real 3 bullet shot group results

[folsoh]

I have a question on 3 bullet shot groups. How close together in succession are the rounds fired? Is cooling off period between the bullets necessary?

On average how close together in your experiences should a remington 700 sps rifle in 30.06 with a leupold VX-II 3 x 9 x 40mm scope group shots at 100 yards utilizing a lead sled to steady the rifle????

 

[Sunray]

"...are the rounds fired..." There is no set time, but a minute or so between shots should do nicely.
"...how close together..." Depends on the ammo. If you're not reloading, you need to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. The price of the ammo means nothing. The .30-06 loves 165 grain bullets and they'll kill any game you care to hunt. Good weight to start with.

 

[esheato]

You should be taking as long as it takes to for your gun to shoot to it's potential.

Completely useless answer, I know, but it's the truth.

With 223, I shot 5 shot groups, no breaks. 243, 3 shot groups and take my time. 338, I shoot 2 and cool for a min or two.

Your gun will let you know what it likes/dislikes.

Ed

 

[folsoh]

...I have been using remington corelokt in 165 grain and hornady in 165 grain.

 

[browningguy]

I would hazard that with 3 shots you really don't need any colling time at all. Even fairly thin barrelled hunting rifles don't seem to heat up much in 3 shots.

As for bullet weight it really does depend on the rifle, one of my '06's absolutely loves 150 gr. loads, and the other two like heavier bullets.

 

[smokey262]

How close together in succession are the rounds fired? Is cooling off period between the bullets necessary?

It depends on what you trying to achieve. Smallest possible group, or proof of hunting grade sight in zero

 

[folsoh]

mostly hunting grade zero

 

[PT1911]

hunting zero?

If that is the case, then you want your POI to be cold bore. For my hunting rifles I zero the scope then wait several minutes between shots to ensure a good cold bore zero.

It will do you no good whatsoever if the gun can shoot 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards after a 5 shot warm up, but shoots several inches off of that zero cold bore.

 

[benzy2]

It is also of importance to see how it groups in rapid fire. If you do need a second or third shot, it is key to know where those are going to go as well. If you wait so every shot is cold bore, it will tell you where that first one is going to go, but it will give no hints about the rest. For hunting rifles, I fire three in a row as fast as I can cycle the bolt and get back on target. This lets me know where the first three shots in the field should land.

 

[Uncle Mike]

If your hunting, your most likely going to be making cold bore shots, so your rifle should be shot in using cold bore technique....not rapid, or even slow 3 or 5 shot groups, but cold bore grouping.

As we do it at the shop, and really, it is a pain, but hey, were getting paid for it, if your cold, un-fired barrel is, let's say, 77 degrees when you send the first shot through it, then you should let your barrel cool back to 77 degrees before the next shot, plain and simple.

Using this method will guarantee your grouping is reflecting 'cold bore' characteristics, there will be no question what your rig will do with the barrel at that temperature, it is a good idea to sight in at temperatures as close to those you will be operating in!

On a 95 degree day with 70% humidity, while at an outdoor range, the average thin sporter barreled 308 may take 30 minutes or 'longer' to cool between shots, to allow the barrel temperature to return to the temperature you started with.

Allow yourself plenty of time, and enjoy the surroundings while at the range!

After you have established your 'cold bore' zero, then the fun begins with seeing what your rifle will do while firing slow and fast shot groups. Seeing what your rifle will do when it heats up!

And remember to record all of this discrepancy for future use!

Have fun!

 

[boricua9mm]

3-shot groups are generally regarded as a poor statistical indicator of a rifle's real world accuracy.

5-shot groups are a little bit better of an indicator.

Nobody argues with 10-shot groupings.

I usually will shoot at least a 5-shot group with about a minute in between shots. If things are going well, I try to extend that to 10-shots. That gives me a better idea of what to expect than a 3-shot group.

 

[smokey262]

On a 95 degree day with 70% humidity, while at an outdoor range, the average thin sporter barreled 308 may take 30 minutes or 'longer' to cool between shots, to allow the barrel temperature to return to the temperature you started with.

How true. Makes a guy look forward to frosty October mornings, doesn't it?

 

[Walkalong]

For a hunting rifle? Just fire them right after one another. That is what you might do in the field, so do it at the bench. Cool the barrel before doing it again. Remember, in the field your bore will be cold.