I dont do the cold bore shot as much for any shifting zero but simply because it's a better practice for a hunting shot.
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Realistic 10-shot groups
- Thread starter Hikinghunter
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All first shots of the day are cold bore.
It just gets mentioned a lot that cold bore is the most important.
IridiumRed
Member
Read something years ago that really stuck w me (from one of the "the guys who really knows what they are talking about").
In shooting groups, when you go from 3 shot groups* to 5 shots, group size increases 30%, going from 5 shots to 10 shots, you get another 30% increase. That means if you shoot 1" 3 shot group, 5 shot group would be 1.3".... and the 10 shot would e 1.69". I think this was from statistical anslysis backed up by shooting many many groups over years.
*Groups here are for AVERAGE group sizes. Like at least 10 groups at each shot count (3 shot, 5 shot, etc). Single groups are pretty meaningless, esp w lower shot counts. Single 3 shot groups give you not much more than bragging rights...(and we tend to toss the bad groups anyways, blaming some random factor as the cause...).
I Do think its important to match groups w what the rifle is being used for... for hunting, cold bore shot consistency is #1. For a match rifle (esp one like high power w long strings), cold bore first shot doesnt mean that much. 3 shot groups from cold on a sporter hunting rifle can be useful.... as long as those groups go into same general place from one group to next... but for a high power load, 3 shots wont tell ya much besides maybe if you shoot 3 shots and its BAD, then maybe its probably time to look at different load..
10 shot groups from a big case small bore sporter, without lots of time to cool down, will put a lot of heat into everything, and you might just be seeing the effects of barrel heat ( barrel warp AND scope mirage!!) on target more more than just one load being "better" then another load. Besides just burning up your barrel faster.
Me, when i shoot, i mainly just shoot plates at 600 and 1000 yards, for fun. I dont stress over 1/4" difference in group size at 100, my ability to read the wind matters so much more to how many hits i make (esp since where i shoot has a LOT of wind... and can be very gusty too, with fast direction changes too). I usually just shoot 50 rounds when i go out, over 2 or 3 hours, sometimes at one plate, sometimes at a couple plates... i mainly just count hits but i do look at overall group size when done.
This is with 18 lb rifle, heavy palma contour barrel, 30", sleeved rem 700 with adjustable stock (and the stock fits me perfectly, love that), 30-06 ackley improved (used match rifle i picked up that i really like... didnt NEED the ackley kmproved in 06, but was rechambered from 308 by prior owner, so just stuck w that... and i do like extra velocity versus 308, esp at 1000 yards.. tho, they all shoot better than me anyways... biggest contributor to missing is the "nut behind the butt")
Anyways, blah blah blah, this has been an interesting conversation overall, just thought id throw in my $.02
In shooting groups, when you go from 3 shot groups* to 5 shots, group size increases 30%, going from 5 shots to 10 shots, you get another 30% increase. That means if you shoot 1" 3 shot group, 5 shot group would be 1.3".... and the 10 shot would e 1.69". I think this was from statistical anslysis backed up by shooting many many groups over years.
*Groups here are for AVERAGE group sizes. Like at least 10 groups at each shot count (3 shot, 5 shot, etc). Single groups are pretty meaningless, esp w lower shot counts. Single 3 shot groups give you not much more than bragging rights...(and we tend to toss the bad groups anyways, blaming some random factor as the cause...).
I Do think its important to match groups w what the rifle is being used for... for hunting, cold bore shot consistency is #1. For a match rifle (esp one like high power w long strings), cold bore first shot doesnt mean that much. 3 shot groups from cold on a sporter hunting rifle can be useful.... as long as those groups go into same general place from one group to next... but for a high power load, 3 shots wont tell ya much besides maybe if you shoot 3 shots and its BAD, then maybe its probably time to look at different load..
10 shot groups from a big case small bore sporter, without lots of time to cool down, will put a lot of heat into everything, and you might just be seeing the effects of barrel heat ( barrel warp AND scope mirage!!) on target more more than just one load being "better" then another load. Besides just burning up your barrel faster.
Me, when i shoot, i mainly just shoot plates at 600 and 1000 yards, for fun. I dont stress over 1/4" difference in group size at 100, my ability to read the wind matters so much more to how many hits i make (esp since where i shoot has a LOT of wind... and can be very gusty too, with fast direction changes too). I usually just shoot 50 rounds when i go out, over 2 or 3 hours, sometimes at one plate, sometimes at a couple plates... i mainly just count hits but i do look at overall group size when done.
This is with 18 lb rifle, heavy palma contour barrel, 30", sleeved rem 700 with adjustable stock (and the stock fits me perfectly, love that), 30-06 ackley improved (used match rifle i picked up that i really like... didnt NEED the ackley kmproved in 06, but was rechambered from 308 by prior owner, so just stuck w that... and i do like extra velocity versus 308, esp at 1000 yards.. tho, they all shoot better than me anyways... biggest contributor to missing is the "nut behind the butt")
Anyways, blah blah blah, this has been an interesting conversation overall, just thought id throw in my $.02
