I agree with joe b., records are not an expectation of accuracy that why they are records. 5 - 5shot groups between 1/2 and 1 inch seems about right to me. Records are generally shot in very good conditions, which is not available at any given time. Sometimes records just happen but they generally happen to good shooters.    ledball

I beg to differ, if you can't shoot 1/2 inch five shot group averages you have no hopes ever setting a new record. In regards to the CBA National events mentioned the same holds true. If you are not capable of shooting 1/2 inch 5 shot group averages prior to your arrival you have little hope of being competitive let alone coming home with a National event title. The conditions at the 2006 National event were not the most user friendly for the 5 shot events, they never are thus the aggs. were abnormally a tad high. In regards to the ASSRA records there are always adverse conditions one has to compensate for and I have yet to be to an event with zero conditions to deal with. It is never just a trigger pull and records are never just achieved by dumb luck. If one goes through life thinking their equipment is not capable of 1/2 inch or better averages then one can never expect to achieve any exceptional goals in life. Also keep in mind what you do at 100yds to a degree equates to what to expect at 200yds. Continually elevate your expectations for your equipment as well as your own abilities, get out to the range more frequently to develop both and quit just doing the same old thing and your name will be included in the record books with the best of the best. I have never found that the naysayers finish anywhere close to the top, nor do they come up with any good advise. They try to keep those around them down to their same level as it is their only hope of ever winning. Be the opposite and push the limits to gain success and share all of those little successes along the way. Help bring everyone around you to a higher level so you are continually competing against the best and keep in mind that winning with any secret advantages is not winning at all.

J.Louis

Ledball I understand your argument and I appreciate all that you have to say but I just can't agree wholly with your statement. For one we can't include 200yds into the conversation, it is apples and oranges and they have no direct relationship just as score and group do not have anything in common. When the rifle is capable of shooting 5 shot group averages under a 1/2 inch, some groups will be smaller and some will be larger  but they average out to be 1/2 inch. Here is where we see some of the human error you mention coming into play as the rifle is really capable of shooting under a 1/2 inch, that is where the smaller groups are coming from to offset the larger ones that make up the average. This is also the reason why one can't make the statement all of the targets would be 250's. Groups and Score are two very distinct disciplines that have absolutely nothing in common.

J.Louis

I agree with J Louis.

I know I have equipment that will shoot 1/2 inch average at 100 yds most times under nice conditions. I test everything before I shoot it in an event.

So being I have 1/2 inch average shooters I would not wast my time going to an event with equipment that wont shoot at least 1/2 inch  average under decent conditions. 

About the only shooting I do at 100 yds that groups over 1/2 inch is my 22 RF, and that will do 3/4 average most times if the wind is not to bad. 

I guess the difference is that some go to events to compete and others  just go to participate, and win or lose, we all have fun shooting.

I like to think I'm a competitor, not just a participant, so I bring the most accurate equipment I have to all the events I shoot in.
  H. M. Pope

Dave,
Extremely well said. 

Frank

Statistics can be a useful tool when you're sitting in the isolated confines of the office and you're looking for indicators as you develop a hypothesis or refine a theory, but the best advise I ever received from a mentor was this:

"Get the hell out of the office and walk in the real world as often as you can. And if you keep your eyes open and are able to make valid observations, you'll quickly see that Reality takes a huge bite out of Theory's ass at every possible opportunity, and with amazing regularity."

Dave,
Your mention of changing mirage, wind and light (along with other variables) are perfect examples of Reality taking that bite.