Hello,
Trying to set a challenging but achievable grouping goal for 100 yards shooting with my fx m4 sniper. I keep getting 1.5”-2.0” grouping in an outdoor set up with fairly low wind. I am shooting 22 cal slugs 34gr .217
@940-960fps range.
Any recommendation for a better grouping ?
Thanks
I have found that several FX liners (STX standard and heavy, across two different rifles) like .218 diameter slugs more than anything else, regardless of manufacturer (HN, JSB, NSA, etc). It does vary from liner to liner but I recommend you start here if you can get your hands on some. I really recommend the HN sampler packs.
In general though, achieving consistent 1" or better groups at 100 yards is much harder than it seems with an air rifle, with slugs! I compare it to shooting at 500 plus for centerfire...everything you do or don't do matters. A slight breeze that you may not be able to feel or read accurately at the bench matters at the target. Temperature variations during the day will affect your POI noticeably. Reg pressure plays a role, even if the velocity you are achieving is the same across different reg pressures. Also, air rifles are in my experience are quite hold-sensitive - it matters if you're shooting off bags, bipod, or whatever. Even the skin tension in your hand varying between different ways you hold the rifle will affect POI and grouping at distance.
The times I have been able to achieve consistent 1" or better grouping at 100 are frankly pretty rare (by that I mean multiple 5-shot strings at that level). When it has happened, it has been in the morning when it is dead calm, after I have shot a LOT previously (like over several days). It has been off of sandbags, and it has been after taking 3 or 4 purging shots prior to each shot string. It also takes being able to shoot 1/2" or better 5 shot groups at 50 yd over and over again.
All that to say I think 1" at 100 is a realistic goal. It just demands a lot from you as a shooter and your tune on the gun, to include slug selection.
