Tomek wrote:Hi Allan,
Thanks for the response Allan. I expect to need target ammo when I want the possibility of bug sized groupings. However, I just hope that I could shoot some subsonic hollow points (standard too) at half-inch as well so that I have the ability to hunt reasonably well. I can't hunt with my CZ as 1 inch groupings are too big IMO. Plus, you should see how much each 5 shot group varies in terms of going upper right one time, and lower left the other without wind.. 10 shots groups would be well over 1 inch guaranteed.
Btw, I don't get this concept of plinking. I see people shooting crappy ammo next to me with good rifles and enjoying it their massive groups. Is it the shooting itself? I find 2 inch groups depressing personally.. lol not matter how many bullets i go through. I'd rather shoot less for the same price but have the chance to fin tune my skills.
One-inch at 50m under field conditions is more than good enough for hunting, I would bet the vast majority of rabbits and foxes that have been shot in Australia with .22's were shot with rifles/shooters barely capable of holding 2" groups at 50m, and many far less accurate than even that.
For hunting, it's far more important to learn where your first shot lands rather than how big a group they make.
I think your expectation of accuracy is warped a bit. If you absolutely need to see bullets all going through one hole then you're far better off buying a centrefire rifle and reload for it. .22LR is a very cheaply manufactured cartridge that has practical limits. The two most important factors, for me at least, is you need more consistent ignition than rimfire can offer, and you need more consistent bullets than soft lead can offer. Centrefire ignition and jacketed bullets are the place to start if you want accuracy. If you absolutely must have benchrest-type accuracy from a .22LR then it's going to cost a lot of money.
For me, .22's are all about "trigger time" and putting lots and lots and lots of bullets down range so you learn to hold the rifle consistently - think muscle memory.
Yes, shooting Eley Match in my Ruger and seeing a beautifully-shaped, 10-round 45mm group at 100m is immensely satisfying, but I can do even better with the .204 for a third of the price of the ammo.
If the ammo you are using is only capable of two-inch groups in your rifle, then you try to maintain those groups consistently.
If you're shooting a smoothbore blackpowder rifle that only groups 24" at 100m then you simply try to maintain that.
If you're shooting a .303 that can't do better than three-inch groups then that is your goal.
It just occurred to me to see what the practical limits might be for .22LR competition.
I don't know if I'm reading it right but it looks like the SSAA National Rimfire Benchrest records are:
Daylight:
0.108" 50m group (B Jupp 2008)
0.234" 100yd group (T Allinson 1981)
Artificial Light:
0.168" 50m group (P Jones 1998)
0.280" 100yd group (G Baker 1990)
http://www.benchrestbulletin.net/drupal/node/243That seems to me that no Aussie has managed to shoot smaller than 0.234" at 100yds with a .22LR in the last 35 years, no matter how much money they spend in the attempt.