Just TWO-shot groups to start?

[jeffreybehr]

I heard that shooting, the first time out with the rifle, only TWO rounds (and two groups) per combo during load development was a good way to save a little money and barrel life...as in...if the first 2 shots didn't produce one hole or at least a bughole, why bother shooting a third?

Opinions?

 

[STS]

Everybody that thinks a half inch, 2 shot group, will become a quarter inch group by shooting more shots at it, please raise your hand.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Everybody who thinks a half-inch, 2-shot group will become a quarter-inch group by shooting more shots at it, please raise your hand.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!! STS, you're a wise man.

 

[Fast14riot]

When I do a coarse powder charge pressure test, I do only 2 shots. Fine tune, its 3 shots. Seating depth i seat everything long then use an arbor press and chamber type seating die at the range. If two don't touch, I just move on to the next one.

 

[Big Mc]

Heard that shooting, the first time out with the rifle, only TWO rounds (and two groups) per combo during load development was a good way to save a little money and barrel life...as in...if the first 2 shots didn't produce one hole or at least a bughole, why bother shooting a third?

Opinions?

Not the way to go. Many problems wind gun setup etc. Tommy Mc

 

[Webster]

Heard that shooting, the first time out with the rifle, only TWO rounds (and two groups) per combo during load development was a good way to save a little money and barrel life...as in...if the first 2 shots didn't produce one hole or at least a bughole, why bother shooting a third?

Opinions?

If it's deer hunting or varmint rifle expecting a small group isn't reasonable. What size groups do you think are reasonable for your rifle? 1/2" maybe 1"? If 2 shots are big groups they will only get bigger shooting more shoots. A lot depends on your bench setup and shooting skills. If you can shoot around 1/2" groups it becomes harder to see a difference in loads. I cannot shoot the same size group every time out with the same good load. You never know if every bullet in a box has the same quality and my bench skills are good but not great.

You never described the rifle and what it's used for. Your ignoring your skill level, rifle quality, bench setup , bench skills and wind reading.

To fire 2 shots and have them touch you would probably need a full race bench rifle. Bigger than 2 touching is not an indication of a bad load. If they are 1/2" apart you probably have a good barrel and have a chance to make the groups a little smaller.

 

[CharlieNC]

If you flip a coin twice and get two heads, would you stop and declare it a two-headed coin?

 

[fisherman987]

If you flip a coin twice and get two heads, would you stop and declare it a two-headed coin?

If you flip a coin twice and you don't get heads or tails would you just keep on flipping that same coin?

 

[jelenko]

Seems to me that shooting two shot groups would eliminate the powder charges that you don't want to test further. It would identify powder charges that you'd want to explore more.

 

[CharlieNC]

If you flip a coin twice and you don't get heads or tails would you just keep on flipping that same coin?

I would walk away, nothing like a setup!

 

[M-61]

The best way to save powder etc., with two shot groups is not to shoot at all. No barrel wear, no components used…..
A two shot group to me proves the rifle fired twice.

 

[RPSGuns]

If I wanted to save money I'd just do one shot groups.

 

[jelenko]

If I wanted to save money I'd just do one shot groups.

Yeah. There's nothing like the first shot - it just looks so accurate.

 

[Schippergreg]

It won’t identify a good load but it can identify a bad one. It takes an accurate rifle through. If your rifle is capable of shooting big 1’s or low 2’s at 100 and the first two don’t touch in the same wind condition, move on. If you’re just trying to shoot under an inch you’d be better off shooting all 3.

 

[DaveTooley]

To start I use two shot groups at 200 yds, I may make a minor adjustment to the powder charge but I'm looking for a seating depth window with a given bullet. If I don't find it with one bullet I quickly move on to another bullet. You can't force feed one.

 

[AlNyhus]

Heard that shooting, the first time out with the rifle, only TWO rounds (and two groups) per combo during load development was a good way to save a little money and barrel life...as in...if the first 2 shots didn't produce one hole or at least a bughole, why bother shooting a third?

Opinions?

Load at the range. Shoot two and if it looks good, load another. If that looks good, load two more.

Nothing saves time, money and components like loading at the range.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[jeffreybehr]

Load at the range. Shoot two and if it looks good, load another. If that looks good, load two more.

Nothing saves time, money and components like loading at the range.

Good shootin' -Al

Maybe so, but I'm not set up for that and probably never will be.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Seems to me that shooting two shot groups would eliminate the powder charges that you don't want to test further. It would identify powder charges that you'd want to explore more.

EXACTLY! TYVM.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Lots of us will use one two or three shots to tune. A lot of records have fallen by rifles tuned with three shot groups. Im extremely confident in 3 shot groups. You just need a good rifle and good components. If you have a rifle with issues then you will have to shoot a lot more. Ultimately you just need to settle on a method that works for you.

 

[lb-ft]

I second the 3-shot methodology. It’s never let me down. Now, full disclosure, if I was wealthy and retired I’d probably do 5 or 10 shot groups just for the heck of it. Money and time to burn, why not.