Does target size effect accuracy?

Question

This question would probably be more for target shooters rather than hunters, all are welcome to answer of course.

Have you noticed when shooting the same distance (example 50 yards) and you traverse from a large bullseye, to a smaller bullseye, your groups improve? Why is this? When i shoot a 1" target I get 1/4 to 1/2 inch groups, if I shoot a 3 inch target, my groups grow to +1moa. This tells me it's me and obviously not my rifle, just curious as to why a smaller target forces greater accuracy, and if I'm the only one effected by this?

Here's the exact scenerio I'm talking about, if you're familiar with shoot-n-see's, I use a 1inch shoot n see spot, and compare the results with a 3" shootnsee target, my groupings are much better on the 1" v/s the 3".

Answer 1

it has nothing to do with the size of the target. the smaller targets use a finer and smaller print. it is a clearer image. if you get on ammoman.com they have alot of free targets that you can print off. try different styles . i always get my best groups from the russian style targets. vertical and horizantal lines but with smaller lines that run off the sides. it is easier to focus. any lines that are wider than youre cross hairs will throw you off.

Answer 2

Bound's hubby here:

This is actually an easy question. First, ask yourself... are you shooting iron sights or a scope? Chances are good, if you are using iron sights, you are relaxing your eye with the larger target. If you are shooting with a scope, the scoring rings will be slightly larger with the larger target and your sighting reference area has unconsciously increased.

If you are shooting with a scope, try this. Stop by your local office supply store and get a packet of the colored adhesive dots. I would suggest the 1/2 or 3/4 inch dots. Place the dot on the center of two targets and use the dot as your aiming reference. Despite the size of the target, when you shoot and you use the dot as your aiming reference, your referenced wobble area will be the same and your group size will be the same even though your target size differs.

If you are using iron sights, there is little you can do to change this phenomena. However, if you switch from a 6 o'clock or lollipop hold to a center of mass (Navy) hold where your front sight will cover half of the bullseye your group will shrink in size.

What you should do is limit your bullseye size to a specific size or specific distance. This is what is typically done in competition, be it small bore or high power rifles.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes it does affect accuracy because if you are aiming at something smaller you notice more movement of your scope or sights.
Because of this I want my target to be as small as possible. At 200 yards I use 3/4" dots that I stick on a piece of cardboard. The cross hair of a 12 power scope will almost completely cover the dot, and I get better groups that way than when I use bigger targets.

Answer 4

You are correct in your belief.
The larger the target the looser the group.
I my self use the smallest bulls eye I can see with my scope at the range in which I am practicing.
I seldom find targets that I like, there for I make my own on my PC and use different colors some times to enhance visibility for different light conditions.
But I always use the smaller bulls eye and some times incorporate it with cross hairs also.

The problem you speak of is one that haunts many new hunters with gun or bow.
For they, in the excitement, forget to pick a spot like the heart lung, and shoot at the whole deer and just wound it to die some where and never be found.
After many years in the woods and range I no longer thank of it, it’s natural part of shooting and hunting.
But when I teach shooters and hunters I always tell them to aim at the center of the bulls eye, not the bulls eye as a whole, just like big game hunting you aim for a imaginary spot in its vital organs and I teach them where the vital organs lay on their game animal.
So you are correct in thanking the smaller the target the better the group.


Personal Note.
Boker_Mag, First and Foremost “Thank you”.
I have read many of your questions and your answers.
You show an honest intelligence in your questions, and experience in your answers.
You’re here to help others learn and to learn your self.
You’re not play a gimmick for points, and for that you and few others have my respect.

D58

Answer 5

My Dad told me a saying...Aim Small, Miss Small.
You get more accurate as you go because there is less of a target to hit. Most people just aim for the bullseye area. I aim for that area too, but i choose a specific point to shoot at, like for most targets i aim for the ten or the x, whichever one is in the middle of the bullseye.
You are not the only one that is affected by this.
One technique that you can do is this...

When you aim at an animal or a target, chose a little piece to aim at. focus only on that piece, then shoot.

Good luck at the Range!

Answer 6

w0w great grouping, I cant say I ever shot that well with anything.... but when a challnge is higher, I think the true sportsman(or professional) comes out in everyone. This reminds me of the time I shot a clay pigeon way out of range after my father and his friend both missed it, (12ga rem 870)now my dad was a police Lt detective at the time and was in charge of the police range, we civillians were there to clean up brass, my dad pulled an old airweight loaded with reloaded .38 wadcutters and in 1 shot hit a 50 round(empty) .22 box at 50 yards in front of his students... I guess it's just a matter of doing what you have to do when you have to do it.
Happy Shooting

EDIT HERE glad to see some people that love te sport, it's good to see so many excellent answer and know there are so many among us who can come to duty when called USN 1981-1985
Expert at 45 missed expert at m16 by 5 % still qualified on Mossberg 500 on soud & scround I LUV 45'S

Answer 7

The smaller target makes you concentrate more. That why when you shoot a deer they say, "pick a spot". Instead of just shooting at the deer, you pick a certain spot on the deer instead of shooting somewhere behind the shoulder. Pick a tuft of hair, crease in the shoulder or something to help you be exact.

Answer 8

That's not accuracy, it's group size, just to be technical. And it's just a matter of vision and point of aim. If you aim at the edge of the X-ring exactly at 6 o'clock on the 3" bull, your groups will stay smaller. What you are doing, I'm sure, is guesstimating dead center, and your eye's deceiving you.

Answer 9

yes
because your looking at the target as a hole
if you only focus on the inner circle that would not happen
because no matter what the size of the Target if you focus on the inner circle to the first ring they will all seem to be the same