05-20-2011, 03:55 PM
Gents, thanks to you both for the replies. LR, I'll answer the questions you posed.
1. Smallest possible group? From a bench, most of the groups I shoot hover around 1 to 1.5" at 100 yards (this with not only the heavy bbl Grendel but with a HB .223 and .308, too). I believe my HB Grendel with Les Baer tube should be consistently sub-MOA capable. Though I'd like to shoot 1/4" group after 1/4"group, I think a more realistic, consistent number is in the 3/4" range, with the occasional group into the .5" range. This at 100 or similar MOA at 200 because those are the only distances to which I have frequent access.
2. Breathing pattern? Inhale deeply a few times to oxygenate my blood (but not to the point of lightheadedness), final full breath, exhale half breath and hold, squeeze trigger.
3. Reticle pattern? From point of hold at 100 yds, the reticle jumps toward 2:00-ish approximately .5" to 1" with every heartbeat. However, after the beat, though the reticle settles, I find that it doesn't always settle exactly to my point of hold, perhaps another .25" of slop. Even if I do manage to time the break of the shot between heartbeats, I'm still dealing with anywhere from a quarter to half inch of uncertainty in shot placement at 100. Does that make sense?
4. What have I done to eliminate the heartbeat artifact? Bagging the rear of the gun as solidly as possible minimizes but doesn't eliminate the artifact. Even letting the gun free recoil, contacting the gun with hand on pistol grip and cheek on stock only, shoulder not touching the buttpad, still doesn't eliminate the artifact. Shooting the gun in a field-type position, with the aid of a bipod only while supporting the butt or grip with my off hand/arm, significantly exacerbates the artifact.
My intent is to try to test the mechanical limits of the gun as best I can so when I am in the field I know, in theory, what margin of error I need to accept with my aim. I don't feel like I'm quite there, yet. That last 1/4 MOA sure is elusive!
1. Smallest possible group? From a bench, most of the groups I shoot hover around 1 to 1.5" at 100 yards (this with not only the heavy bbl Grendel but with a HB .223 and .308, too). I believe my HB Grendel with Les Baer tube should be consistently sub-MOA capable. Though I'd like to shoot 1/4" group after 1/4"group, I think a more realistic, consistent number is in the 3/4" range, with the occasional group into the .5" range. This at 100 or similar MOA at 200 because those are the only distances to which I have frequent access.
2. Breathing pattern? Inhale deeply a few times to oxygenate my blood (but not to the point of lightheadedness), final full breath, exhale half breath and hold, squeeze trigger.
3. Reticle pattern? From point of hold at 100 yds, the reticle jumps toward 2:00-ish approximately .5" to 1" with every heartbeat. However, after the beat, though the reticle settles, I find that it doesn't always settle exactly to my point of hold, perhaps another .25" of slop. Even if I do manage to time the break of the shot between heartbeats, I'm still dealing with anywhere from a quarter to half inch of uncertainty in shot placement at 100. Does that make sense?
4. What have I done to eliminate the heartbeat artifact? Bagging the rear of the gun as solidly as possible minimizes but doesn't eliminate the artifact. Even letting the gun free recoil, contacting the gun with hand on pistol grip and cheek on stock only, shoulder not touching the buttpad, still doesn't eliminate the artifact. Shooting the gun in a field-type position, with the aid of a bipod only while supporting the butt or grip with my off hand/arm, significantly exacerbates the artifact.
My intent is to try to test the mechanical limits of the gun as best I can so when I am in the field I know, in theory, what margin of error I need to accept with my aim. I don't feel like I'm quite there, yet. That last 1/4 MOA sure is elusive!