What is an Accurate Rifle? Definition of an Accurate Hunting Rifleįirst the shooter needs to define – what is an accurate hunting rifle? This is simple if the rifle will be used out to 300 yards or beyond, it will need to be capable of grouping 1” (one inch) or less at 100 yards.

Many times, clients have had to give up after their rifle shot all over the target at the range and use one of our back up rifles for their hunt. Of the in-accurate rifles that come here, some have been brand new high end designs, others have been basic production sporting rifles. I remember many years ago a gunsmith said to me, you will never see an accurate rifle on a gun store wall as nobody will sell a good rifle, so true. Think about that, for every ten rifles you are seeing on the gun store walls, two at most, will be accurate and these, in my experience have been more of a fluke than good management. Unfortunately we are finding that eighty percent of the rifles brought here for hunting are not capable of even basic accuracy.

I then ask each client to check their rifles carefully to ensure that the rifle is both accurate and zeroed appropriately for the ranges we will encounter. Before each hunt, I advise clients that long shots of around 300 yards are very common on our hunting blocks.

As a hunting guide the biggest problem I am faced with (besides locating game) is in-accurate rifles.

Rifle trajectory table