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Posted: 9/9/2006 10:32:06 PM EDT
  Heres the rifle  The first pic is 10rds at 50yds slow fire prone off a bipod.The second pic is some slow fire and some rapid fire at 100yds prone off a bipod.I was shooting federal ae.The rifle is a M1a loaded standard.So how is my accuracy.This is my forth time shooting this rifle.This rifle is awesome. I love it more every time i shoot it. Thanks, Andy |
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That's not bad Andy, your accuracy is right on, and your precision is ok. (Accuracy is having your group, no matter it's size, centered on target. Precision is the size of your group) I think raf means that a real test of your skills is not using the bipod as crutch. The highpower guys frown on that as they shoot with shooting slings and such w/o bipods and bench rests. Of course I could be the stirrer of the pot and say that they are relying on the leather sling as a crutch for their shooting too.  BTW I like to play at highpower shooting myself. Keep up the good work, it gets even better. Try the SR-1 target, it's smaller (a six inch black bullseye). you can download it from www.USPALMA.com. The huge B27 target with that vast area of blackness is not conducive to small groups, it's certainly realistic for combat practice shooting. Try that SR-1 target, that smaller target will make you hold tighter. That SR-1 target is the 200 yard target reduced for use at 100 yards used in highpower and service rifle type matches. That at a 100 yards and you would probably be able to get 2.5 to 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards. Once you find you can't shrink your groups with further practice, try the Federal gold medal match 168s. Or just try them with the bipod and see what your gun will do mechanically. (BTW if it's the military type bipod attached on the gas cylinder, it will impede mechanical accuracy, the commercial ones on the stock fore end work better) I have a "cheater" M1a myself, Nm barrel, Smith mount, leopold scope, mcmillan stock with a harris bipod. Shoots about and inch and a quarter when everything is going right. I shoot my M1a at a B21 (gray man) target for giggles too. above all else have fun with that great rifle! SoS |
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Thanks for all the replies.I'm not even close to where I want to be as far as my shooting.But I think it's a decent start.The bipod is a Taiwanese USGI bipod.I know i've got a long way to go on my shooting,but are there any cheap and easy things I can do to make my rifle more accurate.I know its already more accurate than I am so it's probably a stupid question. Another pic of the rifle.  Thanks, Andy |
Andy, Pick up a web usgi sling ($7-15) or a leather usgi 1907 sling ($35-50) and learn how to use them. You will be suprised at how tight a group you can shoot with iron sights and a properly used sling. sorry to tell you but that usgi type bipod will mess with your accuracy. So will any bipod that affixes to the gas cylinder or barrel. Cool accessory though. Not sure but I think the intent for that bipod was when the M14 was used on full auto in the automatic rifleman role similar to the BAR it replaced. In that role the bipod causing the rounds to disperse more is a good thing; gives a wider beaten zone. (wider hose nozzle effect) I'd say the cheapest way to improve your shooting is to dry fire at home (IT goes w/o saying to insure a safe and empty weapon) You will not hurt the rifle dry firing it. Get a sling and sling up in the living room and shoot at a small target across the room. I snap in on outlets in the prone or light switches offhand. Better to actually use a black headed push pin. This extra trigger time will give you feedback on your trigger control and breathing as well as allow you to work on stable shooting positions. Best of all it's free, no ammo, just time. You do that 3 times a week and then go shooting on the weekend and you will see a difference on paper as you are more in tune with your trigger and rifle. Any club that his a service rifle matches or high power should have someone around to show you the basics of position and how to use the sling. (Way faster than learning from a book on your own) Failing that find a marine, they all learned how to shoot with a sling . I don't think all army people get that training anymore. Books to read if you want, (google) Army Marksmanship manuals highpower rifle by David Tubb (i have it, it's geared toward bolt high power rifle shooting but covers all the important stuff, breathing, trigger control, sight picture, position, mindset, etc. he gets techie in spots but the dude can shoot like very few can) Jim Owens has some books too, often talked about but I have 0 knowledge of them BTW there are lots of knowledgeable people here and also on the M14.com forum. (way more knowledgeable than me) good luck Andy SoS\ BTW best place for a great quality 1907 leather sling is to buy direct from Turner saddlery and ask for a 2nd. They sell them for about $35 and you most likely will never find the cosmetic defect. I have two and don't know what the blemish was to make them seconds) And these are top shelf slings that meet or exceed the usgi specs. |
