How do you do your accuracy testing?

[rocsteady]

I am looking to see how you guys get good information on a particular round's accuracy if you don't have a dedicated bench rest and/or high magnification optic.

To get accurate info on if it's close to 1 MOA or not, do you:
-ever use an RDS?
-shoot from anything but prone if don't have a true bench rest?

Are you able to get good enough 100 yard groups with a RDS to be able to tell which of two different rounds is shooting better? (I have a 4 MOA Aimpoint R-1 RDS as the primary optic).

I was told to turn it down to lowest setting when zeroing (which I do at 50 yards for my HD setup) but can't recall seeing any serious accuracy testing done with anything other than a high magnification scope.

Would adding a 3x magnifier do the trick?

[pinzgauer]

Are you able to get good enough 100 yard groups with a RDS to be able to tell which of two different rounds is shooting better? (I have a 4 MOA Aimpoint R-1 RDS as the primary optic).

Personally, I find it very hard to do load development with a 2MOA RDS unless I exactly dial the bull size in to the perceived dot size. And even then it's not perfect. Where with even a low power scope (3 or 4x) I have no problem shooting to the rifle's & load capabilities.

I'm mostly shooting Grendel so 1/2-3/4 MOA off sandbags is fairly routine with glass, so the RDS is definitely my limiting factor.

And that's on it's lowest setting, on dimmer days. Bright days, harder still.

Love the RDS for fast shooting, but if you are wanting precision load development you'll probably get frustrated.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I am looking to see how you guys get good information on a particular round's accuracy if you don't have a dedicated bench rest and/or high magnification optic.

To get accurate info on if it's close to 1 MOA or not, do you:
-ever use an RDS?
-shoot from anything but prone if don't have a true bench rest?

Are you able to get good enough 100 yard groups with a RDS to be able to tell which of two different rounds is shooting better? (I have a 4 MOA Aimpoint R-1 RDS as the primary optic).

I was told to turn it down to lowest setting when zeroing (which I do at 50 yards for my HD setup) but can't recall seeing any serious accuracy testing done with anything other than a high magnification scope.

Would adding a 3x magnifier do the trick?

Generally for a carbine, I would not worry about accuracy testing if your running an RDS. You can shoot some pretty small groups with an RDS, but just remember your magnifying 4" at 100 yards by 3.

[Airhasz]

Personally, I find it very hard to do load development with a 2MOA RDS unless I exactly dial the bull size in to the perceived dot size. And even then it's not perfect. Where with even a low power scope (3 or 4x) I have no problem shooting to the rifle's & load capabilities.

I'm mostly shooting Grendel so 1/2-3/4 MOA off sandbags is fairly routine with glass, so the RDS is definitely my limiting factor.

And that's on it's lowest setting, on dimmer days. Bright days, harder still.

Love the RDS for fast shooting, but if you are wanting precision load development you'll probably get frustrated.

It's almost as frustrating as dropping another grand on some decient glass and a quality mount...

[rocsteady]

It's almost as frustrating as dropping another grand on some decient glass and a quality mount...

This is kind of the point, I'd like to see which of my reloads is the most accurate but trying to use what I've got as far as optics...

[T2C]

I test ammunition with whatever sight system I am going to use on the rifle. If I plan on using an Aimpoint, I use the Aimpoint for accuracy testing.

Without a bench available I shoot from the prone position with my support arm resting on a sand bag. One MOA with good ammunition is possible with irons or an Aimpoint if you focus on the basics.

[Safetyhit]

I test ammunition with whatever sight system I am going to use on the rifle. If I plan on using an Aimpoint, I use the Aimpoint for accuracy testing.

Same here. Maybe not the most precise but certainly the most practical.

[gashooter]

For load development and comparison between different bullets/ powders/loads, I use a cheap Tasco 3x9x50mm scope from walmart.
and shoot groups of 5 at .5" stick on "spots" like used at garage sales for price stickers. That along with a Chrony Alpha Master.

[Ironman8]

I do mine with a 10x scope shot from bean bag rests off a bench. I also test my loads with a SS Noveske barrel regardless of what rifle the particular load is intended for, since that is the one that wears the 10x glass. I figure if it shoots good there, it will at least shoot acceptable in my other guns.

I'll have to disagree with the thought that the accuracy doesn't matter for a carbine. You are reloading for two main purposes:

A) Cheaper ammo
B) More accurate ammo (if you do your job on the press)

So why throw away half of the advantages to reloading? My opinion is that if my rifle and optic package is capable of 2-3 MOA (RDS equipped carbine), then why allow your ammo to be 4+ MOA? Why not dial your ammo to be 1-2 MOA capable so that you know for a fact that your limiting factor isn't the ammo itself?

For me, precision ammo needs to be sub-MOA. Plinking ammo, or anything being run through a RDS equipped rifle, needs to be ~2 MOA or less.

Would a ransom rest be best for load workup? Sure, but I'm not spending the coin for that, nor do I get that anal about it. Besides, I am part of that "accuracy package" anyway. Not to mention, during the load workup process, I'm getting to work on my shooting fundamentals all at the same time.

Now, if you know you're a terrible shooter, then maybe you need to find a different way

[pinzgauer]

For load development and comparison between different bullets/ powders/loads, I use a cheap Tasco 3x9x50mm scope from walmart.
and shoot groups of 5 at .5" stick on "spots" like used at garage sales for price stickers. That along with a Chrony Alpha Master.

I also use a cheap 6x to test loads initially, but then move to the RDS. You really need 100-200 yards minimum to dial in loads and the RDS does not lend itself to bench precision at that range.

One of my grendel carbines is a consistent sub-moa gun with glass, but with RDS I'm doing good to consistently deliver 3 MOA even with a 2 moa dot on its lowest setting. And even that requires matching the bull size to the range.

But RDS was never intended for that use!


---sent from my PRC-104 using phonetics