Accuracy testing: 3 or 5 shots?

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri May 27, 2011 9:53 pm

I'm kicking around a project idea for this long weekend. Without getting into specifics at this point, what do you consider to be the minimum or sufficient number of shots in a group for accuracy testing? 3 or 5 shots?

The subject will be a .22LR...

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:01 pm

Cinco.

Joe

spaceman spiff · Post by **spaceman spiff** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:39 pm

J Miller wrote:Cinco.

Joe

+1

What's your choice of rifle?

spaceman

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:42 pm

5 shots, with 22LR, but unless you are using match grade ammo weigh your rounds until you have 5 that are equal. That will take the fliers out of the equation.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sat May 28, 2011 8:22 am

5

If you really want to go crazy,buy 3 different brands of Match grade ammo/use a lead sled/and while leaving enough time to avoid excessive barrel heat up do 10 rds?
More Samples/Qty while removing most of the possible operator errors will provide the closest true result.

But hey I am a retired Metrologist

Good Luck!

86er · Post by **86er** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:09 am

With a 22RF I actually do 10 shots with about 30 seconds between them for accuracy testing.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:11 am

Almost all of my shooting, both silhouette and smallbore prone, requires strings of 10 shots at either 100 meters or 100 yards, therefore I test .22 ammo for accuracy using 10 shot strings at 100 meters. Separates the sheep from the goats, 8 shots in an inch is no big thing, 10 shot is something else again. Almost always a flyer out of the group a ways. The cheap ammo will throw the flyer(s) further.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:25 am

Thanks guys!

Here's what I'm thinking about. I picked up some scrap cabinet type wood for my favorite price: free. I want to make a block to hold .22LR which is no big deal. I own a ruler, pencils, a drill press and drill bits and I'm not afraid to use them.

I want to set something up to hold 5-10 "control rounds" when trying Acu'rized ammo but wasn't sure if I should set up the block to hold multiples of 3 or 5 for the re-formed rounds.

The test subjects will be a CZ452, BL22, Win75 and maybe the Buckmark carbine.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:42 am

Try both - see if you learn anything different about the rifle or the ammo or your shooting at 5 you didn't know at three.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat May 28, 2011 11:14 am

We have a local club at which they conduct benchrest .22 LR matches. These guys spend hundreds just in testing all the various .22 LR products. Most all have about $2000 in their rifle and scope. They shoot some teeny tiny groups BUT because they have to shoot at 25 then 50 then 100 yards there is some skill involved as well just in keeping track of their come-ups and such. Some of these guys (remembering that the ammo comes in 50-round boxes and some costs upwards of $18+ a box now) shoot multiple 5-round groups in testing. I think that 5-rounds is about the max duration of their ability to concentrate, they can then take a break and have another go.

L_Kilkenny · Post by **L_Kilkenny** » Sat May 28, 2011 11:43 am

For LOAD accuracy testing 3 shots is fine for I can tell everything I need to know about the LOAD by then. Accuracy testing a rifle is a different matter. The 10/22 I just built will shoot bug holes for the first 5 shots but will open up and drift a little as the barrel warms after that. More shots definitely tell different stories. But for the record I usually do 5 shot strings with a rimfire due to minimal ammo cost and do 3 shot strings when working up loads for my centerfires.

LK

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat May 28, 2011 5:36 pm

I'm a 5 shot for group size (when I'm actually that interested), but most important to me is where the 1st shot goes, then where any subsequent shots go.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat May 28, 2011 8:02 pm

5 is best for target IMHO. 3 is good for hunting guns.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Sat May 28, 2011 8:27 pm

Hobie wrote: . I think that 5-rounds is about the max duration of their ability to concentrate, they can then take a break and have another go.

Har!!!

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Sat May 28, 2011 9:11 pm

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Sun May 29, 2011 5:05 am

5 shots and repeated 5 times, average all groups

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun May 29, 2011 3:46 pm

I used to do 5 but with the need to test copper bullets have switched to 3.

bj94 · Post by **bj94** » Mon May 30, 2011 11:20 pm

I think 10 is better for some reasons. I think with 10 you'll pretty much get the same results you would get with 5, except it will give you a better chance to see if there are occasional fliers. I think you could have 2 different combinations to test, and they would give similar average group sizes except that one might be more prone to fliers than the other.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:11 am

I think the 10 shot deal has stuck with me (when shooting .22,s ) because back in the 70's when we had a High School Rifle Club(Junior NRA sponsored program)that was what our groups were measured on and its just stuck with me.

Yes my friends, thats back when we could take our guns to school with us!

Accuracy testing: 3 or 5 shots?

Accuracy testing: 3 or 5 shots?

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personally I go with 5

Re: Accuracy testing: 3 or 5 shots?