3 or 5 shot groups?

[sgreen3]

Just as the title states which do you prefer and why?... I normally do shoot a 5 shot group when Im shooting for groups but I still see people just shoot a 3 shot group to judge accuracy of their rig. Is this sufficient or is the 5 shot group needed. Your thoughts?..... Thanks guys.

 

[people]

Load dev I shoot 3 shot. Why waste the extra components. To confirm a load I will do groups of 10. Just plinking I do groups of 5 if I shoot groups.

 

[JamesnTN]

I also load develop using only three shots. I can tell just as much using three shots as I can five. If you have a chronograph and know how to read your targets then three is plenty sufficient.

 

[butchlambert]

I use 3 for load development and 5 to confirm what I found on my BR rifles. For my hunting rifles, I use 3 throughout.

 

[dmoran]

Depends on what part of the development stages I'm in.

My way:
1st - Ladder Test to find the powder nodes and maximums <> 1-shot at each increment <> at +300yds
2nd - 3-shot group or 3-shot ladder for the seating zones
3rd - 5-shot group or 3-shot ladder for refined node charges and seating zones
4th - 5-shot group or 3-shot ladder for final tweaks

Vertical dispersion and velocity ES, are my primary concerns, no matter how many I shoot.
Donovan

 

[sgreen3]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I was thinking of something along those lines of like a 3 shot group for load development and shooting a 5 shot group to proof the load. I shoot 300yrd benchrest an have asked the others that shoot what they do for practice and have got a mix of either 3 or 5. Just kinda curious as to what you guys thought as well.

 

[savagedasher]

I do 2 shots at 100. I never had the third ,forth or fifth shot make my groups smaller. 3 - 2 shot give me more information on my load then 3 or 5 shots. I normal can get two shot in about the same conditions. With 2 shots I know if I have Vertical or horizontal by the direction they point. With a small change of my tuner I can normally get them in one hole. I then do 5 -2 shot for verification.

Larry

 

[Lazer]

Depends on what size groups your satisfied with. For me 5 shot groups prove consistancy in all varibles. I have piles of 3 shot groups that were tight but when put to a consistancy test the results were very lackluster. It takes a lot of shooting to get the best results possible out of a load combo. With 3 shot groups the harmonics can be so far off that 3 shots will actually go through the same hole, sometimes twice, but never for 20-30 shots in a row. If go to Bart's custom bullets web site, they don't even like to sell 100 bullets at a time because it takes close to 500 rounds to find the PERFECT load and work all variables, your not gonna do that w 3 shot groups. Which brings me back to my original statement , depends on what size groups your satisfied with.

 

[butchlambert]

Do what! I ain't gonna shoot a 500 shot deal finding a good load. If it takes that long you might take up bowling.

 

[chkunz]

I can tell you one thing for sure, as you keep shooting more shots 3-5-10-20 etc., the groups do not get smaller.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Depends what you're testing. I've always felt the three shot tests the load and rifle while the five shot tests the shooter.

 

[Chappy]

Hunting rifles-3 shots. If it takes more than 3 shots to put down an elk (that's if you're missing) you better just go home.

Competition or Varmint Rifles-5 shot groups no matter what. I've had a few rifle where the first 3 would be all kissing then it would throw 2 wacky flyers at 300 yards.

YMMV

 

[d.id]

Depends on what your doing with the rifle.
If I was going to be shooting 10 round groups at a competition I would shoot 10 round groups for practice and spend hundreds of rounds in load development.
For a hunting rifle (even my "target rifles" primary purpose is hunting) I shoot 3 shot threw load development and sighting in.
Then one shot practice shots at varying ranges or angles and as long as I hit as expected do not even bother with groups unless something is suspect.

 

[181backup]

I like five shot on developing loads and to confirm load. I have had three shot groups give untrue leads then run same load in fives and not be repeatable. Seems easy to get three in together but five don't seem to attract as well.

 

[JamesnTN]

Do what! I ain't gonna shoot a 500 shot deal finding a good load. If it takes that long you might take up bowling.

^ what butch said.

 

[181backup]

Depends what you're testing. I've always felt the three shot tests the load and rifle while the five shot tests the shooter.

How many three shot groups do you shoot in load development?

 

[JamesnTN]

I like five shot on developing loads and to confirm load. I have had three shot groups give untrue leads then run same load in fives and not be repeatable. Seems easy to get three in together but five don't seem to attract as well.

That's because you're not doing your part. If your three shots consistently are pinging 1's and 0's then if you do your part those other two will as well. If 3 shots shoot 1" then those other two won't make that group any smaller.

Also if you're not testing over wind flags how the heck will you ever know what your load development is doing? Not saying you don't just throwing that out there for those that don't use flags.

 

[JamesnTN]

Depends what you're testing. I've always felt the three shot tests the load and rifle while the five shot tests the shooter.

How many three shot groups do you shoot in load development?

Once I find my load I'll shoot 2-3 other groups at either 300 or 500 yards to verify that's what I want to compete with.
It's worked for me for many years and still works today.

 

[181backup]

I like five shot on developing loads and to confirm load. I have had three shot groups give untrue leads then run same load in fives and not be repeatable. Seems easy to get three in together but five don't seem to attract as well.

That's because you're not doing your part. If your three shots consistently are pinging 1's and 0's then if you do your part those other two will as well. If 3 shots shoot 1" then those other two won't make that group any smaller.

Also if you're not testing over wind flags how the heck will you ever know what your load development is doing? Not saying you don't just throwing that out there for those that don't use flags.

Same question for you how many groups do you shoot in a row just one.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Butch, that was a good one.