'Bug-holes' at 100 yards...

[opencountry]

I've searched, and still cannot find the entry to a topic that was posted three or four days ago. The shooter, which I am certain is a seasoned and proven long-distant shooter, was speaking about shooting out to long distances like 1,000 yards, and stated that shooting a bug-hole group at 100 yards proves nothing if you're going to be shooting long-distant targets. I agree with this in part, but I want to ask this question - shouldn't a really nice group of shots at 600, 800 and 1,000 yards also produce a bug-hole at 100?

Robert

[semtav]

If I were trying to shoot bug holes at 100 yards, I wouldn’t be trying to do it with a bullet designed for shooting 600 yards or more. Too unstable at short distances. I would call Steve Brooks and have him make me one of his flat nosed bullet molds, .408 dia with 4 grease grooves, and weighing 330 grains. This is the correct bullet weight for the.40-2 1/2 Sharps for short range shooting. I think a few people shoot similar bullets at the chickens in silhouettes. Maybe they can chime in.

[77 sharps]

Robert

In my experience the short answer is no. I used to shoot a schuetzen match at 100 and 200 yards. 400 grain bullets in my 40 caliber rifles often shot the same sized groups at both 100 and 200 yards. 100 yard groups were better if they weighed less than 400 grains. Long range bullets being longer are less stable and wobble longer after leaving the muzzle, especially in a cross wind and more so for money bullets and other modern long range bullets.

Long range bullets give up some short range accuracy for substantial gains at longer ranges. I have not shot a Creedmoor match in some time, but if you doubt me, try it for yourself. To win a schuetzen you need to shoot the 25 out of the center of the target.

[kenny sd]

I was using a 395 MA Money in y 40 70 SS. OK but not consistent at 100.
I saw this thread and started using my 330 GG round nose. Better at the 100 so far.
Sharps load for this was 65 grains and a 330 GG. guess they knew.

63 swiss 1 1/2, one card two paper.
.408 body, .410 lower band. 1 in 16 cast.

[opencountry]

Thank you, everyone. I'm learning. I ordered a 500 gn. RN pp mould from BACO a year ago or more. I could not get that bullet to perform at 100 or 200 yds in my 45-110; shots were badly scattered. Might work wonders in my 45-90. The 540 grain pp MB from the same company shoots very nicely with the 111.0 gr. load of either Goex or Swiss in the 110.

Much appreciated,
Robert

[martinibelgian]

Fwiw, not my experience. For me, the heavier the bullet, the better the accuracy. Even at 100. Maybe I haven't yet found the right lighter bullet yet, but that's my experience up to now.

[opencountry]

Fwiw, not my experience. For me, the heavier the bullet, the better the accuracy. Even at 100. Maybe I haven't yet found the right lighter bullet yet, but that's my experience up to now.

It’s been my experience thus far as well. Although, I respect everyone’s personal achievements.
R.

[kenny sd]

Well, today I tried the 330 grain again and so so at best. Then I shot the 395 GG and they all went in one hole, dead center at 100.
2nd target was very close to that too.....
I'll stick wit the 395 and 63 1 1/2 swiss, one card two paper.
Ken

[opencountry]

Nice shooting, Ken! Nice shooting. ‘Instant gratification.’
Robert

[Nuclearcricket]

Distance can do a lot of things to a bullet as it moves along. Being able to shoot a small group close up is a good start but thats about all. I learned that this past week. Now granted I was only shooting a .22, but at 50 yds, nice tight cluster of holes. At 100 some nice groups, one was just 7/8" for 5 shots. Move out to 200 yards and thing will really change. My best at 200 was a group of 10 that was about 2 1/2" vertical and 5 horizontal. I do blame some of the horizontal to mirage, but not all of it. At that distance with little wind things really opened up.
Sam