Krochus, how in blazes do you measure a group? That ".80" picture is sure not a .80" group! Measuring center-to-center of bullet impacts, a .30 caliber hole extends to a radius of .15" from the center of the hole. If you measure from the outermost hole edge on one side to widest shot-edge on the other side, and subtract ONE DIAMETER, you have a reasonable approximation of the extreme spread, center to center.
To be a .80" group with .30-caliber bullets, the widest shots can only have one-half inch of paper, BETWEEN the holes. Your photo on my computer screen is smaller than life size, and even at that scale, the distance between widest holes is 3/4" ON THE SCREEN, which makes it likely to be at least an inch between widest holes which in turn means a group of 1.25-1.30". What gives?
Yesterday I fired a ten-round group with my Shiloh Sharps' .45-2.1", and the group formed a single ragged hole. The OUTSIDE maximum width of the hole is 1.30", and subtracting one bullet diameter (.46") gives me a group figure of 0.85".
Incidentally, a "group" is whatever the shooter decides it is, be it three, five or more rounds fired in an effort to see how closely-together the holes will snuggle. For hunting, a single shot fired at the same target on each of several successive days can be educational about just what one's hunting rifle actually does for that critical first shot.
A few years ago, a writer solicited opinions from the various bullet-makers and ballistic labs as to what number of rounds-per-group yielded the most-valid results without going to extremes. The majority opted for seven rounds. This was the smallest number that offered valid statistical results without excessive time, money and components going into the tests.
Most of my 'entertainment' rifle shooting uses my own cast bullets, and since I HAVE time, and I HAVE plenty of inexpensive cast bullets, I shoot ten-round groups for the most part. I find my results to be valid, but there are so many variables when using cast loads that I'll NEVER run out of things to test....which suits me just fine.
To be a .80" group with .30-caliber bullets, the widest shots can only have one-half inch of paper, BETWEEN the holes. Your photo on my computer screen is smaller than life size, and even at that scale, the distance between widest holes is 3/4" ON THE SCREEN, which makes it likely to be at least an inch between widest holes which in turn means a group of 1.25-1.30". What gives?
Yesterday I fired a ten-round group with my Shiloh Sharps' .45-2.1", and the group formed a single ragged hole. The OUTSIDE maximum width of the hole is 1.30", and subtracting one bullet diameter (.46") gives me a group figure of 0.85".
Incidentally, a "group" is whatever the shooter decides it is, be it three, five or more rounds fired in an effort to see how closely-together the holes will snuggle. For hunting, a single shot fired at the same target on each of several successive days can be educational about just what one's hunting rifle actually does for that critical first shot.
A few years ago, a writer solicited opinions from the various bullet-makers and ballistic labs as to what number of rounds-per-group yielded the most-valid results without going to extremes. The majority opted for seven rounds. This was the smallest number that offered valid statistical results without excessive time, money and components going into the tests.
Most of my 'entertainment' rifle shooting uses my own cast bullets, and since I HAVE time, and I HAVE plenty of inexpensive cast bullets, I shoot ten-round groups for the most part. I find my results to be valid, but there are so many variables when using cast loads that I'll NEVER run out of things to test....which suits me just fine.
