Just one more shot

[Cade]

I like to shoot 5 shot groups, but should have stopped at 4
Rem action 6mm CM Trigger Tech Trigger, Proof 26" 7.5 twist barrel, Grayboe Renegade Stock Vortex PST Gen ll 5-25x50

 

[js2013]

Good for you for being man enough to take the 5th shot!

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Here are a couple of 300-yard groups, one shot in competition (10 shots) and one in practice (5 shots at 300 yards on a 200-yard score target). "You can't wish the last shot in."

 

[kerjo]

One Shot--The difference between a match winner and a match loser

 

[joshb]

I like to shoot 5 shot groups, but should have stopped at 4
Rem action 6mm CM Trigger Tech Trigger, Proof 26" 7.5 twist barrel, Grayboe Renegade Stock Vortex PST Gen ll 5-25x50

View attachment 1114518

I have a lot of targets that look like that! That’s why I have to keep shooting!

 

[Brians356]

Inherent dispersion is a harsh mistress.
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[xswanted]

Shooting 5 shots is the benchmark for accuracy!

Otherwise you’re just sort of pussing out!

Great group. I’ve done that more times than I care to admit.

 

[Falfan2017]

I’ve found a lot of ways to turn a 1” group into a 3” group.

 

[Zero333]

I have tons of centerfire targets with 1 flier... So here is a Rimfire target...

22 LR at 109 yards (100 meters) with a $ 200 Savage MkII.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Inherent dispersion is a harsh mistress.
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In my experience shooting competitive benchrest 100-300 yards, the group size is surprisingly often determined by the second or the last shot -- it's definitely not random. Second-shot "fliers" are usually a bench manners/bag mistake. By far the commonest is when the first shot doesn't go where I expect, but I ignore the warning and take the second shot without changing anything; then, bullet #2 goes right where #1 was supposed to go. It's usually easy enough to put #3 and subsequent shots in between #1 and #2, but the damage has already been done.

Last-shot "fliers" are usually some combination of nerves, poor gun handling (because of nerves), or having to shoot in an unknown/unexpected condition before time expires.

I well remember having a screamer group going through 4 shots in a LV 100-yd match. The blood was throbbing in my ears when I touched off #5. Before I could push the rifle forward to see what horrible thing I had done to my beautiful group, Steve Kostanich (watching through his scope from the next bench) reassured me by saying, "You didn't hurt it." It was a 0.053" match winner.

But I have plenty of 4+1 groups to show for every screamer. Who doesn't?