Myths:
1. When testing a how a rifle groups, You aim at the same spot on the target every time, as accurately as possible. The only thing better would be to have the barreled action in a vice.
If your goal is to shoot the best possible group in the prevailing conditions, with the equipment and ammunition you have in hand, you almost never shoot at the same spot twice. You are always compensating for wind and natures effect on every single shot. The farther you get from the target, the more this comes into play. If you are shooting an air gun with pellets at 100 yards, and it is perfectly calm, A puff of breeze will easily move it a half inch if not more. The shooter is definitely part of the equation.
2. Shooting small groups is just luck.
Each shot in each five or 10 shot group is a distinct event. For example, if you’re shooting five shot groups at 100 yards, and you get the first 3 into a little tiny bug Hole, The fourth shot can become insurmountably more difficult. If you happen to sneak the fourth shot into that little bug hole... Pulling the trigger on shot number five takes extreme confidence. And involves quite a few misses. To Shoot sub half inch groups at 100 yards with an air gun; You need to have an incredible scope, an incredible rifle, an incredible tin of pellets, incredible conditions, an incredible shooter, an excellent bench set-up, great technique, and incredible luck. Try it in 22 caliber...try it in any caliber.
3. You need a $5000 benchrest rig, to shoot half inch groups at 100 yards.
I’ve never even owned a true benchrest rig, (other than powder burners and 22 Long Rifle which don’t count here). You do need a good accurate rifle, but it doesn’t need to be a specific purpose benchrest rifle.
4. When people post their magic groups, it doesn’t give a true indication of the capability of the rifle. Average groups are much more interesting.
Who the heck wants to see peoples average performance when they’re watching sporting highlights? Why would I shoot all day and post my average groups? Yes, they will tell me at what distance I should shoot a critter or varmint, but that’s about it. When a golfer chips in from 30 yards to win the masters, they show that shot over and over. They don’t show the shot where the guy put it 10 feet from the pin from the same distance. That’s why we post magic groups, because they are magic.
5. Shooting groups is totally different than shooting air gun benchrest.
I will guarantee you, if you look at the top shooters cards at the top BR tournaments. And laid all of their targets on top one another. The top scoring shooters would have consistently smaller groups center to center than of all of the other competitors. On a calm day you’d see five shots in a row That would measure less than half an inch at 100 yards. You’ll see 10 shots in a row less than an inch at 100 yards. But only on the best shooters cards.
Benchrest shooting goes back to the turn of the 19th century and before. In most disciplines historically, the winner shoots the smallest average center to center groups of all the competitors. This is extremely difficult to set up, as you have to have a moving backer behind the target. I believe that’s why you Have seen the sport of 22BR evolve. Because only one shot is taken at each target, you didn’t need a moving background. This allowed small local clubs to get shoots set up without having to invest in 25-50 lanes of moving backers to record the shots. It would appear the Air gun benchrest sport has evolved from 22 BR.
I can’t wait to join you guys once I’m finished with field target and kids.
Just for fun, here is a target of 10 shots groups shot at 100 yards, all in one day. Varmints beware! 22 Rapid 2012.
mike
1. When testing a how a rifle groups, You aim at the same spot on the target every time, as accurately as possible. The only thing better would be to have the barreled action in a vice.
If your goal is to shoot the best possible group in the prevailing conditions, with the equipment and ammunition you have in hand, you almost never shoot at the same spot twice. You are always compensating for wind and natures effect on every single shot. The farther you get from the target, the more this comes into play. If you are shooting an air gun with pellets at 100 yards, and it is perfectly calm, A puff of breeze will easily move it a half inch if not more. The shooter is definitely part of the equation.
2. Shooting small groups is just luck.
Each shot in each five or 10 shot group is a distinct event. For example, if you’re shooting five shot groups at 100 yards, and you get the first 3 into a little tiny bug Hole, The fourth shot can become insurmountably more difficult. If you happen to sneak the fourth shot into that little bug hole... Pulling the trigger on shot number five takes extreme confidence. And involves quite a few misses. To Shoot sub half inch groups at 100 yards with an air gun; You need to have an incredible scope, an incredible rifle, an incredible tin of pellets, incredible conditions, an incredible shooter, an excellent bench set-up, great technique, and incredible luck. Try it in 22 caliber...try it in any caliber.
3. You need a $5000 benchrest rig, to shoot half inch groups at 100 yards.
I’ve never even owned a true benchrest rig, (other than powder burners and 22 Long Rifle which don’t count here). You do need a good accurate rifle, but it doesn’t need to be a specific purpose benchrest rifle.
4. When people post their magic groups, it doesn’t give a true indication of the capability of the rifle. Average groups are much more interesting.
Who the heck wants to see peoples average performance when they’re watching sporting highlights? Why would I shoot all day and post my average groups? Yes, they will tell me at what distance I should shoot a critter or varmint, but that’s about it. When a golfer chips in from 30 yards to win the masters, they show that shot over and over. They don’t show the shot where the guy put it 10 feet from the pin from the same distance. That’s why we post magic groups, because they are magic.
5. Shooting groups is totally different than shooting air gun benchrest.
I will guarantee you, if you look at the top shooters cards at the top BR tournaments. And laid all of their targets on top one another. The top scoring shooters would have consistently smaller groups center to center than of all of the other competitors. On a calm day you’d see five shots in a row That would measure less than half an inch at 100 yards. You’ll see 10 shots in a row less than an inch at 100 yards. But only on the best shooters cards.
Benchrest shooting goes back to the turn of the 19th century and before. In most disciplines historically, the winner shoots the smallest average center to center groups of all the competitors. This is extremely difficult to set up, as you have to have a moving backer behind the target. I believe that’s why you Have seen the sport of 22BR evolve. Because only one shot is taken at each target, you didn’t need a moving background. This allowed small local clubs to get shoots set up without having to invest in 25-50 lanes of moving backers to record the shots. It would appear the Air gun benchrest sport has evolved from 22 BR.
I can’t wait to join you guys once I’m finished with field target and kids.
Just for fun, here is a target of 10 shots groups shot at 100 yards, all in one day. Varmints beware! 22 Rapid 2012.
mike
!