Shooting from a decent rest with decent ammo you should be looking for 1/2" at 50 yards as a goal. Lots of variables at work, of course, from the thickness of the scope reticle all the way down to the trigger finger. A good chamber & barrel comes first, followed by quality ammo, with a crisp, not too heavy trigger being not far behind.

 

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I agree with Sophia ... 1/2" @ 50 yds. is the standard and very achievable with the average rifle and/or scope combination ... The proper sights and a good trigger are VERY helpful ... And ofcourse, practice, practice, practice !

 

With the rifle you describe, I agree 1/2" is a good goal, and reasonable with decent ammo.

 

I suspect 1/2" at 50 yds. would be a bit optimistic for most rifles, but the question really begs for more info. For example, what wind conditions, what ammo, how many shots to a group, what scope, solid bench, rest & rear bag or just a bipod or shooting off the hood of a pickup, and so on.

Whenever you see a rifle or barrel manufacturer guaranteeing 1/2" groups, it's usually a fairly pricey rifle or (10/22 barrel), 5-shot groups using match ammo. I wouldn't expect a $100 rifle/scope combination to do this, especially with bulk ammo and anything more than dead calm winds. It ain't as easy as it sounds.

 

I would expect a 22RF "target" rifle to shoot 1/2" groups @ 50 yds- that is close to the diameter of the X ring of the 50 yd target and would result in a perfect score. But there are always the shooter/ ammo/ conditions that may or may not be able to do it. I would say 3/4"-1" for a typical hunting rifle.

 

Thanks for all the speedy replies and great info. I can get 1/4" to 3/8" 5-shot groups from my Remington Model Five bolt action 22LR shooting Federal Champion 40gr RN lead, bench resting on a couple of sand bags in light variable crosswind. So, let's see what happens in the Spring at 50 yards with a bit more practice and maybe better bag rests. Right now I am using a couple of old leather purses filled with aquarium gravel (which is a bit too squishy to be consistently stable)

 

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2mene22s ,,, Thinking about it, I have to agree .... I've shot alot of inexpensive 22's, but before they'd shoot 1/2" @ 50 yds. some trigger and stock work had to be done .... AND ,,, even then ofcourse they would't do it every time ... Shooting 1/2" consistantly is no "piece of cake" !

I don't want to give the wrong impression, but that's a goal worth trying to achieve ... Shooting 1/2" groops "once in a while" will keep you coming back !

 

Itching to try but winter weather is not going to let it happen for quite a while :-(

 

My consistant objective is half inch edge to edge groups at 50 yds regardless of the rifle or ammunition. I also like to see no flyers. I pretty much expect 1" groups even with cheap promotional ammo, but it is not always consistantly achievable. Truthfully, half inch groups are hard to shoot some days even with good rifle and ammunition.

 

I would be happy with 1/2" groups, at 50 yards, for a hunting/plinking rifle.

 

I'm impressed. Well, OK, skeptical. I want to see five 5 shot groups all on the same paper from 50 yards. I'll trust you. Because, after all, a single 5 shot group doesn't mean much. And yes, I realize that some are saying it's a goal, and not necessarily easily expected, but I have a feeling some of you are optimistic and are going to be surprised just how hard it is to shoot 0.5" c-t-c groups at 50 yards with ANY .22LR. Please, make a liar out of me. Let the picture posting begin.
gkn

 

This should be interesting! All my available targets are 25 yard ones. Maybe I should put on the snowshoes and head for the gravel pit first day above freezing.

 

Hi Gerald,
Fine shooting, no doubt, but did you read the original post?
gkn

 

Strive for 1/2" or better - but don't be disapointed with 1" groups, or anything in between when they happen (and they will). IMHO if you want 1/2" or better groups you're going to have to spend some money for a quality rifle, good ammo, good sights, and be prepared to practice good shooting disciplines all the time for a long time.

 

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Hmmmmmmmmm ,,,,,,, Looks like you've done that before ?

