Expected accuracy at 50y with spring gun.

[Harrympope]

I'm not quite sure of the mentality of Shooters on your side of the pond but here in the US everybody likes to claim one hole groups at 50 yards with their favorite 17 Springer.

For me if I'm shooting an inch 5 shot groups I'm quite happy but will occasionally get some in the half inch range. When I'm shooting from a kneeling unsupported field position if I get under 1.5 inches I'm quite happy.

What is acceptable for you guys in general? Not the best group ever but what you consider a good 17 caliber 12 foot pounds Spring Gun avge at 50 yards?

[TORNADOS7]

Not sure really as I suspect most of us on this side of the pond only really concern ourselves at the most with sub 40yds, I watched a video on YouTube earlier '.22 vs .22' where a 'Walther LGU' out shoots a 'Ruger 10/22' at 50yds, I would say the group was probably 3/4 inch apart from one flyer, the 'Ruger' on the other hand was probably 1.5inch, at 50yds I'd be fairly happy with a sub 1 inch group although I'd not be overly impressed by it !...

Ps, that would be .22cal...

[Brian.Samson]

I expect to be able to completely cover a group with a £1 coin at 55 yards. I don't discount shots as 'flyers', I think that's just kidding yourself.

[air-tech]

With a springer, less than 1" is good going.

The reality is that many people shoot "groups" that are way too small in number of shots and then claim nonsensical group sizes. What they have is a small sample, and the smaller the sample the smaller the size of the "group" and the outlandish accuracy claims that follow. It's all to do with a misunderstanding of statistics and randomness.

Personally think any group of less than 10 shots is pretty worthless as an accuracy test, and as Brian says, or a modification thereof, flyers should only be counted as such if it is very evident that something seriously wrong has happened, i.e. a pulled shot, perhaps a gust of wind out of no-where, etc, not as a convenient means of condensing a realistic group size into something from the realms of fantasy.

[air-tech]

Not sure really as I suspect most of us on this side of the pond only really concern ourselves at the most with sub 40yds, I watched a video on YouTube earlier '.22 vs .22' where a 'Walther LGU' out shoots a 'Ruger 10/22' at 50yds, I would say the group was probably 3/4 inch apart from one flyer, the 'Ruger' on the other hand was probably 1.5inch, at 50yds I'd be fairly happy with a sub 1 inch group although I'd not be overly impressed by it !...

Ps, that would be .22cal...

A standard skinny barelled 10/22 is easily outshot by a good airgun with matched pellets, but having said that, .22LR are also fussy feeders, and the rounds must be matched to the gun.

An airgun outshooting MY 10/22 however, that's a different matter

[ashf9999]

I expect to be able to completely cover a group with a £1 coin at 55 yards. I don't discount shots as 'flyers', I think that's just kidding yourself.

£1 coin - that's about 7/8" for our American friend. With a spring gun at sub-12ft/lbs (UK limit without a firearms licence) that would be good.

[TonyL]

£1 coin - that's about 7/8" for our American friend. With a spring gun at sub-12ft/lbs (UK limit without a firearms licence) that would be good.

The correct rifle / pellet combination will perform to this standard.

Most shooters (myself most definitely included) can't, especially repeatedly, which is what counts.

Brian, as per his user tag, has the correct credentials.

[lensman57]

I shot a 3/8" 5 shots group this afternoon at AIR shooting range @ 42 yards, using my AA Prosport .177 and Weirauch F and T special pellets (same as the H and N FTT).
I then had two more goes and I couldn't better less than 1" five shots groups. Two or three were touching each other and then two or three about an inch off the center. The gun is firing the F and Ts @ 780 ft/s or about 11.6 Ft.lbs.

A.G

[Harrympope]

With a springer, less than 1" is good going.

The reality is that many people shoot "groups" that are way too small in number of shots and then claim nonsensical group sizes. What they have is a small sample, and the smaller the sample the smaller the size of the "group" and the outlandish accuracy claims that follow. It's all to do with a misunderstanding of statistics and randomness.

Personally think any group of less than 10 shots is pretty worthless as an accuracy test, and as Brian says, or a modification thereof, flyers should only be counted as such if it is very evident that something seriously wrong has happened, i.e. a pulled shot, perhaps a gust of wind out of no-where, etc, not as a convenient means of condensing a realistic group size into something from the realms of fantasy.

I agree you can't just call it a flyer because it didn't land in a group. As far as anything but 10-shot group being worthless I'll have to disagree. I believe multiple 5 shot groups are fairly good representation of accuracy. I think 10 shot groups the human factor and changing conditions becomes more prevalent and the mechanical accuracy of the gun isn't generally the issue.

[Harrympope]

Thanks for all the replies it sounds like I'm right in there with my expectations for standard power .177 at 50 yards.

I once posted a question about an HW 30 .177 on a usa forum with a color in the title . and an a gentleman responded with "always shoots under 1" and often under 1/2" in good conditions all the time at 50 yards".... REALLY!!! Two shot groups?
You fellows over here seem to be a bit more honest.

[junglie]

Thanks for all the replies it sounds like I'm right in there with my expectations for standard power .177 at 50 yards.

I once posted a question about an HW 30 .177 on a usa forum with a color in the title . and an a gentleman responded with "always shoots under 1" and often under 1/2" in good conditions all the time at 50 yards".... REALLY!!! Two shot groups?
You fellows over here seem to be a bit more honest.

I bet if you measured out 50 foot & placed a target there most of these "marksmen" would tell you it was 50 yards when asked to estimate the distance.....

[Harrympope]

I bet if you measured out 50 foot & placed a target there most of these "marksmen" would tell you it was 50 yards when asked to estimate the distance.....

No kidding it's like when guys tell me they shot their deer at 500 yards. Then I take them to the shooting range and they look at the 200-yard berm and say" is that 600!"
But lately here in the USA with range finders, Mil Dot Scopes etc. Everybody is a sniper and every animal that is ever shot is at least 600 yards!

[lensman57]

No kidding it's like when guys tell me they shot their deer at 500 yards. Then I take them to the shooting range and they look at the 200-yard berm and say" is that 600!"
But lately here in the USA with range finders, Mil Dot Scopes etc. Everybody is a sniper and every animal that is ever shot is at least 600 yards!

Yep, and pigs do fly at times, with the wind behind them of course.

A.G

[Mark A]

There are plenty of videos on youtube of 5p sized groups.

[RobF]

I expect to be able to completely cover a group with a £1 coin at 55 yards. I don't discount shots as 'flyers', I think that's just kidding yourself.

Agreed. Discounting flyers is ignoring an issue no matter what the reason for it.

Also 5 shot groups are pretty pointless.