10+ round groups

[MontanaMarine]

A lot of year is cool enough around here that my barrels just don't get that hot.

If it's mid summer, 80s-90s, I'll get up and take a break for a few minutes and put the rifle in the shade of the truck with the action open and letting a little breeze flow through it. Maybe 5 minute pause or so.

My general rule of thumb is that if the barrel is cool enough to hold onto, it's not hot.

When the oil on the outside of the barrel starts smoking, then it's getting pretty hot. Only done that with military weapons though.

 

[Greyfox]

During load development work for all my loads I shoot 10+ shot strings to check for consistency/ES. I'll occasionally check with 10+ round groups with my competition rifles(PRS etc) where I'm shooting long strings in warm weather, or when seasoning the barrel after a cleaning. I normally shoot 3-5 round groups with my hunting rifles, ladders, zero checks, etc.

One of my 6.5 PRS rifles. I like to put about 10-20 rounds through the rifle after cleaning, and prior to a match. This particular rifle is good for 200+rounds between cleaning. I was my clean bore shot, 2/3 were sight adjustments. 4 was shot from a prone position/rear bag. All 20 rounds shot at 200 yards.

 

[Pdvdh]

Good shooting.

 

[TwoMore]

we have two seasons in Mississippi Hot and **** Hot

 

[CaptnC]

I need a psychologist when it comes to shooting paper...OMG I suck...

I'm at a range this very second where you have to put 5 in a 5" circle at 300yds to qualify for there long range targets...I've tried and tired but can't get it done. So I sneak over and ring them easily out to 600yds.

WELL...got caught today so I said what the hell...the 6.5-284 is shoot great should be no problem...

I'm on my third target and have not been able to do it yet!

3 in the white...got two more to go!

 

[cbailor]

So when test loading to find a load how many shots should be used to one load and what are you looking for exactly then?

 

[MontanaMarine]

I generally load three rounds of each increment in powder charge, or seating depth.

If the 3-round group is too loose, that can be discarded.

If the 3-round group looks good, I'll try a 10-round group to see how that holds up.

 

[BallisticsGuy]

So when test loading to find a load how many shots should be used to one load and what are you looking for exactly then?

This is just my method for quickly identifying loads with potential and then dialing in on them and validating stats as I go.
3 for quick & dirty grouping tendency
5 for quick and dirty velocity Avg (no SD's yet, sample too small)
10 for any-ol-time grouping tendency
10 for quick & dirty SD's.
20 for solid SD's

Thresholds
500yrd & under: SD's not much more than really about 20fps for my taste, groups 1MOA or less.
Over 500yrds but under 1200yrds: SD's no more than 15fps, groups under .8MOA
Over 1200yrds, SD's no more than 10fps, groups .5MOA or less

Standards
My usual requirement for a match load is SD's in single digits, group sizing average at half an inch and no flyers. That spec gives me combos that can do anything I want of them. For horsing around, I'll shoot some pretty sloppy ammo if I don't care about hit rate.

 

[Rich Coyle]

At what cadence are you guys firing the ten shot groups at? In other words are you banging out ten in a row? Or, are you letting the barrel cool between some part of the ten shot group? For example - shoot five shot group. Let barrel cool. Shoot another five shot group at same POA then measure ten shot group.

I'm going to try ten shot groups this weekend and was just wondering if there's any protocol you guys follow on letting the barrel cool during the ten shot string. Thanks.

Ten shots would take me an hour or more. I am a hunter and concerned with cold bore first round hit.

 

[Hondo64d]

Ten shots would take me an hour or more. I am a hunter and concerned with cold bore first round hit.

Then shoot ten cold bore shots at the same POA. It will give you a very accurate assessment of what your rifle is likely to do with your next cold bore shot.

John

 

[Rich Coyle]

Then shoot ten cold bore shots at the same POA. It will give you a very accurate assessment of what your rifle is likely to do with your next cold bore shot.

John

That's what I do. One time I took a target for a .257 Weatherby I did on a Savage action with a $135 Midway .25-06 barrel. I had it chambered and fluted. Every morning for six mornings I went to the range to play. I fired one shot each morning from that Savage. The six shot group was 1.05". The group was centered on the vertical and 2" above the aiming point. I was delighted. By the way that Savage had a Swarovski z5 5-25X52.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

With my primary hunting rifle I do as stated above.
Once settled on the load and can stretch it out a bit for good dope. I'll clean it and then I will take it with me each time I go to the range. 1 shot cold followed by a 3 shot group at 100 yards. Put it back in the bag until next time. This happens July/August time before the fall.
Other rifles occupy the line for most of the time. But this one only gets about twenty rounds through it to ensure it's up to the task. Worked so far.

 

[Saracen]

How many of us shoot more than the traditional 3 or 5 round groups and why ? I was doing some confirmation on a recently developed load for a new rifle. I happened to have 17 pieces of primed brass on hand so I loaded them all up with a load that showed promise in a previous 3 round group.

Over the course of about 30 minutes I fired them all through the chronograph into one group. ES wasn't horrible, but not great either. Consistent accuracy on the other hand, surprised me . I've never shot any groups greater than 5 rounds before today, but I managed to stack all 17 rounds into one ragged hole about 5/8".

What does this tell me ? I'm not sure other than I managed to squeeze the trigger properly 17 times in a row.

 

[Saracen]

Excellent shooting ,and an excellent load.
I'd advise shooting at the longest distance, using about 10 rounds but with a big rest between each shot .
That's what amounts to one shot one kill.
Also, it rules out barrel overheating