Shot count in group size

nickorette

nickorette

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What is a good measure of shots in a group for determining group size?

I always thought that the standard was around 5 shots/group... but sometimes I'll hear of somebody who says they can shoot X inches at
X yards... and I see their target and it's a 3 round group...

Is 3 rounds enough to get a good idea of your rifle's accuracy capability?
 
3 rounds is okay, 5 is better. 10 is best. :)

Most hunting/non-target rifles with pencil barrels heat up pretty quick, and the groups tend to swell after three shots. However, for a hunting rifle, three shots should be plenty in any situation.

I would consider at least a 5 round group to get a good idea of accuracy from a target rifle.
 
Well, statistically speaking, a group is a sample that's supposed to represent the whole of the rifle's accuracy capability, but any sample should be taken as just that.

The greater the sample, the more representative it is of the reality of the rifle's accuracy. You'll only get a true, 100% result at the end of the rifle's life (more likely the barrel's life), when you look back and review how it performed over its lifetime.

That having been said, I think three shots is too few; I've had four shots go 0.25 MOA with the fifth being off... It depends on the shooter as well - how long you can maintain your shooting posture consistently as well as your concentration on breathing, heartbeat, etc. My personal opinion is that two subsequent groups of five shots usually tell me when I'm doing well and when I'm not.

Obviously, other people's experiences will vary. Hope this helps!
 
Agree with both replies.
3 is fine when you're working on a load or whatever, but I wouldn't call it a group, per se.
We'd all have factory rifles shooting into one tiny hole if that were the case. I've seen people shoot 3 and then stop, saying there's no need to continure, clearly the rounds will keep going in the same hole, waste of barrel life, etc -to which I simply say: bs.

If someone's selling a rifle and talking about its capabilities, I'd hope they were talking about at least 5 shot groups when they say 'sub-moa'.
 
It all depends what tye of shooting you are doing...
Group shooters may be pleased with a very tight 5 shots group, altought it's 3 inches away from the bull's eye.

IMO, a single shot, dead center, for a given range and condition is the best thing. ;)

(However this won't help develop your loads, etc, but you know what I mean :))
 
For load development, if it won't put 3 shots together, it won't put 10.

Once you have a small number groupt that works, shoot a big one to confirm it.

What counts is race day when you have to compete against all the other BS-ers out there that claim to shoot 10-shot .1" groups at 600M. A 1-hole gun aint worth a pinch-o'-coon shyte if you can't read wind and mirage.
 
Of the precision/sniper boards that I read through, if your going to brag a group or say that you and your rifle shoots a great MOA then you should have a number of 5 shot groups to prove it. Any fewer shot groups don't seem to get the same respect. It's much harder to get a nice 5 shot group as it seems that 4th or 5th shot often is a flier.
 
What is a good measure of shots in a group for determining group size?
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IMO if you're checking a big game hunting rifle, 3 shots from a cold bore is fine. Then do it again the next two days to see if it holds center. After all, how many shots are you gonna put into that animal? Target rifle...5 is good, 10 is better. Consistency day after day is what wins.
 
Most on this site report the best 3 shots of 5 taken, but i think the best 7 out of ten shots taken would be more telling.
 
It really is not one group or maybe two groups...

Shoot 5 - 5 shot groups over a period of a couple of hours... and repeat that on another day.. those results are more representative of what you and your rifle can do.
 
If you are shooting in a ten shot match, a five shot group only demonstrates potential. In truth, any group fired in practice only demonstrates potential. I have found that the big group fired in practice is the one I will repeat when some one is watching!
Best 3 out of 5 demonstrates wishful thinking as does the discounting of any "flyer". The practice of placing a coin over the errant shot then taking a picture of the remaining group is wishful thinking shared with others! Regards, Bill
 
the wise and powerful Bill Leeper said:
"...The practice of placing a coin over the errant shot then taking a picture of the remaining group is wishful thinking shared with others! Regards, Bill
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That's frikken brilliant!!

Hey! All my guns shoot in the ".1's" and I'll prove it to ya tomorrow!
 
An interesting exercise for those who can shoot out their backdoors is to put up a target and fire one round at it every day for a month, regardless of weather. I keep telling myself I'm going to do this, but it hasn't happened yet.
 
For a hunting rifle a 3 shot group is fine. When it come to a competition target rifle I have another approach. Most of my matches are 2 sighters and 10 for score, or 2 & 15 for score, or if I am shooting in the US it is 2 & 20 for score. As you can see a 3 shot group means nothing to me if the other 9, 14 or 19 shots spray the target.
My accuracy tests are done off my elbows with a jacket and sling and iron sights just like shooting in competition. I try to keep my shots to 1 per minute and set the rifle down between shot.
 
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