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I agree with Steelon Steel's comments with the one exception of the sling. Leather slings are costly, will stretch with use, will absorb water, and are tedious to adjust and care for. Not to mention expensive and relatively heavy. Highpower shooters use them, but some highpower shooters use the Vietnam-era Nylon GI M-14 sling in its place and they seem to do well. Here's what you do: forget buying a leather sling, and go go to fredsm14stocks.com and buy his "Guide To Becoming A Rifleman". Then get an O.D. Nylon GI M-14 sling (NOT the black M-16 "silent sling"). You will have the best reference work on how to shoot your M1A (the Guide is written with the M1A in mind, but its principles are universal and apply to all rifles). You will be out about the same money as buying a leather sling, but miles ahead in learning how to shoot. Trust me. Everyone who has used the Guide, and practiced the lessons therein, has told me that they have benefitted beyond their expectations. BTW, Owen's books, while geared toward highpower match shooters, are well worth the read. |
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Raf is right on the web slings. I still use my web slings. AR has never seen leather. Other benefits with the web sling is they are simpler to put on, simple to adjust while in position, and are infinitley adjustable for lenth, the leather is stuck in 1" increments. I've tried to use the leather more lately just because I never gave them a fair shake. I probably will always gravitate toward the web slings too as that's what I was trainted to use in boot camp. Watch the repro slings out there, I bought a cotton one for the M1 and the j hooks are soft and bend while installing on the rifle's lower sling loop. The Marine's have gone back to green for the nylon slings too, you can go retro and new at the same time! (probably still bouncing back and forth on crew and v neck t shirts too for that matter) SoS |
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Another alternative are the Turner All-Weather Slings (AWS). I shoot leather slings and they do stretch after a season of hard use. I found myself hiking my leather sling up by a notch or two after this last trip to Camp Perry. The AWS is a little tough to adjust, but doesn't stretch and is waterproof. I replaced the sling on my AR15 with one and really like it alot. A good book to start with is "Leather Sling and Shooting Positions" by Jim Owens. It will give you the basics from which to build on. My highpower mentor still recites the mantra... "a good position is worth two minutes of angle" My M1A started life as a loaded-standard model but made a trip to the gun-plumber for a national match tune-up. He's a retired USMC 2112 armorer and does phenomenal work. When I'm holding hard, the rifle will hold the 10-ring @ 600yards using Sierra 175's. http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/DSC04497.jpg I shot this group in the sitting position @ 200yds (NRA SR target). First two rounds were high followed by a sight correction. Ended up with a 99-1X. http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/DSC04497.jpg That's some good shooting Erebor. Stick with it and you'll be shooting those kind of groups without the bipod! |
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Another alternative are the Turner All-Weather Slings (AWS). I shoot leather slings and they do stretch after a season of hard use. I found myself hiking my leather sling up by a notch or two after this last trip to Camp Perry. The AWS is a little tough to adjust, but doesn't stretch and is waterproof. I replaced the sling on my AR15 with one and really like it alot. A good book to start with is "Leather Sling and Shooting Positions" by Jim Owens. It will give you the basics from which to build on. My highpower mentor still recites the mantra... "a good position is worth two minutes of angle" My M1A started life as a loaded-standard model but made a trip to the gun-plumber for a national match tune-up. He's a retired USMC 2112 armorer and does phenomenal work. When I'm holding hard, the rifle will hold the 10-ring @ 600yards using Sierra 175's. http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/DSC04497.jpg I shot this group in the sitting position @ 200yds (NRA SR target). First two rounds were high followed by a sight correction. Ended up with a 99-1X. http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/DSC04495.jpg That's some good shooting Erebor. Stick with it and you'll be shooting those kind of groups without the bipod! |
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