Shooting for groups

[Oldtrader3]

If you are doing workup with loads, you do not want to shoot too many iterations of try out loads. Usually 3-4 rounds will give you some indication of grouping potential, enough to use as a preliminary sort at least.

 

[BeeTee]

For me, the # of shots per group depends on barrel heat.

A typical hunting rifle has a pretty thin barrel that heats up fast, and it shoot a cartridge with quite a bit of powder. 3 shots work for me. I've tried the shoot - wait - shoot - wait - shoot method for a five shot string, but that doesn't simulate a hunting situation, and I lose rhythm if I try it. Too distracting - for me. With my heavy barrel 223, I always shoot 5 shot groups. It's more accurate, it takes 15+ shots before barrel heat is something I even think about, and it's a lot cheaper and more fun to shoot. BT

 

[Guy Miner]

It's funny, in NRA "highpower" competition, we shoot strings of ten and twenty rounds for score. It's not based on group size, but scores. The ten-ring is roughly two MOA at various ranges, or 12" at 600 yards for instance. If a guy could hold two MOA, perfect scores would result.

There are some perfect scores fired, referred to as "possibles" but most of us drop a few points here and there. The rifles are great. The ammo is very good. Time after time, the shooter is the weak link...

With a match rifle, apparently I shoot twenty shot strings.

With my hunting rifles, I rarely bother with anything more than a three-shot group, and as several others have posted, it's really the consistent point of impact, particularly for that all-important first shot, that counts.

I seldom use a bench, and don't even own a real benchrest setup like the BR competitors use. Typically I'll zero my rifles by shooting prone, with the rifle rested over something soft, like a backpack. Sometimes when I'm feeling particularly good and steady, I'll just zero it by shooting prone with only the sling for stability. That works just fine.

With the hunting rifles, if I shoot for groups from a bipod or shooting sticks, I'll make note of any changes in point of impact due to shooting from those supports. Now and again it's substantial, though not normally for me.

Someone mentioned gripping the forearm. My youngest son likes to do this, and I've grown accustomed to doing it too, particularly with the higher powered rifles that generate more recoil. They're simply not the same as shooting a 12 pound match rifle chambered in 6mm BR. I figure a 7.5 pound .30-06 shooting 180's at 2700 - 2800 fps deserves a little respect, and a firm grip on the foreend. The .375 at about 8.25 pounds, even more so.

Regards, Guy

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

For load development I shoot 5 shot groups to test the load's potential accuracy in my rifle. I cant remember shooting too many groups with anything rimfire, I typically sight in and go to the ground squirrel mounds to seek their assistance... :mrgreen:

When I have sighted in for a load and then let the gun sit in the gun cabinet for a while and decide to check it before going hunting, I always use 3 shot groups to conserve ammo. If I have three shots hitting in the same place at 100 yards (which is typically 2" high) then I go hunting. Any adjusments needed are verified (this doesnt happen hardly at all) and then I go hunting.

I just am not a huge fun of shooting groups unless its for a purpose such as testing out a new load for accuracy. I would rather use that ammo for hunting. But then again I may fire only 200-300 rounds a year through various centerfires, maybe 2000 through all of the rimfires. You fellas obviously do more recreational paper shooting like perhaps as much through one rifle as I do through all of them put together.

 

[nvbroncrider]

I've shot with both eyes open for over forty years. It allows for acquisition of all that is going on outside of the FOV afforded by the scope and makes for a more accurate and less tiring shoot.

They also say in a tense situation your body will not close an eye. Your brain will not allow for the blockage of information if you are in a fight or flight scenario. Just heard that somewhere? :shock:

The reason for this is if one eye is shut your eyes and brain are designed to work as a pair. If you ever look at something with one eye and then open the other your brain has compensated so you are no longer focus on what you were looking at. if you have to use a patch until you can do it normally. It just gives you a better sight picture and proper compensation for your brain. Something I had to teach myself when I was target shooting when I was younger. just like shooting with your dominate eye.