 

A good rifle helps - This is par for the course, with hunting ammo @ 50yds through my peep-sighted ca. 1955 Marlin 39a levergun.

.

 

Pete I meant to tell you that's some danged fine shooting with the 39A and irons, I know that put a big smile on your face.:bthumb:

 

How's that, CZ American .22lr... that more like it?

Oh and I paid $1200 for the Annie. I love a bargain. I actually missed the $1000 disclaimer in the OP, sorry.

 

Now that's cool. It may take a while but I'll see what my nice little Rem Model 5 can do.

 

I'm just an old fart plinker who wants to improve my plinking skills. Not interested in expensive guns or expensive ammo. Just wondering if my skills are up to at least average.

 

The average rifle, shot by the average shooter will come closer to .75 inch groups on average than .5, lots of folks here (including me) spend way too much time and energy tuning our rifles and tweaking them and their ammo. It can be daunting to the new folks, so basically ignore us and have fun with your rifle. SERIOUSLY :bthumb:

 

lots of folks here (including me) spend way too much time and energy tuning our rifles and tweaking them and their ammo.

What? Too much time fiddling with guns? Is that possible?

.

 

When you get down to 1/2 or better 3/8 get some USBR targets and give em a go.

If using iron sights get some A23/5 targets and shoot that at 50 yards. Some shooters make 200 very regularly. I can do 195 pretty often.

Try it-you are only shooting against yourself. Post your scores below. There wont be much activity till Apr/May. I thought about going today. 35 degrees and trying to be foggy.

 

Excellent advise here too, I missed shooting with those guys last year, hopefully me and my Brno model 4 and Rem.40xb will get to rejoin the fun this year.

 

Here is what you do to determine the acceptable group size in your neck of the woods for a hunting/plinking .22. First you shoot 10 squirrels, check. Then you measure the major diameter of all their skulls. Add them all and divide by 10, then subtract .22 of course and viola you will have the perfect group size for your rifle :bthumb:

Just kidding.. I would say anything under and inch for most people from most rifles would be considered good enough for such shooting. Sure you can get older and cheaper rifles to shoot really well with some coming stock in such a way but do not expect it.

It all depends what is acceptable and makes you happy. For most people Minute of Squirrel Skull is all they ever need. I shoot silhouette and test ammo for accuracy at 100 meters and hope to keep that under and inch or so at most with a $$$$ custom Annie 1712. My old CZ could do it as well but not as easily nor nearly as consistently with me at the trigger at least. Even shooting off a bench at 50 yards I would do something to open the group up with the CZ while the Annie just makes a tiny clover shape.

 

Keep it coming, this is enjoyable for a winter evening. Sure wish I had some targets to post.

 

Here is a 4 shot group using CCI Std. Vel.

25 to 50 yards.....I did bring my laser range finder...
But here is my sight in target the week before I went hunting.

Midwest Swiss

 

I also feel most will get close 5/8” to 1/2”( this is way more than sufficient for squirrels) a lot of the time from your avg. hunting rig where as a good rifle built for accuracy and targets will get a lot of less than 1/2” groups with a flyer here and there and using match grade ammo.0.525 is really ” almost” 0.450 and the other big thing is how often in one session you can be 0.495 and below or 0.395 and

well nice squirrel shooting but I really like the Camo job,very unique and nice colors,did you do it?

 

if my hunting rifle wouldn't shoot at least 1/2 at 50. i would be wasting a lot of ammo, and scaring alot of animals.

 

You’re dealing with an elite crowd here. They’re very knowledgeable & way above the average rimfire shooter.

The gold standard on this forum seems to be ¼” group’s @25yds & ½” group’s @50yds.

I guess I’m easier to please than most because in my perfect little world, ¾” to 7/8” group’s @50yds keeps me smiling. Those groups will hold the 10 ring on an a-23 target or easily hit the steal chickens @40 yds. Now if I was trying to shoot br with those groups I’d get a good spanking & sent home to my mama.

 

I aint as good as I once was but I'm almost as good as I used to be!:comeandge:AR15firin