Mossberg 100 ATR questions

[Guest fourspdRAT]

I have a Mossberg 100 ATR in .308 Winchester. I'm new to rifles and I'm struggling to shoot 2" groups at 100 yards. I've only shot 2 different types of ammo: Hornady Match 168gr BTHP, and Hornady Custom 150gr SST InterLocks. I was shooting off a bench, with the rifle on a bipod. I'm controlling my breathing and trying to be steady. I've done some dry firing practice and I'm not jerking the trigger. The scope is the 3-9 scope that came on the rifle. I know it's probably a cheap scope and I plan to replace it, but I would think it would be good enough for 100 yards. Anybody have any suggestions to help my accuracy?

[vujade]

scope not damaged and rings tight?

[Guest fourspdRAT]

scope not damaged and rings tight?

What went on during shipping, I have no idea but since I have owned the gun it has not been dropped, banged around or anything of the sort. I have noticed that sometimes the crosshairs will not focus and I have to slightly adjust the zoom to get them into focus. That may be something normal for scopes, but again, I'm new to this stuff.

The first time I went to the range with this gun, after the first few groups I noticed my accuracy was way off. The rings had loosened up. Now I keep an allen head set with me and check their tightness every so often. They haven't loosened up since I had to tighten them the first time.

[Guest Jcochran88]

What kind of rings? That might be your problem. If the rings are not tight your scope might be moving.

[Guest fourspdRAT]

What kind of rings? That might be your problem. If the rings are not tight your scope might be moving.

Uh.. I don't know. But I do have a picture!

[Guest godgunsanddogs]

I"d blame the rings, then scope, have you let someone else shoot it to see if they could do any better since you are new to rifles, bye the way I have been shooting rifles over 15 years & 3 or 4 inch groups are my best, just never got good with one, thats why I stick to shotguns.

[Guest coldblackwind]

I'm thinking what you have is a cheap rifle, with a cheap scope, and cheap rings. May be the best you'll get out of it, or a better scope and rings might improve the situation. Most companys that include a scope and rings don't really give you anything all that great.

[DaveTN]

Since you say you are new to rifles I assume you have not shot any better with other set-ups that you can compare to.

That’s not a high dollar rifle and who knows what that glass is, but 2” groups don’t sound that bad for a beginner with a new rifle.

Is there a marksman where you shoot that could try it out? Maybe someone here will volunteer, where in N. Alabama are you?

[Guest fourspdRAT]

I've let a couple others shoot it and they didn't seem to do much better. I know it's a cheap rifle and I would never expect it to shoot the same as a $1K+ rifle, but I've done alot of reading online about it and sub-MOA groups are common. I guess I should invest in a good scope and rings. What type of rings would y'all recommend?

[Guest Conrad]

I prefer and recommend you get the Burris Signature Zee rings. They are the ones with the polymer shims. I have them on my Marlin XL7 which is also a low cost rifle, but with handloads is shooting Sub moa groups at 100 yards. If you need a better scope i can also recommend those too.

[Oh Shoot]

...but I've done alot of reading online about it and sub-MOA groups are common. ...

They are very common, with most every rifle made ... online.

- OS

[Good_Steward]

I've let a couple others shoot it and they didn't seem to do much better. I know it's a cheap rifle and I would never expect it to shoot the same as a $1K+ rifle, but I've done alot of reading online about it and sub-MOA groups are common. I guess I should invest in a good scope and rings. What type of rings would y'all recommend?

Sub-MOA groups are always common online.

2" inch groups are not bad at all.

There. I said it. Blasphemous, I know.

Now, if you want to get serious and shoot sub-MOA, get a very good rifle. I like Remmy's, so I recommend the 700, in one of it's variations. Good guns at good prices. Start reloading. Heck, you could probably significantly decrease your current groups with a little patientce and load development.

[wjh2657]

My deer rifle is a Mossberg 100 ATR in 30-06 with a Leupold 3-9X scope. I have never failed to get my deer and yes, it groups around 2" at 100 yards. The kill zone of a whitetail deer is usually considered to be a 12" + circle. Makes a 2" group sound pretty adequate doesn't it? Most shots here in the southeast are around 50-100yards so that is more than enough acccuracy. If you are target shooting , than you need MOA, but you don't need it for most hunting.

BTW, if you are target shooting with .308, you need a more expensive rifle and an even more expensive scope. But if you are just hunting, what you have is fine.

[fastbs]

i THINK your existing set up is capable of better make sure rings are tightend correctly and try using a better support method. my favorite budget rest is a 40-50 lb dog food bag; sturdy, moldable, and my dogs get to eat when i'm done. the 168 gr hornady match loads usually will pull 1" groups out of most 308s. here's a pic with the dog food bag.

have friend shoot it also to see what happens.

Edited May 19, 2010 by fastbs
my grammer sucks