Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Group size...how many shots fired?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="lead foot" data-source="post: 34020" data-attributes="member: 2546"><p>Generally I shoot either 3 or 5. I prefer 5 but some barrels heat up faster than others, some guns kick more than others, and so on. Sorta depends on how much time and abuse I want to put in. </p><p></p><p>I generally time my shots at a fixed interval which I tailor to each gun depending on how fast it seems to heat up. Some guns don't really heat up for the first 20-25 shots so I'm inclined to shoot 5 shot groups with those. Others, like a 7mm STW I had, run up to 7-8 minutes between shots, so I lean towards 3 shot groups so I don't die of old age sitting at the shooting bench. (One afternoon I had the range to myself and I fell asleep between shots. Oops.)</p><p></p><p>The key thing, which probably explains not caring much about 3 shot vs 5 shot groups, is I'm not trying to find a load I guarantee works during initial development, what I'm mostly doing is eliminating loads. A single half inch 200 yard group probably isn't enough to count a load as a winner, but unless I yank the shot, a 6" 200 yard group is a pretty good sign that one is not worth pursuing.</p><p></p><p>What I really look for is a region of powder charges for a given powder and bullet that give about the same accuracy and group center location. That suggests not only accuracy but a certain stability of accuracy. I don't want something that's real good but goes all to h*ll, either by groups opening up badly or change impact point, if I'm off by a couple tenths of a grain. I want something that's stable plus or minus a grain or more if possible.</p><p></p><p>Before I put the stamp of approval on a load, it has to pass muster not only at 100 or 200 yards where I'm doing load development, but out at whatever max distance I've decided I might use it at.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="lead foot, post: 34020, member: 2546"] Generally I shoot either 3 or 5. I prefer 5 but some barrels heat up faster than others, some guns kick more than others, and so on. Sorta depends on how much time and abuse I want to put in. I generally time my shots at a fixed interval which I tailor to each gun depending on how fast it seems to heat up. Some guns don't really heat up for the first 20-25 shots so I'm inclined to shoot 5 shot groups with those. Others, like a 7mm STW I had, run up to 7-8 minutes between shots, so I lean towards 3 shot groups so I don't die of old age sitting at the shooting bench. (One afternoon I had the range to myself and I fell asleep between shots. Oops.) The key thing, which probably explains not caring much about 3 shot vs 5 shot groups, is I'm not trying to find a load I guarantee works during initial development, what I'm mostly doing is eliminating loads. A single half inch 200 yard group probably isn't enough to count a load as a winner, but unless I yank the shot, a 6" 200 yard group is a pretty good sign that one is not worth pursuing. What I really look for is a region of powder charges for a given powder and bullet that give about the same accuracy and group center location. That suggests not only accuracy but a certain stability of accuracy. I don't want something that's real good but goes all to h*ll, either by groups opening up badly or change impact point, if I'm off by a couple tenths of a grain. I want something that's stable plus or minus a grain or more if possible. Before I put the stamp of approval on a load, it has to pass muster not only at 100 or 200 yards where I'm doing load development, but out at whatever max distance I've decided I might use it at. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Group size...how many shots fired?
Top