rabbit Ears 3 stitch
Rifle: Savage MkII BTVLSS
Scope: Vector Optics Continental Tactical 5-30x56 (Tactical version because I prefer the tactical reticle)
A lot of the gear, including the awesome scope, and some of the advice I got from my LGS
Badlands in Castle Hill, Can't recommend them highly enough.
The high power zoom lets me see, aim at and sometimes even hit a 2mm dot in the centre of a bullseye. I think it was in some movie but I think it's really appropriate to say "aim small miss small".
I find that using a scope at high power for target shooting, I'm not aiming for the general vicinity of a bullseye, I'm either aiming for the tiny dot in the middle or using a holdover dot right on the hard edge of ring. At low power you can't even see the dot in the middle or the exact hard edge of the rings.
If its ok, I'd like to post an unboxing and little review on the scope?