I shoot 2, 3-shot groups of a specific load because I am confident in my shooting abilities. If you are not shooting enough, definitely would say do either 2 5-shot groups or 3 3-shot groups and take averages. The better your form and equipment, and the more precise your hand loading is, the less rounds you need to shoot to find the average. Also, for any gun that I shoot at 300m or further, I do my load testing at 300m. It hones your skills and tells you what that bullet is doing at distance. To me load data at 100m in a rifle I'm going to shoot long distance with means very little. Not for everyone, but that's my 2 cents.
3 shot or 5 shot groups to test loads?
- Thread starter Rugdoc
- Start date
I read the same thing...............probably in the same magazine.
When I'm working on loads for my hunting rifles, I use 3 shot groups. For my varmint calibers, 5 shots, rimfire gets 10 shot groups.
It's tough pulling longer distances without the adverse variables added.
I shoot 5 shot groups at 100. I can normally get three tight, but rarely do the 4th and 5th (or all 5) remain tight. I don't assume 3 shot groups being nearly as skilled as those tight 5 shots.
I see very few, if any names listed under the .5 and .75 challenge making comments. I'd take what those guys say above others.
I shoot 5 shot groups at 100. I can normally get three tight, but rarely do the 4th and 5th (or all 5) remain tight. I don't assume 3 shot groups being nearly as skilled as those tight 5 shots.
I see very few, if any names listed under the .5 and .75 challenge making comments. I'd take what those guys say above others.
I hear ya. Here's a good example of a 5 shot grouping with one anomaly. The last one was the flier, and I can't honestly 'call' that one any different than the others. Unfortunately I don't chrony my shots, possibly that may explain it I don't know.
I shoot 3 shot groups to determine accuracy. Once I find a tight shooting load and have the rifle sighted in I will take it out every so often and fire 1 shot to see if it hits consistently from a cold bore. As long as it does that I am not concerned with group size.
See, we're talking different uses.
You're talking hunting, and I'm talking precision shooting. Both are fine, but precision shooting doesn't rely on a one shot must be all.
Lots of people mention one (3) shot group. I can shoot the odd .3 or less group, but if I follow up with another two shots it might be .8 or larger. Can't really say that load is precise. At least not what I'm going for. My current goals are .75 MOA or less consistent over 5, 5-shot groups. Doesn't sound hard reading internet forums, but when it comes time to show there aren't a lot of people who can do it. The .5 crowd is really impressive.
When I go shooting I normally toss 100-120 down range. Don't have much to show for it. I normally come back with more questions then answers. haha. It's a fun game though. The big point is 5 shot groups (or more) in my opinion tell a MUCH larger story then 3 shot groups.
5 shot groups always seem to be 1 1/2 times the size of the better 3 shot groups and similar to the worst ones. 10 shot groups don't seem grow as badly compared to the 5s. That tells me that 5 shots are a much better indictator of what the rest of the lot will do than 3.
That doesn't help much when the barrel is screaming hot on a light barrelled magnum. For those, shooting 2 3 shot groups at the same aiming point with a cooling period in between works better.
That doesn't help much when the barrel is screaming hot on a light barrelled magnum. For those, shooting 2 3 shot groups at the same aiming point with a cooling period in between works better.
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