For folks that just hunt and reload, is 1 MOA good enough for normal hunting ranges? Say 400 yards? Or, do you keep using up components to get better groups? Is the juice worth the squeeze?
When is it good enough for hunting?
- Thread starter USAFRet
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memtb
Well-Known Member
Yes, moa should be great out to 400 yards on big game…..not so much if you're "squirrel hunting"! 
More important than the rifle/cartridge accuracy…..is the capabilities of the hunter! memtb
More important than the rifle/cartridge accuracy…..is the capabilities of the hunter! memtb
If it's a true 1 moa rifle you could take it a whole lot further then that.
Do you like to shoot? Then, reducing your group size becomes a hobby within a hobby!
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I normally try repeatable .5 or better for my hunting loads. JMHO.
It really depends on what you're calling a 1 moa rifle. There is a big difference between a 3 shot group that measures 1 moa and sticking twenty 1" dots on a target board and shooting twenty shots and not missing a single dot.
YES....
cabelasken
Well-Known Member
I recently returned from Africa where Itook a Kudu, Nyala and Impala. The Impala was first and the shot was about 100yds. It was feeding under a small tree in the brush. PH set up the tripod and I got steady but I couldn't see anything but the horns but every so often it would raise its head to look around. Well I steadied the crosshairs where I anticipated it would raise its head and let one fly the next time it took a look. It was a dead center neck shot. The PH said I told you to wait for a broadside shot to which I replied "he's dead". The next animal was a Kudu and it was moving thru the brush only about 60 to 70 yds away and I had a steady shot at a slow moving animal with a big neck that was entirely exposed. The PH said to wait for it to stop. It did at about 75 yds and I instantly drilled it in the crease behind the shoulder and centered on the far side shoulder. Although I was confident in making another neck shot, I didn't want to **** off the PH any more than he was after the fiirst neck shot. I even asked if I should shoot the Nyala in the neck and the PH returned a firm NO. These were easy shots in my opinion, but these PH's have to deal with clients that may not be good field shots.
Simple solution, cabelasken....give the PH a shooting lesson.
X2!
This question is all about burning through expensive components looking for perfection vs. calling it good enough to get the job done. For instance, is $50 in components worth another 1/4" or 1/2"? Or, am I really a good enough shooter that the factor may be me? One day I may take the same load and shoot a 3/4" or 1/2 MOA group. And yes, three shots once is not a verifiable test.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
A 1MOA group from a bench at the range can easily turn into a 2-3" groups in hunting conditions/positions.
Out to 400 yards, that means 8-12" groups. Not good enough in my opinion.
In all honestly, I would not take a rifle into the field that shot more than .5MOA 5-shot groups from a bench. And I usually will shoot 10 or 20 shot groups over the course of a few hours to make sure.
Then, I go shoot sub-MOA sized steel (several times) out to 1100+ to make sure it maintains.
Out west, depending on game and area, 400 yard COULD be a closer shot.
Out to 400 yards, that means 8-12" groups. Not good enough in my opinion.
In all honestly, I would not take a rifle into the field that shot more than .5MOA 5-shot groups from a bench. And I usually will shoot 10 or 20 shot groups over the course of a few hours to make sure.
Then, I go shoot sub-MOA sized steel (several times) out to 1100+ to make sure it maintains.
Out west, depending on game and area, 400 yard COULD be a closer shot.
