100 yard RB accuracy ?

[damron]

I get very good 50 yard groups out of my 50 and 54's of about 1"-1.5".Even in no wind 5;30AM shooting i seldom average the same comparative MOA groups at 100 yds i get at 50 yards.I occasionally get a group towards 2" but I'd say 4" is more common(all are 5 shot strings)The loads i am shooting are i the 80-100g range and not "powder puff".I shoot military open(not peep) sight rifles in cast bullet competition at 100 and 200 and 10 shot 2.0-2.5 MOA groups are common so i dont believe its sighting error.Am i asking too much?

George

 

[hanshi]

In my humble opinion you are shooting just fine, better than I can do. The primitive open sights of MLs are a different can of worms and, for me, a real challenge to use. I occasionally get groups in the 1" to 1.5" range at 50yds but 4" is the best I can get at 100yds. My guns are capable of better performance; I'm just not.

 

[MSW]

what Hanshi said. Also, remember that a sphere is the projectile which provides the least possible cross sectional density. Therefore, it looses velocity faster than any other possible projectile, making it (comparatively) most subject to variations which would adversely effect accuracy.

asking a two inch group at 100 yards is asking a lot from a PRB. Not saying it can't be done- just saying I can't do it.

 

[Semisane]

I typically get 1.5 to 2" at 50 yards, 3 or 4" at 75, and 5 or 6" at 100 and am quite happy to get that.

 

[sdhunter]

the best i have done with my .54 gpr is 3" groups at 100 and i am not a rondy guy. I hunt and that is more than good enough for hunting.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Simple math, a 1.5 inch group at fifty yards is equal to a 3 inch group at 100 yrds. Plus when consider the "eyesight" factor you are at what is expected! :hmm:

 

[Walks with fire]

I think 4" @ 100 would be pretty respectable. I don't do paper other than getting sighted in. I like a zero @ 80-85 yards for my RB rifles. I do em all the same. If my barrel will do bullseye from a cold clean barrel @ 80 yards there is no need for me to see how close together the next 4 are. I do know my GM LRH with conicals will shoot better @ 100 than my RB rifles.

I don't care I like RB's and they do what they do. I just got a .58 to play with so the others will be gathering dust no doubt.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

First, open sights and human eye sight are such that even with a perfectly accurate muzzleloader, it is difficult to shoot a one inch group at 100 yds. Not impossible, but very rare. Most open sights are simply not fine enough for such accuracy. Perhaps with very good sights and a target which permits proper alignment to avoid shot to shot variation in hold.

With peep sights, x-tube or scope it is indeed possible, for I have done it (on a good day when the sun and stars align)

Many barrels are simply not that accurate, even if the sights and shooter was. Some barrels are and can be far more accurate than the shooter.

It requires extreme consistency in loading procedure. Not just in measuring powder, but in making sure the barrel fouling is the same each shot, the powder is poured the same, the powder is settled in the barrel the same, and the patch weave is turned the same direction each time. Breathe the same, squeeze the trigger the same. Any little thing, such as muzzle crown, inconsistent powder measuring, even inconsistent load compression can throw such accuracy to the winds. On a sunny day, something so simple as a passing cloud shading the target can change the contrast of the sight picture.

When I started the joke was that if a shooter farted between shots, even the farts had to be the same between each shot.

 

[necchi]

It requires extreme consistency in loading procedure. Not just in measuring powder, but in making sure the barrel fouling is the same each shot, the powder is poured the same, the powder is settled in the barrel the same, and the patch weave is turned the same direction each time. Breathe the same, squeeze the trigger the same. Any little thing, such as muzzle crown, inconsistent powder measuring, even inconsistent load compression can throw such accuracy to the winds. On a sunny day, something so simple as a passing cloud shading the target can change the contrast of the sight picture.

Oh Yeah!
:thumbsup:
Too many variables with the fart though, it could be bean, pepper or beer,,,
Now holding the fart with a pucker could affect things
:haha:

 

[Dphar]

I get very good 50 yard groups out of my 50 and 54's of about 1"-1.5".Even in no wind 5;30AM shooting i seldom average the same comparative MOA groups at 100 yds i get at 50 yards.I occasionally get a group towards 2" but I'd say 4" is more common(all are 5 shot strings)The loads i am shooting are i the 80-100g range and not "powder puff".I shoot military open(not peep) sight rifles in cast bullet competition at 100 and 200 and 10 shot 1.75-2.5 MOA groups are common so i dont believe its sighting error.Am i asking too much?

