Here's an informal opinion poll. What do you all consider to be "acceptable", repeatable accuracy (5-shots 100 yds) from a big bore in a bolt gun??

Acceptable for what purpose?

For hunting I don't see why I shouldn't have the same standard for my big bores as I do for my medium bores. I am not real happy if I can't hold groups under an inch and a half or so at 100. I'd go hunting with a big bore if I can hold it under 2", knowing my shots will likely be less distance than that. If I couldn't get groups under 2" and I start to wonder if something was wrong with the scope, the load or the rifle.

Cheers,
Canuck

Off hands, sticks, standing rest or bench? most folks find, once they get used to getting pounded by recoil, big bores tends to be VERY accurate, at least in bolt guns.

When I first got my M70 I was trying to get 3 bullets into 1.5". Now I expect MOA or better out of any load that I try.
I was fooling around on the bench last month and shot two magazines into a little more than 1.5" with a 4X scope.

404 Jeffery 3 shots 50 yards iron sights off sand bags by 400 NitroExpress. The 4th round above the three touching, was fired by me. I'd say that is what you can expect from a big Bore rifle!

My best group with my stainless Mdl70 custom is 20 shots in .7. No cooling just the time it takes to load 3 rounds (all it holds) each time. This was from bench. I have 3 other 375's and they all shoot less than 1". Both my 416 Rigbys (custom CZ550 and Ruger) shoot less than an inch. My 405 No1 shoots an inch but I haven't messed with loads. My 405 Mdl 95 will keep in 3" at 100 but I don't do much better with irons. I've realy never shot my 470 Merkel for groups as such but it keeps everything in 2" at 50 yds which is as good as I do with irons. I don't feel bigbores are any drawback to accurracy and expect as much from them as any rifle.

I routinely get about an inch maybe a bit less with my .375's. I'd be happy with 1.5.

I have had a couple of good .458's that would always fall in around 1 .5" with my handloads. I consider that plenty accurate for a big bore.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Off hands, sticks, standing rest or bench?

Whichever way reveals the most accuracy potential for the rifle. Most likely a bench & bags for the majority.

I guess, in my mind, I know that there should be no less inherent accuracy built into a big bore rifle. I'm just curious to see what kind of 5-shot groups the rest of the world is shooting so I know whether I should develop "group envy" or not. I'm just starting load development for my newly acquired .375 Wby and it's the first big bore I've ever loaded for. Best, so far, is 1.4". But I'm hoping to reduce that by a good margin, hopefully.

2 of 3 in the same hole at 50m.

Hi

With a hunting set-up rifle I would like to see about a 1" 3 shot group and off a field rest 2". The pic below shows load development on a 375 H+H hunting rifle ie no fancy accuracy tweeks or muzzle-breaks.

Regards

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Strut10:
Here's an informal opinion poll. What do you all consider to be "acceptable", repeatable accuracy (5-shots 100 yds) from a big bore in a bolt gun??

I only have two bolt guns that might qualify as "big bores. One is a CZ .416 Rigby and the other is an old M70 .375 H&H Magnum. The M70 will hold 1" for three shots @ 100 yards with my 300 grain handloads, and the .416 will hold 1.25" for three shots with the 350-grain Barnes TSX. I also have a .375 H&H Ruger No. 1H, and the only time I tested it for accuracy, it averaged 1.25" 3-shot groups at 180 yards, and a No. 1 .45/70 that will hold 1.25" @ 100 yards with the 400 grain Barnes Original semispitzer with 60 grains of RE 7, MV 2270 FPS. (I know-180 yards is sure an odd distance!! That was the longest range available that day.)

I agree that there's no point in having different accuracy standards for big bores.

I even have several big-bore muzzleloaders that will shoot to the same standards we're discussing here.....




.50 cal caplock @ 100 yards, 370 grain Maxiball



.45 Cal caplock @ 100 yards, 240 grain Maxiball

My recently acquired 458 Lott groups about an inch at 100yds. I may be able to shrink that slightly with practice. It is a bit rough to shoot from a bench rest.

They will shoot at least as well as any of the .30 caliber rifles if you're not recoil conscious. I like to see MOA, just like I would a 7x57. I actually shoot groups that are more consistent with the big bores day after day because they force me to hold a rifle properly. My .416 Ruger will always put 3 in under .8 and has shot some 1-holers with 370 NF and H4831 as small as .256 with a 1.75-6x scope at 100 yards. In my experience, a .375 that won't go under an inch is a rarity, probably because most of the gunmakers take a little more care with bedding on a big bore. Check out a standard Ruger and compare it to an RSM, of course the price doubles too.

Here's a reduced load with my 470Mbogo...



And a full patch load with it earlier...



Both of those were at 50yds.

Here's and example from Don_G's 416 Rem Mag at 100yds ...



No reason why a big bore won't shoot as accurately as any other rifle if its set up well and you do your part.

Cheers,
Canuck

This target is 100 yards 3 shots with a .458 Lott/350 grain Barns X bullets. 85.5 grains of RL7 average velocity was 2770 fps. Group was .620 or so.

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Acceptable accuracy should be 1 MOA. Just like anything else I'd own. If not its for sale.-Rob

Wow ... you guys are picky. I agree that most big bores are more accurate than many give them credit for ... but I'm personally happy with 2MOA in anything limited to say a 200m range.
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
Wow ... you guys are picky. I agree that most big bores are more accurate than many give them credit for ... but I'm personally happy with 2MOA in anything limited to say a 200m range.
Cheers...
Con

You're probably right, I can't imagine shooting my 375 past 250 yards. For me it's one of those hang ups from shooting varmints all the time.

When I started load dev. w/ my .404jeffery I was looking for 2moa or better, after all it was a DG rifle. From a bench w/ the little 1.5x5 VXIII, it is a true 1moa rifle for three rounds using 380grNF or 350-400gr Woodleigh's.(who shoots 5rd groups for a big bore). They will go all in one hole w/ exp. sights @ 50yds.

Fjold,
Very true ... and here is the crunch that I admit I dont seem to be able to justify. In 375cal and below ... I'll settle for 1.5MOA but expect less. Calibers above that I'll settle for 2MOA happily and hope for better ... which most seem to easily deliver if you can hold on for the ride. A 3MOA open sighted rifle I'm also happy with as I wont be shooting past 100m with it!
Cheers...
Con

By the way, I've seen more one hole Big bores than small bores! Don't settle for less. Even though you may never shoot it at DG at more than 50 yrds, its comforting to know you can clobber anything out there at 150yrds or more. The 12 GA FH AT 1000YRDS can easily shoot 8- 12 inch groups. try that with a .243.-Rob

The 3 "big bores" that I own are

1 rem model 700 in 375 H&H
2 Rem model 700 in 458 win mag
3 Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70

#1 shoots 1/2 inch at 50 yards and just over an inch at 100 (I haven't scoped the gun yet so I don't know what it can do beyond 100yds

#2 is one of the most accurate rifles that I owm!! at 50 yards if it dosen't clover leafs 3 shots I am doing something wrong. One hole groups at 50yds are not uncommon. At 100 yards I get groups from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch consistantly.

#3 shoots 3/4 inch at 50 yards and a little over 1 inch at 100yds. It holds a 2.5 inch group at 200 yards!

All these are from the bench with hunting loads, not reduced loads. When I get the 375 scoped I plan to see what it can do out to 300yds. I think a lot of the "big bores" are prone to good acuracy at least in part to the thick heavy barells they tend to have.

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
By the way, I've seen more one hole Big bores than small bores! -Rob

It's a lot easier to hit those big holes.

Center to center their all the same.-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Acceptable for what purpose?

For hunting I don't see why I shouldn't have the same standard for my big bores as I do for my medium bores. I am not real happy if I can't hold groups under an inch and a half or so at 100. I'd go hunting with a big bore if I can hold it under 2", knowing my shots will likely be less distance than that. If I couldn't get groups under 2" and I start to wonder if something was wrong with the scope, the load or the rifle.

Cheers,
Canuck

I agree with Canuck. Those are reasonable expectations. Although it is fun to wring out the last bit of accuracy you can from a rifle.


465H&H

I like my 375 because I can shoot a group almost 1" wide and have all three bullets touching.