What do you consider a good group?
 

I hear people say they shoot good groups a lot. Being as new to archery as I am, I have no idea what a good group is. What size do you consider to be a good group at 20, 30, and 40 yards. I have yet to shoot more than a few arrows past 20 yards. I can easily get groups at 20 yards to group in a 3inch diameter. Is this considered good, bad, or fair? I don't want to be moving back too soon.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

I like to divide the yardage by 10, then make it inches.

so a good 30 yrd group would be in a 3" circle. anything better than that is great.

example: 45 yrds, 45/10 = 4.5" group.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Never thought of a formula like that, but I think that's pretty sound for most people. For hunting purposes, I'm pretty happy with 2" groups at 20 yards, 3" at 30 and 4" at 40. I recently mentioned on another post that I'm turnng in softball-sized groups at 50, which I said is probably not world-class, but I think it'll be good enough for my upcoming elk hunt. So ... all in all, I think Ed's right on.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Similar for me, although most groups at 20 yards should have shafts just about touching. Good shooting to you. ;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

I'm sure that you will get greatly varying answers to this one.

I don't see any of the experienced archers answering, so I will throw in my two cents.

I would consider 3" groups good. I assume you are going for hunting, not target shooting.

Like you, I started at about 20 yards and was having no problem with 3" groups (after working out some grip and stance issues). Things get exponentially harder as you get out though. Sometimes (like yesterday), I was struggling with consistent 3" groups at 25 yards. I finished up strong, but had a few erratic flights and down and left misses. My goal is consistent 3" groups at 30 yards for hunting (which I have not reached). I'm only shooting 6" at 30 yards (sometimes better - talking about consistent here).

My thinking is even though the kill zone for deer is obviously bigger than 3", taking a real shot on game from a stand with no warm up shots is more difficult, so I would like some small margin for error.

EDIT: 2 experienced archers beat me to post, so disregard that comment. :D

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

this is just my opinion, and I have been shooting a bow and bowhunting for 28 years,but I think that before you move back from 20 yds you should be shooting groups that all your arrows should be touching or at least very close to touching.You dont want to move back to soon because all you will do is hurt your confidence, and that is not a good thing for your consistancy. When you do start to move back to 30 and 40 yards and get proficient at those distances then that 20 yard shot seems like a chip shot

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

i agree, that is pretty much the same idea i use

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Greg, that is only good enough for elk if you are alright with hitting just anywhere on the heart. I myself like to be able to pick the ventricle I am going to split at 50 yards;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

LOL huntingson... Maybe one of these days I'll work myself up to your standards! :D

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Ilike the division thing too. 2" at 20- 3 at 30 etc.

Things are different with my recurve though, 6" at 20yds and I'm feeling good!

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Nah...aim for an individual blood cell...aim small, miss small. ;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Depends on your experience, the time you have to practice and if you get any sort of instruction. It also depends on what you want to do in my opinion.

You don't need to have target archer skills in order to hunt if you know your limits. It certainly doesn't hurt though.

3 inch groups for a new archer with hunting as the goal is plenty good in my eyes. As long as you can do it consistently with your hunting gear on. Now if you plan on shooting spots you might want to set your goals a bit higher.

3-4 inches at 20-30 yards is perfectly lethal if you place your shots well ( knowing where to put them).

I know guys that don't really shoot better than that, if that well and they don't have any trouble taking game year after year. The key is they can do it consistently and are very good hunters. They know their game, know how to stay calm and know where to put the arrow. They also have confidence that their equipment will get the job done.

On the other hand I have a buddy that is awesome on the 3-D range and at shooting spots. This guy is like human range finder and his arrows usually hit the mark. In the 5 or 6 years I have known him he has only killed one deer to my knowledge. He is great marksman, but a piss poor hunter.

I'm not telling you to quit now, or that you shouldn't strive to be better. Many people get good enough at 20 yards that they are afraid to group arrows at 20 yards for fear of damaging them. However 3 inch groups for a new archer is nothing to be ashamed of. Some days that's all I can pull off if I don't have my head together.

Paul

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Another great post from Paul. Agree 100%.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

I'm happy with thisgroup that I shot an hour agoat 25yrds, sure glad I got a Bitz.:DThe diff entryanglesare from target shift on impact.I think it's fine for hunting.;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Double post.[&o]

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Oh....I see, now.

I shot this "group" last Fall off my patio......with BH's, at 20 yds.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

GMMAT,

All that shooting and you still couldn't hit one bullseye! ;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

That group is not Acceptable to me:D

I agree with paul 100%

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Dem is little dots, man!

