Information content in a single 3-round group?

[Walkalong]

An aggregate is five five shot groups averaged together. Then you also have the average for everything that weekend.

 

[bush3755]

https://nbrsa.org/sites/default/files/World Records as of 1-12-2015R.pdf

The above lists all the group and aggregate short range records for the NBRSA. Most interesting to me is Walt Berger's aggregate record shot in 1982 shooting 150 rounds into several groups at 100, 200 and 300 yards. It's .3555 MOA average tells me he was able to keep all groups under about .550 MOA.

Longer range records are listed in:

https://nbrsa.org/world-records-long-range-shooting

 

[Hangingrock]

I use to read Precision Shooting magazine until the publication ceased. The extent that individual's went in the quest of extreme accuracy was a bit much but none the less informative. As for myself I'm not a bench rest shooter thus three shot groups are not what I strive for in regards for accuracy potential.

There are certain loads that establish acceptable accuracy standard in a broad range of rifles thus become standards in competition. While extremely small three shots groups @ 100yds may or may not be a start tell me what they do out to 500yds and then out to 1000yds.

 

[bush3755]

Considering all the variables in components and humans shooting rifles as well as the variables in the rifle, I'm convinced that 40% of all 3 to 5 shot groups will be about average in size compared to a few dozen of them. 30% will be either a little larger or smaller. Groups a lot larger or smaller than average will be about 20% of all fired. The biggest and smallest groups will happen about 10% of the time.

If one shoots a few dozen groups with 30 shots in them, I think they'll all be pretty close to the same size.

Which has the greatest range of variables; shooter, rifle or ammo?