How Much Does Handloading Really Help Accuracy?

[Jammer Six]

If I am shooting in a major event and could shoot in the top ten, for me that's as good as it gets. Remember the Clint Eastwood line in Dirty Harry?...."A man has to know his limitations"

Huh. I've always believed that constant training can improve your shooting.

(I admit I've never trained "constantly". Even the army doesn't train "constantly".)

 

[Catfur]

(I admit I've never trained "constantly". Even the army doesn't train "constantly".)

As an M1 armor crewman (and in garrison in the US) I saw live 5.56 ammo once a year, and live 9mm ammo once a year.

 

[Jammer Six]

Heh!

As an infantryman, in garrison in the U.S., I saw live ammo about once a month!

 

[SheepDog]

In Seattle each cop has to fire 50 rounds a month and qualify once a year - or it was that way when I was there. Most of them couldn't be bothered to keep 50 shots on a target paper and some put holes in the benches, posts and roof... I would rather defend myself, thank you very much. Besides, cops are too heavy to carry around.

 

[M14AMU]

I think all reloaders go through a period of searching for that magical "one hole group" and some of them never stop. I went through it and it lasted for three years. I kept what I learned and use those things that made the biggest positive changes. I am a hunter but I load for accuracy. I only own one rifle that won't shoot sub MOA five shot groups. That SKS was never meant to be more than a plinking gun because when I got it it was less expensive to shoot than my 22LR. That is no longer true and it sits in the back of the safe and doesn't come out to play much. I find it hard to tolerate 3" groups at 100 yards.
I guess the biggest lesson I learned trying to find that one hole group was that case prep and load consistency were where you can make the most difference. One old bench rester at the SPAA range put a new barrel on his action. he couldn't get it to shoot those tiny groups he was used to getting. He lapped the bore and guaged it, then cut it and re installed with a new chamber twice and no matter what he did it wasn't giving him the accuracy that he expected. After all that work he bought another barrel and installed it and got back to shooting those tiny little groups. He thought that a 10 shot 3/8" group was terrible and looking at his targets he was right but for me that one ragged hole that was about 3/8" would have been wonderful. He helped me in my chase and told me that my rifle was the problem and I needed to spend some money to make it right. I had a wife and two kids and I figured keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table was more important. I don't remember that old man's name but I will always remember his generosity with advice. I always try to "pay it forward" when I get the chance.

You can't BUY a good barrel!

You have to FIND a good barrel!!

 

[SheepDog]

You can't BUY a good barrel!

You have to FIND a good barrel!!

I agree that not all barrels are the best for 1000 yard shooting.
I've never heard a barrel maker putting an accuracy guarantee on a barrel but they do sell on their reputation for accuracy.

 

[Wjesswheel]

The fact that there are so many nice replies is a testament to the good nature of the gun community, just nice people.

You reap what you sow

 

[Bbear]

I started out reloading shotgun shells in college. Those 5.99 16 gauge shells were EXPENSIVE! I saved the hulls and, since I worked at a gun shop, bought a used Mec 600 jr and all of the goodies. I found I could load the same box of shells about 8-10 times at an average cost of about 1.25/box or so. I moved into rifle cartridges when I had to shoot a poor central Texas whitetail 5 times then cut the throat to put him down for good. All with a 25-06 at 100 yards with some Federal 'Premium' Nosler partitions. Each one penciled through the shoulder or neck, knocking him down but not keeping him there. (I later tested out the remaining shells in a pile of sand from 100 yards, of the 15 remaining shells in that box, only 3 ever expanded).
That 25-06 factory stuff shot to a 1.75" group at 100 yards. When I started playing with reloaded ammo, the first group that shot under 1" was like a dream come true! Fast-forward to today and that same rifle has more than 3000 rounds through the barrel. I've changed bullets, primers, powder and cases and it will still put 5 shots under or around .5" at 100.
Week before Christmas I was at a friend's ranch and we went to an area to shoot. My set-up is pure hunting rifle. But I've shot it quite a bit. At 547 yards, I put a 5 shot group on steel that was just under 4". Not F-class quality but definitely minute-of-deer.