Sorry for the copy and paste but this is a small segment I wrote for a Bergara page. Wade through some of the fluff and their's some decent info in there. Also, for what it's worth, I almost NEVER clean my rifles. I have found they shoot MUCH better dirty and I only clean when accuracy falls off.
There are lots of questions on accuracy that come up on this page and rightly so as everyone expects their gun to shoot. That being said, accuracy is not just a function of the gun itself, but a combination of a lot of variables, including those that we may dismiss or not even think about.
This will be a long post but I am hoping that it will be helpful, especially to those newer to shooting. I thought I would take some time and make a few observations about some of the variables that go into shooting a rifle accurately and consistently, mainly as a help for new shooters but certainly a reminder to those of us who have a little bit more time behind the trigger. This certainly will not be an exhaustive list but more of a culmination of things I have learned the hard way as I have gone from purely hunter to recreational target shooter.
In my case, I consider myself an average shooter at best as evidenced by the fact that I have some really good days at the range and some really bad days. My main focus for improvement in the last couple of years has been on increasing consistency as I know if I do my part, I have certain rifles that will consistently shoot sub ½ MOA groups.
First let me say that an accuracy problem can absolutely be an issue with the gun itself. I don't think any of us would deny that these issues have happened, though they are extremely rare. However, before deciding that you got a lemon, here are some things to consider. Again, this list is primarily for people who are newer to shooting as most of you veterans are probably doing most of this a second nature.
1. Optics system, accessories and torque values – I lump these together because there is a great post in the "Announcements" section of this page outlining all of the things to check. I won't rehash that here but check out that post to read about the affects of bases, rings, action screw torque, suppressors, brakes, etc.
2. Rest – Make sure that your rest is solid and comfortable to shoot from if you are at the range shooting for groups. Shooting from a card table or off the hood of pickup are not going to be nearly as consistent as shooting from a solid table with a good front rest and rear bag. A little wobble in your rest can cause tons of variation.
3. Recoil and flinching – Make sure that you are not flinching or anticipating the shot as this can greatly affect accuracy. Having a friend load your magazine and randomly inserting a snap cap round will help you to see if you have any issues with flinching or anticipating the shot. I think this is why we sometimes see more issues with accuracy with heavier recoiling, .30 cal and up rifles than we do with the mild recoiling rifles in 6MM or 6.5 CM. I know for a fact that I shoot my 6.5's more consistently than my 30-06's which is a direct reflection of my skill, or lack thereof.
4. Ammunition – Some rifles seem to be pickier than others in regards to ammunition. I have found my 6.5's to like a greater variety of ammo than my 270's or 30-06's. That being said, try several different ammo types and several different grain weights to see which ones group the best. Don't worry about hitting the actual bullseye, just see what ammo prints the smallest groups. When you find the best ammo for YOUR gun, then sight it in to your liking. Remember, just because your buddy's HMR shoots XXX brand ammo the best doesn't mean yours will have the same results with the same ammo.
5. Practice – I think one of the things we neglect the most is practice. A lot of us feel like we have picked up and awesome rifle and we should be able to shoot it well regardless. The truth is, it takes a fair amount of skill and practice to consistently shoot really good groups. Practicing consistent cheek weld, trigger pull and site alignment are crucial to shooting consistently good groups and this will not happen without shooting a fair number of rounds each year. This is also the reason that it is much easier to shoot a 14 lb. rifle accurately than a 7 ½ lb rifle. The weight of the rifle can make up for some of the issues from lack of practice. A great way to practice is with a .22 long rifle that is set up as close to the specs as your target rifle as possible. A .22 is cheaper to shoot and much easier to focus on ingraining the fundamentals without worrying about recoil. Also, don't underestimate the importance of dry firing to work on consistent trigger pull.
6. Having a bad day – We all have bad days at the range and some days you just don't have it. I have taken out my Premier Stalker in 30-06 and sighted it in, shooting a group that measured .48". A couple of weeks later I took that rifle out to practice, shot rounds from the same box of ammo and shot it just under 1.5". I didn't shoot any rifle well that day and I just chalked it up to a bad day. Maybe I had too much coffee, I wasn't focused or my mind was on something else, but something caused me to have issues.
