Acceptable Groups

[ireload2]

If you test the resolving ability of the human eye at 100 yards (100 meters is close enough too) you will find that a healty normal human eye can barely resolve alternating 1 inch wide back and white bars.
That means 1" is about the best you can manage to align sights with a target without using a scope sight.
I watched 2 world class women shooters testing Eley ammo lots with Anschutz rifles many years ago. Their 10 shot groups hovered around 1 inch at 100 yards. If you put aperture sights on your Lee Enfield you would be able to hold that type of precision with a quality barrel and quality ammo. Given that your groups are larger at 2", the extra 1 inch dispersion is a combination of your vision, less that the best sights, less than a perfect barrel and less than perfect ammo fired in less than perfect conditions.
I would say compared to most iron sighted rifles yours is very good.
Rather than blame your rifle or ammo I would expect that 2 things would improve your groups. Add a quality set of aperture sights and shoot off of a quality bench rest.
I bought a high quality bench rest and leather bags about 30 years ago. The result was instant accuracy improvement for all of my ammo and all of my rifles.
Expensive yes, but I think mine has paid for itself several times over by the components saved while performing load development.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[mausernut]

The rifle had a Parker Hale mount with it when I bought it. Scope is a Bushnell Elite 3200. I shoot off of bags at a bench. The loads are with H4895 running from 36 to 39.5 grains. Federal 210 Match primers 150 grain Hornady bullets. I am using 150 grain bullets and a little faster burning powders because this gun has had a 20.75 " barrel put on by Parker Hale. Thought I had better groups with this gun using the same recipe with 210 primers but the info was lost during renovations. Was trying the match primers because of 70 to 80 fps velocity variations. Just for information here is a group from my 6.5 x 55 1899 Oberndorf with iron sights and PMC target ammunitiiion.


Attachment 82954

[ireload2]

In Lee Enfields, 1891 and 1898/09 Mausers I get the best results with the 174 grain RN Hornady .312 and the Sierra 180 grn spitzer .311 bullets. The longer bullets have longer bearing surfaces and the lengths match up to the rifling twist better. Like you I will use Fed 210 primers when I can get them. When Federals are scarce both Rem 9 1/2 and WW WLR primers work well too. I use either of the 4895 powders.

The rifle had a Parker Hale mount with it when I bought it. Scope is a Bushnell Elite 3200. I shoot off of bags at a bench. The loads are with H4895 running from 36 to 39.5 grains. Federal 210 Match primers 150 grain Hornady bullets. I am using 150 grain bullets and a little faster burning powders because this gun has had a 20.75 " barrel put on by Parker Hale. Thought I had better groups with this gun using the same recipe with 210 primers but the info was lost during renovations. Was trying the match primers because of 70 to 80 fps velocity variations. Just for information here is a group from my 6.5 x 55 1899 Oberndorf with iron sights and PMC target ammunitiiion.


Attachment 82954

[browningautorifle]

I bought a high quality bench rest and leather bags about 30 years ago.

I on the other hand use two shotgun shot bags filled with a plastic bag and sand. As stated, the difference between using what happens to be on the rage, freehand and a proper rest are vast. There are so many other variables, we'd need to be there with you to see what's happening.

[mausernut]

Hodgdon' s max is 40 grains and Hornady is 38.9. Lyman does go to 42 grains. Will keep trying and hopefully will get better. BTW I use Caldwell shooting bags filled with corn cob media form this benchrest.
shooting bench plans - Google Search | Shooting | Pinterest | Bench plans, Shooting bench plans and Shooting table

[browningautorifle]

I use Caldwell shooting bags filled with corn cob media from this benchrest.

All details we are just hearing now...