The Standard For Accuracy

What is a reasonable expectation for accuracy of a standard factory revolver.

There are many variables so to simplify it, lets take a NIB Ruger in .44 magnum. I know Freedom Arms is not technically a custom firearm but it seems to be in a class of its own.

Lets assume it is for hunting purposes so lets say one is shooting close to maximum loads of hunting weight bullets and hunting type bullets and shooting from a ransom rest to remove shooter error.

What is a reasonable 5 shot group at 50 yards, and at 100 yards?

I haven't shot a lot of revolvers and the ones I've owned have been rugers and they were both extremely accurate but id say 2 inches and 4 inches should be reasonable and if the ruger is like mine id say half that or less...

You got to think you have 6 different chambers... My dad a a SBH in 44 mag and it would shoot 1 inch or less at 50 if you eliminated the one flyer it always sent...

For me
To consider accuracy. U need to eliminate as many variables as possible so a scope is necessary. I feel anything i consider accurate should have the ability to find a load that will hit 1? or less at 50 from a rest.

My personal standards for accuracy would be under 2" @ 50 yds and under 4" @ 100 yds. I say this using my hunting set ups. Actually that is how I determine what I will use at what distances. With good loads I have shot better groups with the same guns but not every time. The loads I am using are all minute of deer. So, what I choose is the one I have the most confidence in for that application.

This is gonna get interesting.

Yeah, I hope so.

If you only sought accuracy you could modify the revolver and the sighting system and the load in a way that would not be practical for hunting. Look at the various shooting competitions where that occurs. But for a practical, stock revolver and load, I am curious what the experienced hands here think.

I really hope some good shooter show their groups. I'm fairly new to shooting revolvers, started again after many years away from them. I find that I can shoot better than 2" groups at 50 yards with a S&W 617 .22 and a S&W 686 .357 both with 6" barrels and 3 mil dot red dot sights. I'm sure these guns can do better, I remember reading in the past that some hand gunners considered the .44 Magnum to be one of the most accurate of the big bores.

For me I want to see 1-inch or less at 50 yards. That is my expectation. I have had many revolvers that will do that from a variety of manufacturers. I usually use a red dot sight to achieve these goals, and if a revolver won't get there, I will typically send it down the road. The most consistently accurate revolvers I have seen of late are the BFRs.

Whitworth, I've read your book so I know you generally don't hunt with a scope on your revolver but those that will do 1" at 50 with a red dot, do you know what they can do with a scope?

I don't expect to do much better (in my case) as I don't really shoot groups better with a scope -- or rather I haven't experienced much of an improvement switching to a scope. To be fair, however, I haven't switched to a scope on many of my big-bores to see if things will improve. I can imagine that with a rest, most folks will shoot tighter groups with a scope. I tend to shoot tighter groups with a red dot for some unexplainable and probably illogical reason.

Which one of my books did you read?

The "Gun Digest Book Of Hunting Revolvers".

It got me so excited I bought a SW 629 .44 magnum revolver. Then I put a red dot on it (which I hunted with yesterday).

Talk about unexplainable and illogical stuff, I seem to be in a trend of selling off long guns and buying handguns suitable for hunting, including single shots. I want a single action next in 45 Colt but I want an accurate one and can't spend what a FA costs.

Adding to what I said before if I can't get 1 inch groups at 50 yards with almost any handgun I lose interest and will probably sale it.... I like accuracy and if I don't have minute of Pepsi can absolute minimum then im good

I would consider a BFR in your case. Priced right and typically accurate to a fault.

My S&W Model 460 surprised me the last time I shot it:

Five shots, .910" at 100 yards off a benchrest. The load was 200 grain Barnes XPBs over 46.0 grains of Accurate No.9. I would have been perfectly content with a group twice that size at that range.

This probably isn't the best standard to hold a revolver to, though. My 460 is more akin to a specialty pistol than a revolver in terms of size and shooting requirements.

Whitworth, I may be jumping to conclusions, but from the photos in your book it seems you may favor shorter barrels on your revolvers. Do you find this helps with the good accuracy you get?

If I can go a little off topic on my own thread, what are the factors that lead you to decide on a particular barrel length?

Well I can't answer for Whit but mine is legality which is minimum 5 inches here and how it carries and handles. Personally I like the feel and packing of 4 5/8 and it still shoots plenty good but its not legal for deer here. If you need barrel length solely for power you need a bigger cartridge...

Even when I have an optic on a revolver, I prefer a shorter barrel. I like 5 1/2-inches and shorter on a single-action. For me, it still needs to be packable and is the whole essence of handgun hunting. The shorter barrels have no bearing on accuracy. Some folks have trouble with the shorter sight radius when using open irons, but there is nothing inherently less accurate about a shorter barrel.

That's just a really accurate revolver, an accurate load, and great shooting. All the necessary elements are aligned here. You've done really well - keep it up!

Wow!

That's some fine shootin', Chance.

X2!

Nice shootin' with the shortie, reflex!

Sub MOA at with a revolver at 100 yards is always awesome.

Reflex, what model scope mount and rings do you have on that revolver?

Leupold mount and rings and a Leupold m8-2.5 EER scope. My eyes have become a little weaker since I shot that group. I am switching over to 2.5x8 scopes.

I like 4"@ 100 also.