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

early in and GGMAT your grouping are really... wow! If I can shot like that since august. How much years of experiences do you have?

Francis

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

GMMAT,

The phemoral artery is also very small. That's no excuse. ;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

thats good. some times i can get them closer put mostly i get groups the sit of the dots on a block at 22yrds

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

What is that a 2-foot group? You better start practicing if you hope to be able to hunt this fall with any chance of success. Only 1 out of 5 is even anywhere near the center of that target.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

I shoot only one arrow!:D

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

:D:D You'refunny! I'm laughing in front of the computer.
Do you have tricks to make better group?

Francis

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Simply learn proper form and do everything the exact same wayfor each shot, consistancy rules. I thinkone of the very most important things to remember for accuracyis to keep on that target until that arrow hits!;)

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Consistently shooting your arrows in a 3 inch circle is definetly good. For deer hunting, I like to say that if you can consistently put your arrows in a 6 inch circle then you should be pretty good, considering you can hit the vitals of a deer consistently.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Depends on ability and your standard. It is different for abilities.

20 yds five arrows touching or close. Little space between them.

30 yds. 4 in circle

40 yds 5 in circle

50 yds 7-8 in circle

That is Mine. I wish it were better. 40 yd max for hunting with a clear open shot.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

That was a mistake but what i meant to say is that it is the smae formla i use.
I just wish i could keep 5 and 6 inch groupings at 50 and 60 yards.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Right now if I can fling an arrow and hit a target without punching the trigger....that is a good group regardless of my yardage.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

I think a lot of people have a misconception of what a top notch shooter can shoot as compared to average to good backyard shooters. These 4" groups at 40 yards that everyone claims are really good groups. The difference between this and the very elite archers in the world is that they can shoot not one or two groups like that, but 30, 45, 60, etc arrows in a row with no flyers. Pull the 1-15 flyers people get on average to throw that 40 yard group off and you have a group that is world class. It's not about shrinking the size of the group, its about consistency........that will win more tournaments than most would believe.

Below is a slightly better than average 40 yard group for me. I can hit the black dot on a morrell bag at 40 yards 2-3 times out of 4 with most of the misses just a hair out. I can honestly say I am right now shooting 27-29 out of every 30 arrows into a 4" group or better at 40 yards.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Any 3 arrow group that I can shoot and NOT bust a nock, shoot through a vane or robin hood one is a GOOD group...because dem a-rows be exponsive and chit......

I honestly have stopped shooting more than one arrow per dot or per 3D target, just because I do tend to be hard my own equipment. I honestly try to avoid shooting them together...but I think its just a habit to shoot for the bullseye...or the 11 ring etc etc..

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

For me, these are good groups.
20 0 to 2" (I don't shoot groups at 20 too much because of arrow/fletch damage.)
30 1-3"
40 2-4"

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

The first 40 yard group I shot, I got a robin hood. I was like "wow, cool", then I went to get the arrow and was like "oh, wait". First and last time I shoot at the same spot on a target.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

Good stuff on consistency, RJ. Makes a lot of sense.

Someone might in good conscience post that they get 4" groups at 40 (not talking about Greg/MO here;)), but may be seriously discounting the errant shots.

My goal is for "hunting consistency." Make the misses smaller and fewer.
That is why I want "typical" 3" groups at 30 yards, b/c I know that I am quite capable (especially on a deer) of looking up, flinching, torquing, arm shake, etc. and be a couple of inches off.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

RJ must shoot a LOT! Very good 40 yd groups Man! Never in my life....

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

i agree w/ rj, again. its all about cleaning up the bad shots. everybody makes good shots, they aren't the issue. to really do this i have to keep myself from rhythm shooting. you know - the instance after release - already reaching for an arrow and nocking it. instead i have to make myself take a second - take a breath - start over - make every shot my first shot. i used to be a pretty good rhythm shooter - until it led to drive by shooting, and until i realized that in neither hunting nor 3d would i ever be taking shots when i was in rhythm - they'd always be my first shot that counts.

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

And for God's sakes.....

If you're thinking about shooting a lot of 3D.....buck the trend.....and learn how to do so in an expeditious manner. Either do so.....or good luck finding a deer that'll stand still long enough for you to go througha pre-shot routine like I see some guys utilize.

Holy CRAP! While we're YOUNG!!

RE: What do you consider a good group?
 

RJ that groups is not acceptable to me:D