shots in a group

04 January 2002, 15:16

<thomas purdom>

shots in a group

I was reading one of the gun and hunting magazines the other day and stopped to read an article on one of the short mags. The author said he shot five-shot groups for the testing and then discounted two out of each because those were flyers or pulled shots! What the heck. I count all shots in a five-shot group, or am I wrong. If I'm wrong I have been really kidding myself over the past several years and am shooting a lot better than I thought I did. So, is a five shot group really a three shot group? Thanks folks ... Tom Purdom

04 January 2002, 15:49

<I Need Guns>

I agree that this is a odd way to look at a groop. Hell you could shoot three boxs into a target, then recored the 5 you like best.

If the fliers were result of of the shooter, not gun or ammo, then i could under stand this practis. They are testing the products not there skill.
I have read simmiler articals and believe that 5 shots are a 5 shot patern. What it might be is some company is paying them for the review, so they are as oprimistic as posible.

04 January 2002, 16:25

<Eric>

Three shots are standard. Five is O.k.and works fine, but if you are throwing out the worst two, you are wrong. One is a "flyer", two shots out, you can't shoot or the ammo is bogus.

My two cents.

Regards,

Eric

http://www.sandygunworks.com

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04 January 2002, 18:44

<Bill>

I just quit while I am ahead and stick with three shot groups

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04 January 2002, 18:53

Robert D. Lyons

If you can call your shots and you know which ones you pulled, then you can discount those from the group, since it was you and not the gun or the load. Otherwise count all 5 shots.

04 January 2002, 22:50

<.>

quote:
Originally posted by Robert D. Lyons:
If you can call your shots and you know which ones you pulled, then you can discount those from the group, since it was you and not the gun or the load. Otherwise count all 5 shots.

And this sort of depends on whether you're scoring or "testing a load."

Over the course of the afternoon, three shot groups save a lot of ammo. Three shots give you a minimal data "triangle" around your point of impact. If you're sighting in or testing ammo, this should be reliable data IF (IF) you're shooting consistent groups and your shooting form is good.

If you're getting flyers and your shooting form is good, then you need more "data" and a five shot or larger group will give you a better idea of what your ammo is doing.

In these parts, all my shooting buddies know when they "pull" a shot and get a flyer due to their form.

It's your data, your group, your accuracy. I like the proverbial "five shot bug hole" if I can get it.

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