George

Round balls are far more wind sensitive than bullets. This can be a factor since a minor wind change, if you can feel it, at 100 can move a ball a inch easily . How the rifle is loaded can be a factor. Best accuracy is obtained if the patch does not have to run over fouling on the lands.
A RB rifle with a GOOD barrel should shoot through the same hole at 50-100 yards with ideal weather conditions and perhaps a scope. http://sleepyhillbarrels.com/index.html
He test fires all barrels before final shaping.
Dan

 

[damron]

sounds like i am on course then.Thanks for all the input.

George

 

[wattlebuster]

Thats good shootin IMHO. My guns can probably do it but the fat redneck holdin it cant so Its a good thing all my huntin shots are 20-50 yrds anyway. I hope yours are the same. :thumbsup:

 

[damron]

then to make it worse i shoot this 5 shot "teaser" today at 100 yards.Followed by a 4" + group

Lyman .50 GPH 1-32
CCI #11M
100g Pyro RS
495 Ball cast ball
.015 patch with Hoppes 9+

 

[Sinner]

Just be especially happy on those days! (and maybe by a lottery ticket! )

 

[Pacobillie]

Simple math, a 1.5 inch group at fifty yards is equal to a 3 inch group at 100 yrds. Plus when consider the "eyesight" factor you are at what is expected! :hmm:

Not quite! The bullet is slowing down fast, and it takes longer to to do the second 50, than it does the first 50. Therefore, there will be more wind drift over the second part of the bullet's journey to the target.

 

[roundball]

I'm not convinced / never experienced adding weight in the butt of a long gun that would make it recoil higher...always added at least a pound of lead shot into the butts of every trap gun I've owned.
The butt is against the shoulder and the butt doesn't move or go anywhere differently when shots are fired, whether it's had extra weight added or not.
The added weight just makes the gun heavier (ie: think bench gun) creating more inertia for recoil to try and overcome, reducing recoil induced movement, reducing effects on the shooter.
No different than if the shooter gained a lot of weight in his upper body.
Others mileage may vary...


ACCURACY AT 100yds
Generally speaking, modern barrel and component quality is capable of far better results than shooter's ability to wring those results out of them
Using 'stumpkiller's' suggestion several years ago, I took a sheet of gaudy, bright, fluorescent hot pink paper, folded one edge over to make a large triangle, and stapled it on the 100yd target face with a point down in the middle of the bullseye...to be able to repeatedly, precisely place the bright sharp point of that triangle on the tip of the front bead for every shot.

I then ran tests to prove / disprove the suspected old wives tale claim of high power PRBs loads being inaccurate due to "skipping the rifling" in T/C's standard 28" x 1:48" x shallow groove barrels in .45/.50/.54cal Flintlocks, using 90grns Goex 3F, .018" pillow ticking, and Hornady .440"/.490"/.530" balls.

They all printed within 1+7/8" to 2+3/4" groups.
The key was the precise aim point each and every time.
(and proved the old wives tale to be just that, an old wives tale)

 

[Rifleman1776]

Lot of good suggestions so far. Yes, 100 yard shooting is more about the shooting than the rifle. Think benchrest/sniper control. Some of the groups mentioned would win major benchrest competitions. For open sights and a rifle not designed for long range shooting (e.g. benchrest, chunk gun, X-sticks, etc.) think minute-of-deer and you will get happy results.

 

[asbrown]

:thumbsup: I have to agree with the others. My GM 54 shoots under 6" 5 shot stings at 100. I'm trying to work it down to 4" but it's definitely minute of deer.

 

[necchi]

ACCURACY AT 100yds
They all printed within 1+7/8" to 2+3/4" groups.
The key was the precise aim point each and every time.
,, an old wives tale

OMG.

 

[capt_turk]

You can actually SEE the target at 100 yards???? :bow: ........ :rotf: