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What is a good group?

Nick Caprinolo

Gold $$ Contributor
I am relatively new at 22 rimfire. I have been testing a lot of different brands of ammunition and have found several that seem to be right for me. I am shooting a Anschutz Mod 54 Match rifle.

My question is, what is considered a good 5 shot group? Some ammo will average less than 3/8 inch with a few really tight one hole groups. Others are lucky to get 3/4 or more and some are at least 1 inch.

What is considered competitive?
 
For what type of competition?
I do not participate in any of the benchrest type of competitions so I can not comment on those.
If you are looking at ISSF 50 meter or conventional/metric prone/F class the requirements are usually looked at in terms of 10 shot group size or decimal score potential as 5 shot groups don't really mean much in those disciplines.
 
I am relatively new at 22 rimfire. I have been testing a lot of different brands of ammunition and have found several that seem to be right for me. I am shooting a Anschutz Mod 54 Match rifle.

My question is, what is considered a good 5 shot group? Some ammo will average less than 3/8 inch with a few really tight one hole groups. Others are lucky to get 3/4 or more and some are at least 1 inch.

What is considered competitive?
A good group is one that satisfy you. yes it is that simple. only you can decide is it good enough as only you know how much effort it took to put it on paper.

Lee
 
While shooting today I had a group that literally made me giggle when the 5th shot when into the same hole. I agree that the good groups are the ones that make you happy. With my ol' Nylon 66, if all 5 shots hit the target I might giggle at that too :D...
 
SUB 1/2 inch, 50 Yard groups, have most of, the Sage Rats fairly pisszzed oft at, my Custom Ruger 10-22 here in Southern Ideehoo ! Got one, at 85 yards, last Spring ! Past 100 Yards,.. I'll pull out the .22-250 for, the lil' buggers !!
 
We have a Wednesday morning .22 shoot. If we’re able to shoot a ten shot MOA at 100yds. any of us are REALLY happy. Generally we’ll have a couple fliers out of the ten. Enjoy your rimfire shooting, it can certainly be a challenge.
 
From a sporter 22 I am happy with 1/2" five shot groups at 50 yds, and 1 -1/4" groups at 100 yds.
For a match grade rifle like the OP mentions it takes 1/4" five shot groups at 50 yds and sub 1" groups at 100 yds to make me happy.

When I mention these group sizes I am speaking of groups this size consistently, not the occassional fluke group at those numbers. It takes some wind reading skills and good mental and rifle control to do it consistently even with high grade equipment.

drover
 
If you are talking about shooting prone with iron sights, get the 50 meter targets and if you clean that, you are good.
At100 yds, if you can consistently clean the standard prone target with at least 6-8 Xs, then you should be happy.
 
11 mm (or less) at 50m
22 mm (or less) at 100m

Both for 10 shot groups.
I've seen these numbers several times at the Lapua Test Center using out to out measuring. Rifle clamped in a vice and shooting in a tunnel. One rifle/ammo did it 3 straight times, another rifle twice in a row. Not anywhere close to the norm though.
 
I've seen these numbers several times at the Lapua Test Center using out to out measuring. Rifle clamped in a vice and shooting in a tunnel. One rifle/ammo did it 3 straight times, another rifle twice in a row. Not anywhere close to the norm though.
My 1813 w/ a Krieger barrel and Turbo tuner (at 0 setting) was able to meet 12mm and 22.8 mm, so based on my current hold (and untuned rifle) those values worked for my purposes.

With that said, the OP’s question was “what is a good 5 shot group”? I put numerical values to the question.

For prone and F-SBR “norm”, today’s top competitors need to be near those values.
 
Thank you all for the responses. I have tried my best to shoot up to the standards I felt were really good. Don't think I can match 10 shot groups at 12 mm with any consistency.

While I have had some groups that would match up to those standards. they are far and few between.

Tried to eliminate all chance of human error. Use a Seb Neo rest, while shooting a Anschutz Mod 54 from 1958. Also been shooting a CZ 457 MTR. Tried most ammunition available. Best so far is Wolf Match Target and Eley Tenex.

By the way, I only shoot from the bench rest. I can't get down on the ground anymore. Well I can get down, but getting up is another story. At 84, the old body gets worn out pretty fast.
 
Just a reminder those Test Center groups are outside edge to outside edge NOT center to center. Very difficult to equal or beat in outside real world shooting. My personal benchmark for a 5 shot group at 50 yards the rim of a unfired round will hang up in the hole and not drop thru.
 
To the OP, IMHO if you can shoot five or ten, five shot groups that average 3/8" you're doing good. I'd buy a bunch of that ammo. I'm guessing you're shooting off a front rest and rear bag?

To the guys that are shooting these consistent 11mm (.433") outside measurement groups at 50 yards are you shooting one piece rest, or off a front rest and rear bag? Please shoot the 6 X 5 at 50 as posted below and post your results. If your gun will do it with 10 shots shoot a 6 X 10 and post up. Please.

On the snipers hide there is a thread in the rimfire section called the 6 X 5. They are shooting 6 consecutive 5 shot groups at 50,100 and 200 yards. They have a list of groups by average and best groups, all measured C to C. They post photo's of the target, usually the rifle and the range, also they ask for info on the rifle, how was it shot (rest type, bipod etc.) weather and wind conditions. I've shot it with three rifles at 50 yards, two with scopes and one with apertures. All shot off a front rest and rear bag, outside in real conditions.

Here's a link, scroll down to post #3 to see the current results. Shoot it and show us those 11mm groups.

 

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