Practice session sequencing
 

I've been thinking lately (always frightening) about the way in which I experiment at the range. If I am going to shoot a single bullet and try varying charges, as I plan to do this coming weekend with the 54 cal, my procedure tends to be:

Shoot 3 shots with 70 grains, then 3 with 80, then 3 with 90 etc.

It occurs to me, it may be more revealing to shoot 1 with 70, then 1 with 80, then 1 with 90, three times in a row. By doing it this way, the variables are more evenly shared and no subsequent group is inadvertently punished or rewarded.

An example would be:

You arrive at the public range and are the only shooter. You get 3 shots in with 70 grains and 1 with 80, before a guy gets set up nearby and goes to work. Your results show the 70 grain charge produced the tightest groups. Might it have been the new distraction?

Or it's a hot summer day, and the 90 grain charge performs the best. Might it have been the hotter barrel of the final group or softer sabots warmed on the bench by sunshine?

It seems as though those variables which do exist would be more evenly shared by shooting 1 with 70, then 1 with 80, then 1 with 90 three times, or five as I prefer, to achieve the most valid, if not the most accurate, result.

Thoughts?

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

yeoman

As the guy on TV said "it is always nice to have plan" and "you gotta love it when a plan comes together."

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

If you carry a "CLOSED" sign with you and put it up at the gate when you go to the range, you won't have to worry about a guy setting up nearyou. :D

You've got a point, but I would suspect that if you settle yourself down for each shot and concentrat on technique for each shot it won't matter that much.

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

Semisane - that's a leap of faith I'm not sure I can make. Suppose it's windy when I arrive and diminishes over the hour or two that I'm there. Or the punishment of the rifle has taken its toll after 15 rounds. Those kinds of changes can go unnoticed. Even a change from sunshine to cloud cover can affect results. For open sight shooters, I believe subconscious "adjustment toward the bullseye" also occurs when your brain knows you are sending the same missile sequentially.

This needs more study......[8D]

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

yeoman

Gee Whiz!!! make it easy - do not be so analytical... you'll never get a shot off - Have fun... but let us know what you do...

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

It sure would be an interesting experiment, but mighty hard to set up parameters. As you mentioned, wind and light conditions really conplicate the issue. Now, if you shot the exact same loads and same number of shots over the course ofa half dozen range sessions and used Sequence One for sessions 1, 3 & 5 and Alternating Sequence Two for sessions 2, 4 & 6 it might tell you something. (Are you looking for a homework assignment??)

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

Sabotloader - I find the analytics both fun and easy, though I "catch your drift", as we use to say.[&o]

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

yeoman

You have ruined my image of you... and here I thought you were mountain man that just loved shooting - but see that makes you a SMART mountain man...

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

I have used a similar approach when working up loads for my CF rifles.

If you have a way to pre measure your powder, tubes or film canisters, measure out your loads before going to the range. That way you can measure the 3 or 5 shots of powder before changing the measure and thus have the most consistency for each powder level. Then put up as many aiming dots as you have powder levels and shoot each powder load at a different dot, i.e. one dot for 70gr, one for 80gr, one for 90gr, etc. Shoot one of each and then go back and start again. This does help in weeding out some differences over time that can occur as the day goes on. Keep everything else as consistent as possible for best results. I would also suggest doing at least 2 or 3 range sessions like this to average out the results and check for consistency of results. This helps justify and gives a good reason for more range sessions, right? :D

Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

I tried that, unless you go down range and mark each shot you will end up wondering if you got mixed up or not when one goes into the wrong group. Lee

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

dmurphy - that was precisely the approach I thought I'd use. By using a different dot for each charge, I might avoid Lemoyne's concern. Unless of course my bullets pass through the same hole. Shucks![:o]

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

Since I like a big boom I owuld wrk backwords! 90.80.70. That way of my 90 looks good I probably won't have to go to the 70 as I've heard the TC Pro likes hotter loads. Hm-m-m a cunumdrum!

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

Buck Hunter 1,is it like myTriumph? It has no loads below 90 gr and most are 110 except the 200 gr Sw it likes 150gr. The thing is if you give it what it likes it shoots nice groups. Lee

RE: Practice session sequencing
 

Lemoyne yes it likes hot! You taught me that when I first started shooting these smoke makers about 1 hyear ago. I didn;t beleive you as i came from the Wolf world where over 85 grains was a tumbler and shor Powerbelts. I got the Pro loaded hot as advised and never looked back. I am not recoil shy so it does not bother,

Most all are about 110 grainers, and I have had good luck w/ that sw 250 grain in the easy glide sabot. I have 3 different bullets i'm trying once I get settled in 4H programs TMZ, Gold Dot 300 grain and Parker BE 275. I'm a startin at 110 T7. I just bought a jug so I use that up and then buy BH209, From the other site it seems real and good . I'm even questioning the expense w/ all the +'s I'm reading.