I don't do competitions or even have that great a shot, but I was curious of how others judge how "accurate" a gun is.  For example, when shooting at 100 yards people have told me that they can shoot sub MOA groups through whatever rifle they have.  I look at their target and they shot 3x on one target and the other groups are more like 5 plus shots and more like 2-3MOA.  I think consistency is really what is important in this.  So I guess my question is how many shots would you consider taking to say that I shoot about ____ MOA with my <input gun here> ?

I just read internet reviews.

The internet knows which guns are accurate and which are not.

I also watch movies. The heroes always use accurate guns.

 

Consistency is the key, in all aspects: brass, primer, powder, load, bullet, seating depth, crimp, barrel temperature, air temp, barometric pressure, humidity, wind, etc. Unless you know that these many factors are consistent then you don't ~know~ for certain what the accuracy of your rifle is.

For most (honest) people its about what they can shoot with their favorite ammo fairly consistently. When someone tells me they can shoot sub-MOA I just smile and say "Cool." Most of the people who really can do so consistently usually don't feel the need to mention it.

I just read internet reviews.

The internet knows which guns are accurate and which are not.

I also watch movies. The heroes always use accurate guns.

 

Consistency is the key, in all aspects: brass, primer, powder, load, bullet, seating depth, crimp, barrel temperature, air temp, barometric pressure, humidity, wind, etc. Unless you know that these many factors are consistent then you don't ~know~ for certain what the accuracy of your rifle is.

For most (honest) people its about what they can shoot with their favorite ammo fairly consistently. When someone tells me they can shoot sub-MOA I just smile and say "Cool." Most of the people who really can do so consistently usually don't feel the need to mention it.

I can totally shoot Sub-MOA.

its the second shot that screws it all up

I can totally shoot Sub-MOA.

its the second shot that screws it all up

You must speak of the "flyer" 

Can you hit the broad side of a barn?  I'd say its pretty accurate. 
All depends on the gun..a nice bolt should do 1/2 moa (I can't too much caffeine and add).  Or older guns like mauser, mosin and enfeilds looking at 2 moa is good at 100 yards.

I can totally shoot Sub-MOA.

its the second shot that screws it all up

 

Angle of pie plate at 100 yards. That's my standard for practical purposes.
Of course I'm pretty sure my guns are capable of better than that, but they can out shoot me. 

my "long gun" is very accurate
that's what she said

I don't do competitions or even have that great a shot, but I was curious of how others judge how "accurate" a gun is.  For example, when shooting at 100 yards people have told me that they can shoot sub MOA groups through whatever rifle they have.  I look at their target and they shot 3x on one target and the other groups are more like 5 plus shots and more like 2-3MOA.  I think consistency is really what is important in this.  So I guess my question is how many shots would you consider taking to say that I shoot about ____ MOA with my <input gun here> ?

3 shot.....................gun and load
5 shot.....................gun and load + shooter

3 shot.....................gun and load
5 shot.....................gun and load + shooter

Wow, I agree.

With my bolts, I normally shoot 5 shot groups.

First 3 shots I'm usually pretty consistent, nice and relaxed.
4 can go either way. 
By Shot 5, if my first 4 are tight, like touching tight, I feel like the 18th hole of the Masters with a 1 shot lead. Pressures on.
That's why I love this sport/hobby whatever you want to call it.

With my AR's I'm still angle of pie plate at 100 yds. ( are we allowed to say angle of bad guy ? )

 

I would think you would need to shoot from a lead sled or something similar to take take the human element out to really test the true accuracy of a firearm and particular load itself. 

5 shot groups only.

I've seen a gun have a fluke 1/2 inch MOA with a three shot but couldn't muster 2" with a five shot...

5 shot group minimum
10 shots for my service rifle

realistically, im angle of target frame.  sometimes.



im new though, dont judge!

Brian once told me if any of his guns doesnt shoot sub moa with him shooting he sells the gun or changes the barrel.

Makes sense you cant really fix a barrel to be more accurate. (well you can but not really worth it. Depends what the barrel is worth)

5 shot minimum. 

Five shot groups is the gold standard. 

For most people, shooting 10 3-round groups, at least one of them will be sub MOA.

I think it was Jack O'Connor who said he was only interested in the one-shot group.

Shoot enough and sooner or later you'll get that sub 1" group to brag about. "Accuracy" depends on how soon that occurs.

Way prior to the AR series of rifles getting popular, I finally found an ancient .223 Rem Savage rifle which actually shot 3/8" groups consistently, all day long.  The first five shots I made with it told me it was a real shooter.  That was over thirty years ago and I've eliminated literally, no screwing around, over 2000 pesky prairie dogs with it at all kinds of ranges out to 300 yards after I mounted a 12X scope on it.

The only problem I had with it was really wind-sensitive with those light varmint bullets I was using, but I got pretty good at doping wind and mirage.  Had to.

I'm sure it's beginning to lose its accuracy by now, but nevertheless, I felt darned lucky to find that gun and I'll never sell it.  (Haven't actually shot it in more than ten years.)

Terry, 230RN

It.  (And me):

Nice to know my rifle shoots better than I can, but I'm just concerned with where the first shot goes.

For most people, shooting 10 3-round groups, at least one of them will be sub MOA.

Yep. Which is why 3 round groups are worthless besides for 'bragging' rights. This is why you hear people exclaim they can shoot sub MOA with M193, or hell even M855 when the ammo itself is 3-4 MOA.

For me its 10 round groups. I've seen other people shoot 6 consecutive 5 shot groups as well to get a good idea of the accuracy (and no cherry picking the groups).