Groupings

[u/Zorr101]

As a new PAL holder, I was was wondering; what distance should I check my groupings? What firearm do I use? (9mm, .223, .308 Win). And do you use a scope or iron sight? ( I know this is probably common sense for loads of people, but I’m newww)

[u/airchinapilot]

? What firearm do I use?

That's the great thing about this hobby. What do you want to own and shoot? Are you target shooting or intending to hunt? What catches your fancy?

Answer that question and the rest will follow.

[u/Zorr101 → u/airchinapilot]

I own all of them, and I usually just do target shooting. I just want to know, for each calibre firearm; what distance is best to see my grouping you know?

[u/airchinapilot → u/Zorr101]

Ok it wasn't clear when you said what firearm do I use.

For rifles I first boresight to make sure I am minute of paper (i.e. the barrel is at least pointed on target). Then I sight in at 50m. The principle is that if you can hit 50, you can also hit 200.

For handguns, it is about building proper presentation, stance and grip fundamentals first. Bring in the target in as close as your range will allow. ex. 5y. Ignore anyone sneering at you. When you can reliably group at the shortest range just keep moving it back in increments. IMO 50y is the most you should count on hitting a head sized target under ideal conditions.

[u/King-Moses666 → u/Zorr101]

Are you checking your grouping as in trying to shoot tiny groups to check your skill? Or are you meaning to sight something in?

To sight stuff in it depends on what gun it is and what your use case is. Example I sight my 22lr in at 50 yards, but know a guy who sights in for 300 yards. I have an easily adjustable scope so I can get every distance easily. He has an old convoluted scope and has different 22’s for different distances. So he sights it in for where he plans to shoot it.

If your checking groups for skill/fire arm capabilities it again depends on use case. Again with my 22lf I do a lot of grouping shots at 50. But I will also check my groups at 100-200 when testing ammo. Because I need my ammo to perform as close to 1moa as possible at 200 yards. Most people do not need that, but most people do not shoot competitions. So it all depends on what your goals are.

[u/DougMacRay617]

Rifle calibres 100m Pcc & similar 50m Pistols 25m Pistols can be closer as well depending on what kind of cadence you wanna work on.

As far as sights go you use what you got.

[u/BrotherLefthand]

You must be sub moa at 100yds with every rifle ever made. Sorry, bud.

[u/Borealbound → u/BrotherLefthand]

Minute of Moose should be good enough 

[u/Beers_n_Deeres]

What do you mean check your groupings? Like to see if you’re a decent shot regardless of caliber?

[u/mushman02]

Just shoot whatever tickles your fancy

[u/Previous-Season-8800]

Your eyesight and type of sights will matter as well. I'm farsighted, so if i dont have a tang peep or a thick ghost ring as the rear sight to create that depth of field, I find that iron sights are too blurry to shoot confidently past 50 yards (confidently being in headshot territory for groupings)

[u/shooptydoop]

Practice a ton with a good 22lr rifle if you’re trying to get into good habits to shoot accurately. A good bolt action if you want accuracy. It’ll also be cheaper. Once you get decent groupings, increase distance or go up in caliber if you want. There’s no set path really. Use whatever sight you want - it’s not just about hitting the bullseye, it’s about consistency of keeping your shots together. You can always change/adjust/zero in your sight later.

[u/dgod40]

What are you trying to do with those groupings?

[u/TheRealTwooni]

The answer to your questions needs the fire arms being used and the scopes/optics being used