Testing load with 3 or 5 shot groups

[MD]

When trying out a load do you use 3 shot or 5 shot groups?

 

[hoochie]

in a bolt gun usually 3, because that's all my rifles' hold. but in a semi auto I shoot 5 round groups.

 

[H4831]

One three shot group has little real meaning.
A five shot group is much more a realistic test of the rifle and shooter.
In the great accuracy era of the 1880/90s they considered anything less than ten shots to be pretty meaningless.

 

[Trinimon]

I do 5rnd groupings.

 

[ultimate_monkey]

Ladder test, then 3shot groups in my node, and 2-3, 5 shot groups to confirm. Usually less then 35 rounds to find what I'm going to load

 

[iceman2]

I usually load test loads in groups of 5. I fire test groups in 3 shots per group. When I find a tight 3 shot group I fire the remain 2 of that test group to see what my 5 shot group looks like. Seems to work ok for me.

 

[CyaN1de]

Heavy barrel guns - 5-15 Rounds
Hunting Gun - 3 Rounds (shouldn't ever need more than 3 should you?)

Pencil barrels on a hunting rig will heat faster and tend to wander much more quickly than their Heavy Barreled counterparts.

 

[Kevin M.]

The guns that I bother doing any serious loads for are heavy barrel, so I prefer 5 shot groups, it is a good way to test weaknesses in the load and keep your skills sharp. Plenty of times I shoot 1/2" 3 shot groups that will widen to 3/4 moa or more once it gets to 5.

3 shot groups dont impress me unless they are repeatable.

 

[HIGHRPM]

Always three rounds unless the gun is all over the place. A lot of people shoot five rounds, depends what you are comfortable with.

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

One three shot group has little real meaning.
A five shot group is much more a realistic test of the rifle and shooter.
In the great accuracy era of the 1880/90s they considered anything less than ten shots to be pretty meaningless.

Agree whole heartedly

 

[sunray]

Easiest to use a mag full out of a bolt action or 5 for a semi. Depending on the cartridge, 7.62 stripper clips make keeping the assorted loads separate really convenient.