Range Report Why only 100yds?

[excaliber]

I have noticed shooters shoot their gun at 100yds and get 1/2 group and say I have found the right load. They are shooting
something like a 260,308,7mm WSM, 300Mag or 338 Mag or etc. Then they go out to xxx yds and wonder what happened.
Why even shoot a centerfire at 100yds for load development when you will be shooting it way further. Take that same gun
and load you got 1/2" group with and shoot it at 300yds. You think it will do 1.5" because you suspect it will be a 1/2 moa
gun/load? Start doing your shooting at 300yds and you will find out which combination works best. It will save you money
in the long run.

 

[Bluejazz]

I agree with your 300 yard assessment

 

[Copen1822]

#1 Not everyone has easy access to a range over 100yds for load development.

#2 I don't think bullets traveling in one direction at 100yds magically become less/more precise farther down range.

 

[Layton]

I would imagine that at 300yds the group sizes become weighted more on the shooter and less on the load.

L

 

[damoncali]

Wind. It's a lot easier to work up a load when wind has less effect on the group.

And a good load at 100 will be a good load at 1000 if the velocity spread is small enough. It's just easier to do at 100.

 

[coWSMasher]

1/2 moa is 1/2 moa. unless you have lots of velocity deviation or the round isn't stabilizing than range doesn't matter. Excluding exterior factors that is.

 

[coWSMasher]

and by shooting shorter ranges you exclude more external factors I do load development at 75 usually.

 

[excaliber]

A good group at 100yds may or may not be good at 1000yds. Your right, wind does play a factor but if the wind is calm, 300yd is where load testing
should be done. If gives high BC bullets time to fully stabilize. I`ve seen many high dollar rifles that are guaranteed 1/2 MOA at 100yds shoot
2" groups or worse at 200yds and even worse at 300yds.

 

[Copen1822]

I`ve seen many high dollar rifles that are guaranteed 1/2 MOA at 100yds shoot
2" groups or worse at 200yds and even worse at 300yds.

I think your barking up the wrong tree blaming the rifle.

 

[Andrevski762]

If gives high BC bullets time to fully stabilize. I`ve seen many high dollar rifles that are guaranteed 1/2 MOA at 100yds shoot
2" groups or worse at 200yds and even worse at 300yds.

Those arguments are mutually exclusive in my book, the stabilization argument (bunk, as far as I can tell) says groups IMPROVE past 100. And as the poster above said, a guaranteed 1/2 minute rifle at 100 is gonna be close to that at least at 200, if it isn't then I would look elsewhere than the gun. And if a load shoots 1/2 at 100 but 2" at 200, well find an example of that because I can't see a way that can be anything other than the shooter. 1/2 at 100 and 5 MOA at 1000 can be the load, but I can't imagine you would see a 4x bigger group from just 100 to 200 just from the load.

 

[Bluejazz]

Just because you have a good group at 100 does not necessarily mean it will be a good longrangehunting load.
If I have a promising load at 100 yds, it warrants shooting at 300 in calm conditions to verify it.
I have had loads at 100 not turn out at 300. If I find a load that shoots 1/2MOA or better at 300, I know it will be good further out. That is not always the case with a good load at 100 yards only.

 

[excaliber]

Bryan Litz even talks about it his book. Why do you think the ladder tests even exists? Take your rifle and if it shoots 1/2" at 100, then go to 300yds.
Very few loads will keep 1/2"moa group. Finding the right node, Extreme spread, Standard deviation comes in to play at longer distance. I used to
shoot 600yd Benchrest and after shooting thousands of loads, barrels, custom actions, I have to say that 100yd groups is a waste of time. 300yds
is where I will continue to shoot.

 

[damoncali]

You're making it more complicated than it is. You find a good load at 100 and make sure the velocity is consistent enough not to cause vertical dispersion at long range. That's all there is too it. You can do that at 300 if you like, but the results will be the same, except that it's harder to do at 300 because of the wind and sight picture.

