OK OK,

I've heard about all the 1/4" groups and 1/2" groups. Generally they are 3 or maybe 5 shot groups. But now I want to know what you "average", (not one time, best ever) for ten shot groups. I'm generally talking smaller calibers, like 223 to 270.

Dave

[This message has been edited by rifleman (edited 04-30-2002).]

I would say a inch would be a great 10 shot group, and 1.5 would be the norm.

Thanks DanD,

That sounds fairly reasonable. Let me make one clarification to future posters, no custom rifles or benchrest, just plain old ordinary hunting rifles.

I have one of the first run Remington Light Tactical rifles with a 20" barrel in 308 Win. caliber with a 8-32 target scope mounted and a couple of times for grins I did 10 shot groups. By about 5 or 6 shots the paper had a ragged hole punched in it and the rest of the shots went to the same spot. It was a waste of ammunition and was not even an experiment I would care to repeat.

My Reminton 40-X in 6mm Rem Int. will do .375" or better at 100 yards for at least 10 shots.

rifleman. I'd suggest most of us can't give you this info, because we rarely (or never) go to the extent of shooting a 10-shot group!! Or, maybe, we're AFRAID TO shoot 10-shot groups, because we know they won't be nearly as impressive as a three or five round group!! Or, is that the point you're trying to make?

I have a couple of hunting rifles that will keep 10 shots in an inch (7-08 and 7mag) but they are not the norm. I think if a fellow has a HUNTING rifle that will consistantly keep 10 shots in an inch and a half, he'd better cherish that sucker.
The question needs to be asked: why would a fellow be shooting 10 shot groups with a hunting rifle??? One would think that if the rifle shot to the same point beginning with a cool barrel followed by two or three follow shots that fell into the same cluster, it would be all the accuracy he would need. When you get into 10 shot groups, more and more of your accuracy depends on replicated bench technique and ammo prep.

Ten shots while letting the barrel get "cold" would be interesting. I'll try that. meausure the bbl. surface temp and fire a shot, then go play with something else until it completely cools back to "cold" temp and repeat 9 more times. Then, I'd like to do the same thing but with a CLEAN barrel after every shot AND letting it cool. I hate leaving a gun in the safe uncleaned, but I've noticed it takes a few rounds at least for my .270 to settle in.

Now, I have shot 10 shot groups with my Cooper in .223. Five shot groups with this gun average .5" at 100yds with Nosler 40g BT's over 27.5 gr of H335--my "not too hot" prairie dog load. My 10 shot groups usually go around .75", sometimes I get a flier out of the "main hole" that takes it to an inch. I find I have trouble maintaining concentration for 10 shots (Hey, so I'm a little ADD..what can a guy say?).

I always shoot 9 shot groups out of my 10/22 Mag (Heavily customized) because that's what the magazine holds. On a low wind day I can get 9 (federal 40g solids) about an inch, sometimes a little less or more.

R

Thanks for the replies!

Here's what spurred the question. The one spot where 10 shot groups may become important (and I didn't mention this earlier) is varmint hunting, particularly prairie dogs or flickertails where shooting comes in bunches and often not allowing the barrel to cool completely.

I have a NEF 223 Superlight Handirifle that is - I'll call - persnickety. I've occassionally gotten decent three shot groups, but not consistently - with any load, factory or handload. And I read these forums where I hear about all these tight groups and have worked hard to get there. But no deal. The best I can come up with CONSISTENTLY is about 1.25" groups (generally 3 or 5 shots). I was out last Friday with a handload (that I had worked up to) - 50 gr Sierra Blitz over 27.3 gr Varget, Win brass and primer. The load worked well enough to merit further testing. So I loaded up 10 more.I also loaded up some exactly the same except for using Fed 205 primers.

The Win primer load was about a 2" 10 shot group, "loosely" grouped. The Fed primer group was 1.25" with 9 of the shots being within .9". I was amazed at the difference with just primer change. I should say I loaded some rounds with lighter powder charges to check for pressure signs, but wanted to zero in on the 27.3 level. Coincidently, this is the charge that works fairly well with another load using Win nickle brass, 40 gr Ballistic tips and Fed 205 primers (ala green788).

Anyway, I was curious as to how other people fare with groups of 10 shots or thereabouts. I've come to the conclusion, at least with this rifle that this is about as good as it gets, and some people seem to concur that it's not so bad after all.

Thanks,
Dave

By the way, my routine when I'm shooting groups is to wait 2 minutes between shots to allow for barrel cooling.

I've always considered myself more of a "hunter", and less of a "shooter". Reloading is converting me more to a "shooter". I really enjoy a trip to the range, it's very challenging to get that group smaller. I also reload for 260, 270, and 38/357.