shooting

[catdaddy]

how many yards should an average joe be able to accuratley hit a paper plate with a good rifle

[Dom]

There's really too many variables to answer the average joe question. From the bench? Modern, scoped rifle? Freehand? The distance will be cut down drastically depending on what the conditions are, but I'd say from the bench, modern scoped rifle, most will hit at 100 meters. But take into consideration hunting conditions, and without practice, most would be lucky to hit that 'plate' at 100 meters, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[L. Cooper]

What Dom said.

I can always hit a plate at 100 yards standing, freehand, but it will be a lousy group. At 150 yards I don't always hit it.

With my shooting sticks I can always hit a plate at 300 yards. I've never shot at a plate from a proper bench rest; if I'm on a proper bench I'm always testing something and need more precise targets.

Every rifle I shoot has a scope on it. Iron sights would, with my aged eyes that no longer focus properly, make 75 yards a tough plate shot.

I shoot somewhat less than 500 rounds of center fire amunition a year, so I'm a long way from an expert, but am I average?

Way too many variables to answer the question definitively.

[Gil Martin]

What position, standing, sitting, prone or from a bench? There are so many variables it is hard to say. All he best...
Gil

[catdaddy]

no i can hit a paper plat easily with scopes at 200 paces, i am talking good old iron sights shooting while resting your gun aganist a chair or shooting sticks,but no bench

[BILLY D.]

If you can't hit a 8" plate at 100 yards/meters you need some serious exercise, hit the weight bench and lots of practice.

Fact is at that range I'd say a 4" group is lousy. But it takes practice and a good gun.

Best wishes, Bill

[Talon]

Hello Catdaddy

Well, in June 1874, During a battle at Adobe Walls, Texas. Buffalo Hunter Billy Dixon took his Sharps sporting rifle and shot a Kiowa indian off of his horse at 1538 yards.

Does that answer your question? :D

Peace
Talon:cool:

[gd357]

The only arguement about that is the fact that he shot more on most days than most of us do in our best weeks... probably our best months. So i doubt you could call Dixon and "average joe".

gd

[HPBTMTCH]

GD`s right, Billy Dixon was far from average. From what i`ve seen here, since this is a "shotgun" state, i have met few shooters that have shot at anything past 100 yards. Of the guys that show up here every year that are going Elk hunting or at least out west, very few have shot more than 20 rounds period, with their selected rifle. Pretty much all can hit a paper plate everytime from the bench, but off a knee, or off hand, it`s a different story. Catdaddy, does accuracy mean shooting 3 out of 3 or 4 out of 5? And at what point do you say I`m ready, when you can hit 9 out of 10 at 100, or 10 out of 10? Whats everyone think? How many rounds at 100, allowing for cooling, how many do you think could be shot in a row?

[gregarat]

My record shot on a Whitetail was between 80-90y. My average is 25y or less.

Like everyine said. If you can hit a pie tin at 100y, in a off hand position. You are good to go.

[catdaddy]

are you talking should i hit with a scoped rifle at 100 yards ,or iron sights at 100 yards

[skb2706]

Originally posted by catdaddy
how many yards should an average joe be able to accuratley hit a paper plate with a good rifle

The exact same distance that he should attempt to shoot any legal game animal...not one inch past that.

Don't know any average "joes" but if i did assuming he was using a modern high powered rifle, decent ammo from a kneeling field position and an "average paper plate" (if there is such a thing) 150 yds.

[catdaddy]

listen i dont have a rifle with a scope, how far should i shoot with iron sights

[L. Cooper]

Only as far as you can shoot accurately. Only you can know that. Only testing can tell you.

You will have to take the gun to a range and shoot it until you know how far away you can hit a target that is the size of the animal's vital area.

You're not getting a specific answer because there isn't one.

[Riposte1]

I recall reading an article in Outdoor Life when I was a kid (they had just invented paper back then...when I was born the Dead Sea was only sick :) ).

Anyway, some F&W service contrived to take paper plates to the field and ask hunters to volunteer to shoot at them at increasing range until they missed one shot.

I was totally shocked to find that the average was 18 yards!!!!! No I did not miss a zero. Actually they had to change their test from starting long and working in. They were surprised also. Today with a lot more experience under my belt (much at public, L.E. and Military ranges) I dont doubt that as much.

OTOH, I would be greatly shocked if the "average joe" who subscribes to this list could not multiply that range by 5 or even 10 times.

Riposte

[catdaddy]

is that true, thats how far i pracitse shooting my bow from

[GoodOlBoy]

catdaddy I practice at 100 and 200 yards with iron sights. 200 yards is a STRETCH for me because my eyes arent great. But I am comfortable with open (IE IRON) sights at 100-125 yards easy.

GoodOlBoy

[Riposte1]

Originally posted by catdaddy
is that true, thats how far i pracitse shooting my bow from

It must be true, it was written in a magazine :) Many is the time I wish I had saved that magazine because I amnot sure who wrote it. It was written in the 60s when I would have thought there were a higher % of good rifle shots afield.

I am not sure it was the same article but around that time there was also the article of a Game Warden in my home state of Ky who challenged a lady to shoot his watch. This because, her husband and her both had deer shot in the exact same place and the warden was actually implying that the husband had shot both of them.

Unfortunately for him the woman was "Plinky" Topperwein - he kept the "holy" watch as a souvinier :D

Riposte

[PJgunner]

Well, if we are talking using iron sights only, I might be able to keep most of my shots on a 12" paper plate. Might even be able to do it on an 8" paper plate if I use a receiver (peep) sight. I'm too damned near sighted to see the sights properly and where I have straight glasses or the variable bifocals, I can't see the sights worth smelly stuff.:( However, if we are talking using a scope, I should be able to keep all my shots on the 8" plate in the offhand position without too much difficulty and the wind ain't blowin' my fat carcass around.:rolleyes: from a sitting position, all my shots should be in the plate in a reasonable sized group to at least 300 plus yards, and all will be in a 12" plate at 500 meters. Note that an 8" plate is about the size of the kill zone on the average Mule Deer and the 12" plate on an average sized bull elk. I practice the offhand position at 100 yards and from the stting position from 200 yards to 500 meters. As I get closer to hunting season, I do this twice a week. Pays off out in the field.
Paul B.

[Wahnie]

That depends.

From a bench, I'd say at 300 hundred yards you should be able to hit it every time with a decent rifle.

From a makeshift rest that you might use in the field (tree limb, shooting sticks, backpack, etc) I'd say 200 yards.

Offhand I'd say 100 yards.

Edit: Thats for scoped rifles. Open sights will obviously be a bit closer unless you've got some awesome vision.