 

[melloyello]

I guess my question is: Are we talking about shooting a group at 100yds to find a load that works or after a load has been found?
The farther you get out the more shooter error comes into play. And yes you may see .5" groups at 100yds and then 2" at 200 and worse at 300yds. If the shooter hasn't done his/her homework or chronagraphed the load then there may be an extreme spread issue in the load. The farther out you go the larger that group(to scale) is going to get.
I see nothing wrong with shooting groups at a distance farther than 100yds. I prefer to shoot groups at 100, 200, 300, 400, etc. If you do a ladder test and chronograph it then it puts you close enough to get on paper at those distances and not only can one get a group but you can measure the center of that group to get accurate dope for your load at each one of those distances. If the group holds at 1 MOA @ 500yds then I would say go with it. I would hope that everyone shoots groups out to their max distance and I would hope they are using a chrono throughout development also. If not, they may as well load one up and put it in their own foot.

 

[seanh]

I chuckle at the people that post 100 yard groups...not impressive at all (at least not for someone who's been shooting for a few years). What was the thread, something about "one hole"...got a kick out of most those groups, I could count impact rings.

I understand that some people only have 100 to shoot at but to think some .5" group is impressive?...guess some of us have higher standards. .5", Yea, I'd post it, if it were 300meters

 

[demolitionman]

I did all my load development this weekend at 100yds, mainly because I don't have a spotting scope yet, and the walk to and fro gets tiresome when the only way to the target is through a chisel plowed field. After getting my loads squared away and zeroed at 100 yds, I guesstimated 2650fps, then pulled the ballistics up on a 300 yd shot. I set out 2 2 liter bottles dialed the 13 clicks and blasted both. Good enough for me, for now. That's why I chose 100, partly because I'm not geared up to see impacts further than that and I have no idea if my form is worth a shit so it's less me and more gun. I just posted a shit ton of 100yd target posters. Check'm out ! I hope to next weekend post 250 yd targets!

 

[Andrevski762]

I understand that some people only have 100 to shoot at but to think some .5" group is impressive?...guess some of us have higher standards. .5", Yea, I'd post it, if it were 300meters

With the quote in your sig line I would have guessed you would be more tolerant of new people learning your art, but I guess copying and pasting wise sayings doesn't translate to attitude.

This isn't "Snipers Hide: Only Professional Marksmen Allowed." Many of us, myself included, are here to learn about the science and art of long range shooting, and to do so there is a learning curve. I'm not someone that seeks validation for every little step I take towards my goal, but some people genuinely need the input and approval of others more experienced than themselves to keep on pushing and learning. For many of us, the first big step is going from minute of deer cold bore shots to actually shooting groups for size, and yes this starts at 100 for most. There is a distinct feeling you're doing something right when you shoot that first sub inch group at 100 and many want to check that with their more experienced peers. That's cool to us noobs! Launching a tiny projectile 100 yards and having the 4 subsequent ones all hit really close to that?!? It's a great feeling when you first do it. I rarely see the most experienced people post their 100 yd groups, because like you they don't bother any more. But everyone has to start somewhere, and it's nice that most people remember that and are encouraging even if some aren't.

 

[Bluejazz]

Andrevski,
Good post concerning new people.
However, once you get your loads worked out at 100 yds, you really should try them out at further distances.
One of the best loads I have had after developing it at 300 yards, shot a 2"" group at 720 yds with 5 shots out my 338 Edge built by R Bros.
But besides groups, the most important factor for hunters should be cold bore accuracy.

 

[Rob01]

I test my loads at 100 and 300. I have found loads that shoot good at one and not the other but when I find one that works good at both it has always worked well too 1000+.

 

[bjay]

i think this the million times i saw this debate..my experience shooting 100 yard custom 260 groups .4 to about one inch on developing load.i tried same load direct to 600yard my .75moa on 100yd gave me 4" outside to ouside 5 shot first try.(dog shit? maybe) those almost bug holes group on 100yd they all gave me 5-6" on 600yard.so wheres the shooter error was it on the 100yard or 600yard.somoen told me before that some groups that great on 100 is not great on farther distance.some groupings 3/4 moa on 100 stay 3/4 moa up to farther distance..so which is true?

 

[wilecoyote]

it's only the first step, because if a load don't perform well at 100, will be wasted money try it at longer distances_ (bragging about it it's a different matter) _ of course, if you need a good performer at 300, the best insurance will be test it at 400, IF the distance is available _