What is the expected real-world accuracy???

[searcher]

Say your rifle is able to shoot a sub-3/8" MOA group at 100. Taking those small bullets out to 400 will result in groups opening up depending on wind and your shooting technique. Say a 5 MPH or so breeze at 90 degrees results in 2" or so of drift and a 10 MPH results in 4" or so - one can see how a group opens up pretty quick. If you get real lucky and get a dead-calm day at 400, you can get close to maintaining the same MOA you had at 100 (3/8" MOA = 1 1/2" @400 yds.) Mind you - that is dead calm. In "real world", the wind is going to be moving front to rear or side to side (or both) of at least 4 mph. That will open you up to roughly double the size - or roughly 3" unless you are able to read it with wind flags and compensate for it to some degree. So - "real world" mostly depends on what the wind is doing that day, whether your ammo is consistently prepped and assembled, air temperature taking you our of your accuracy node, etc. So I agree with the guys saying 1" at 400 yards AND those saying 6". Maybe even 10". You probably get the idea.

 

[Evan]

Say your rifle is able to shoot a sub-3/8" MOA group at 100. Taking those small bullets out to 400 will result in groups opening up depending on wind and your shooting technique. Say a 5 MPH or so breeze at 90 degrees results in 2" or so of drift and a 10 MPH results in 4" or so - one can see how a group opens up pretty quick. If you get real lucky and get a dead-calm day at 400, you can get close to maintaining the same MOA you had at 100 (3/8" MOA = 1 1/2" @400 yds.) Mind you - that is dead calm. In "real world", the wind is going to be moving front to rear or side to side (or both) of at least 4 mph. That will open you up to roughly double the size - or roughly 3" unless you are able to read it with wind flags and compensate for it to some degree. So - "real world" mostly depends on what the wind is doing that day, whether your ammo is consistently prepped and assembled, air temperature taking you our of your accuracy node, etc. So I agree with the guys saying 1" at 400 yards AND those saying 6". Maybe even 10". You probably get the idea.

The rabbit hole is deep. I remember a simpler time when I was happy with 1" at 100 yards and just wanted to blow up milk jugs at 600. Just fair warning to all - turn back while you can!

 

[David Milisock]

Say your rifle is able to shoot a sub-3/8" MOA group at 100. Taking those small bullets out to 400 will result in groups opening up depending on wind and your shooting technique. Say a 5 MPH or so breeze at 90 degrees results in 2" or so of drift and a 10 MPH results in 4" or so - one can see how a group opens up pretty quick. If you get real lucky and get a dead-calm day at 400, you can get close to maintaining the same MOA you had at 100 (3/8" MOA = 1 1/2" @400 yds.) Mind you - that is dead calm. In "real world", the wind is going to be moving front to rear or side to side (or both) of at least 4 mph. That will open you up to roughly double the size - or roughly 3" unless you are able to read it with wind flags and compensate for it to some degree. So - "real world" mostly depends on what the wind is doing that day, whether your ammo is consistently prepped and assembled, air temperature taking you our of your accuracy node, etc. So I agree with the guys saying 1" at 400 yards AND those saying 6". Maybe even 10". You probably get the idea.

In my experiance in areas that you can get out to regularly and place some wind flags. As the range increases the wind speed and direction can change a couple times from bore to target, add in the eddy currents over the crops and terraces and I like to think that while I do my best, luck is many times the controlling factor.

When I make a 600 yard shot at a chuck I always add to the story, I made a one shot one, one kill at 600 yards at a chuck, I even hit the one I was aiming at.

 

[texasbilly]

I think that we are judging the accuracy of a rifle incorrectly. There are too many variables to simply state that a certain rifle and caliber is accurate enough to produce good groups at any given distance. A hypothetically perfect rifle may not produce good groups if the scope is too low in power, or is poor in clarity, to see accurately. Accuracy also depends on the best bullet (weight, BC, shape) for the rifling and twist. Other factors include best ammunition for that rifle, steady rest, wind conditions, temperature, humidity, shooter's ability, and trigger quality. There are even more variables.

Every rifle is unique. The best way to determine the accuracy of the rifle, for which it is capable, is to consider these and other variables. Fire the rifle at the distance one expects to test. Then one can say that the rifle is accurate, to that level, under those conditions, at that range.