Realistic 10-shot groups

[Brathany]

Everyone shoots Sub-MOA all day and game to 1500yds. Why aren't you?

 

[highdrum]

20 shot groups is where it's at.........

 

[Brathany]

20 shot groups is where it's at.........
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Bolt or gas gun?

 

[highdrum]

Bolt or gas gun?

Bolt, 6gt with 107s, 6.5cm with 153.5, these are both heavy match rigs.

 

[Hikinghunter]

Bolt, 6gt with 107s, 6.5cm with 153.5, these are both heavy match rigs.

exactly the same as my lightweight big game guns then…

 

[Rocketeer77]

This is the method I use on light barrel, larger caliber, big game hunting rifles. I usually do 3+3+3 to get an idea of what a rifle/load is capable of, letting it cool between. Main reason is that I figure it's much closer to the actual use profile. I do try to fire them as quick as is practical while feeding from the magazine; it always amazes me how many people complain of poor feeding troubles while hunting.

To accommodate the time this takes I generally bring 4-5 guns to the range so I can keep on pulling the trigger.

To the OP question, 1moa for 10 consecutive shots is plenty good, and based off all my shooting and what I see at the range, is probably as good or better than what the majority of honest shooters are actually experiencing.

Honest shooters; when it comes to claimed accuracy arrrr right? A genuine one MOA hunting weight rifle five shot group is excellent despite all the internet BS that we see. Even then we're probably looking at a quality action & barrel, decent bedding and possibly hand loading.

 

[Ron 6mm]

Huntingfool18 above offers a lot of wisdom here.

 

[GSRetrievers]

Why make your five shot at 100, back it on up a little

 

[Lenny Foffa]

As a hand loader and occasional Comp shooter , the pride of making extremely precise rounds that perform consistently in a particular rifle is completely understandable! I love that ! In my light weight 270 Win Hunting Rifle or my short barreled 30-06 Hunting Rifke my personal goal is three shots ,ftom a cold bore , at 1 MOA or slightly less . 3 shots into 1 inch or slight less at ! Usually two of three holes touch ! 2 inch Group or a bit less at 200 ,and 3 inches or a bit less at 300. I like to shoot several groups of three. Usually 18 rounds or 21 rounds ,or 24 rounds per range session ! Very comfortable with this style of target shooting for Hunting Rifles! Keeping in mind my game is Whitetail, the target vitals is about 10. X12 inches ! 270 Win at 300 yards, light rifle ,fast bullet , deer is dead very quickly! Almost never any searching for the dead deer! Target rifles ,total different story !

 

[MagnumManiac]

Do others experience the same sort of thing?

I have always verified with multiple 10 shot groups with all of my loads.
My last was with my brand new REM 700 SPS 300RUM, was so impressed with the factory ammo to run it in, I had to shoot a 10 shot group to see what it could do, 1MoA is pretty impressive for a skinny barrel. I didn't wait too long between shots either. Barnes 180g TTSX is the ammo.

Cheers.

 

[Georgiashooter]

I didn't read everyone's responses, but first page and a half. I load develop shooting 5 shot groups unless I'm shooting a larger capacity case, 30-06,PRC or other magnum class. Those are 3 shots. Once I nail down a load and get my drops, I go back the next day, shoot 100 to verify zero, then dial and shoot one shot each at 2,3,4,and 500. If I'm within 3/4 minute of poa at distance, I'm all good. No point in shooting groups at distance with a hunting rifle. Every now and then I'll stop by the range, it's on the property I manage, and dial and shoot 1 random target with cold bore just to maintain my confidence in the rig. Yet to fail me thus far. Just my $.02!

 

[nksmfamjp]

I've been doing 5-shot groups for load development. Once I get a 1/2 MOA 5-shot group, I call it good. However, I'm finding that the same load opens up to 1 moa when I do 10-shot groups. I allow several minutes between shots to cool down.

Wondering:

1. Do others experience the same sort of thing?

2. I'm shooting with custom barrels (proof and fierce). But these are lightweight, high-recoil hunting rifles. Should I be demanding a 1/2MOA 10-shot group, or am I chasing a rainbow trying to make that happen?

I see guys at my range shooting 20-shot 1/2 MOA groups, but they are shooting huge bull barrel .223's literally ratcheted down to an enormous rest. I can see how that would be pretty consistent . What's a realistic expectation for the rest of us?

For load development, 5 or 10 shots are fine. If I were a real statistics expert, I could tell you how many shots are required to see x change. I'm not.

If you want to see what shoots 1" vs what shoots 1/2", sure 3 shots groups can do that.
1/4" maybe need 6 shots. 1/8" maybe 10 shots.

I'm not using this round count as a hard fast rule, but showing the concept.

So, over a range of 3-4 charge weights, 5 shot groups are a decent method. Trouble is you really cannot understand Sd under 10 shots and real statistics folks would say 30 shots.

Then there is the barrel burnout factor. If it takes a whole barrel to develop a load, who cares about the load developed?

I tend to shoot a one shot pressure ladder. This is just to see if there is a level that is too hot.

Then I back down 1-2% and load 21 rounds. I will shoot 3 shots groups with ~1 min between shots and about 3 min between groups. If that shoots and Sd is good, I will try to refine.

I have some software that helps me look at the composite groups.

 

[RichCoyle]

Not sure why there is so much push-back to shooting more.

The cost of components!

 

[MtPockets]

@Huntnful and @Hondo64d touched on it.

Not sure why there is so much push-back to shooting more.

I'm not advocating against shooting more, I just don't see any reason to shoot 10 shot groups when tuning a hunting rifle.
The first shot is the only one that counts.