The number of shots in a group affects the size: August 31, 2008

There’s a secret to shooting small groups. Simply shoot fewer shots. A three-shot group looks pretty convincing, and it is 60 percent easier to shoot than a five-shot group of the same size. A two-shot group is even easier and some shooters are so eager for bragging rights that they will settle for two close shots. Nobody has tried to put a one-shot group up for scrutiny yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone did… Dirt E. Harry

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 28, 2008

When the distance is stretched to 100 yards, the bragging group size is one inch. And, such groups have been shot, but they are even more rare than half-inch groups at 50 yards. The longer a pellet takes to fly to its target the more wind will influence it. I would rate a one-inch 100-yard group as four times more difficult to shoot than a half-inch 50-yard group… Dirt E. Harry

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 27, 2008

If 50-yard five-shot groups of one-half inch are possible, it stands to reason that there will be even better groups from time to time. Indeed, quarter-inch groups at 50 yards are not unknown. They happen with the same frequency as holes-in-one in golf or 300 scores in bowling…. Dirt E. Harry

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 20, 2008

You may read discussions about half-inch groups at 50 yards and they may sound easy, but they’re not. A half-inch five-shot group at 50 yards with an air rifle is the shooting equivalent of a par hole in golf or a bowling score of greater than 240. Everyone loves to talk about such things, but they are not as common as you might believe… Dirt E. Harry

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 16, 2008

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 16, 2008
As the range increases, so does the group size for all airguns. At 50 yards, a 10-meter target rifle will be shooting a group of three-quarters of an inch to one inch, while a top-quality sporting rifle like the AirForce Talon SS can shoot a half-inch group. Air pistols are pretty much out of the picture beyond 30 yards or so, but they can be fun to shoot at the longer distances if you like a real shooting challenge… Dirt E. Harry

What accuracy is possible with an airgun? August 13, 2008

At the same 10-meter distance, a nice sporter air pistol like the Webley Tempest or Weihrauch HW 75M will group five shots in one-tenth of an inch. A high-quality CO2 pistol like a Smith & Wesson 586 might group five shots in three-quarters of an inch and a low-cost CO2 gun like a Gamo P23 might shoot a 1-1/2″ to 2″ group. A lower-cost rifle like a Crosman 1077 might shoot a quarter-inch group at this distance, while a Benjamin Sheridan single-shot pneumatic might group in one-eighth of an inch… Dirt E. Harry

How to measure a shot group: August 11, 2008

You can measure the distance across the group with a common ruler marked in sixteenths of an inch or you can use a dial caliper that indicates thousandths of an inch. Whatever you choose, don’t kid yourself that a more precise measuring tool will make your measurements more accurate. This is a common mistake. Simply because you are measuring in thousandths doesn’t mean you are doing it accurately. It just makes the results sound more impressive, such as a 0.125″ group, compared to a 1/8″ group… Dirt E. Harry

How to measure a shot group: August 10, 2008

When you measure the group spread, don’t forget that most bullets except wadcutters will tear raggedly through paper instead of cutting a clean hole. You need to find the true edge of the two widest holes. In the beginning it helps to stick a pellet in the holes to visualize where the edges are. With some experience, it becomes easier to estimate where the edges are and you won’t have to use a pellet… Dirt E. Harry

How to measure a shot group: August 8, 2008

Measure a group by measuring the distance from the far edges of the two widest shots, and then subtract one bullet diameter to get the distance between the centers. If the two widest shots of a group of .22-caliber shots measures 1.220″ across their widest distance, the c-t-c distance is 1.0″. The math is simple, and it works the same for all groups and all calibers… Dirt E. Harry

How to measure a shot group: August 3, 2008

Measuring a shot group is not hard, but there are some things you need to know. The most common way of stating the size of a shot group is the distance between the centers of the two shots farthest apart. This is often shortened to the expression “center-to-center,” or “c-t-c.”…. Dirt E. Harry