3 shot or 5 shot group ?

[mounting man]

Why do folks shoot a 3 shot group,for gun checks,but you must shoot a 5 shot group,at a BR shot ?

Mounting Man/in PA.

[diyj98]

You'll hear different reasons ranging from "cost savings" to "not heating up the barrel with 5, thus showing more 'hunting accuracy'".

But my guess would be it's much easier to boast about those tight groups with three shots than with five. I like to shoot one shot groups so I can tell the boys at the gunstore about my one hole groups<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

[PaJack]

Good question! When I shoot &quot;big game&quot; guns I do 3 shot groups but when I do &quot;varmint&quot; guns I do 5 shot groups...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt Safe!

Jack

You know I always am very picky when I comes to my groups. I always shoot 5 shots. Why? Because I want to know that it wasn't a fluke getting .5&quot; groups with 3 shots. Bad part of it is I get discouriaged easy with 5 shots.

[skeeter 7MM]

I shoot a 3 shot group. First off to conserve bullets, barrel and shoulder. Secondly I only hunt with my rifles, so I ain't at the range for a medal, just to improve for my hunting situations. I also don't care what my groups are vs. Mr. X, it all gives me confidence for HUNTING, nothing else. I let my harvests do the bragging!!!!!!!

[noway]

I sight in for hunting at 100 yards and then practice shooting at set distances to check downrange accuracy, bullet drop, etc. at 100 yard increments from 300 to 500 yards.
I shoot 3 shot groups, at a steady pace not letting the barrel cool off between shots because I want to determine hunting accuracy and make sure my shots are not going to &quot;wander&quot; as my barrel heats up.
Any more than three shots and the barrel is getting pretty hot.
I do most of my shooting in the morning in the spring so the barrel cools quickly for more shooting, I let the barrel cool completely before shooting each group of 3.

[mauser06]

im with PA jack...the smaller calibers dont heat up as fast and i can get a nice 5 shot group...my 30cals though i like shooting 3..gives the shoulder time to recover and i see a accuracy problem after 3..the barrel heats and the shots start to drift..

[James B]

I shoot three shot groups with hunting rifles because I almost never shoot more that three time at an animal. However if my three shots groups start to change for the worse then I may have to change something which might require more shooting. Rifles like my 22-250 have shoot more five shot groups because I require more pinpoint accuracy from a Varmit round. Also if I want to use it for deer, I have to know it will hit exactly where I am aiming.

[handloader1]

I have always shot 3 shot groups I guess it's because every one else I shoot with does the same. I think I will try shooting 5 shot groups, and see what happens. Good luck.

[Mykey]

I always shoot three shot groups and if i get a good group i'll go load three more and shoot at the same target just to make sure. I use to shoot five shot groups but after the third shot i can tell if it's a good load or not so i see no need to shoot two more times.