3 shot groups for the postal match?

[jeff223]

what do you think?change from 5 shot groups to 3 shot groups?you will see smaller groups with 3 shot and i think you will see more shooters if we were to change.just think about when you are shooting at the range and you have 2 or three shots all touching then all of a sudden you get a flyer.what do you think?i will shoot either way 5 or 3 but i think it will be better for more people with the 3 shot group

[Paul5388]

Jeff,

I haven't taken part in a postal match yet, but I think the 5 shot group is a better idea.  I get quite a few decent 3 shot groups, but I think the 5 shot group tells me more about the gun and the load.  

Just my dos centavos.

[handi35]

I would agree with paul on the 5 shot groups giving you a better idea of what your gun will do but after I work up a good load for one of my rifles I never shoot over a three shot group, most of the time if I stack 2 in the 10 ring while cheaking the sights out im done and ready to go hunting. With any single shot rifle its the first shot that counts most, and if you dont get your game with the first three shots you most likely will not get it.
 Just my 2 nonsense.

[mag41vance]

Although I like my 3 shot groups more often, I think the competion is better when you have to make that 5 shot round work for you. That being stated, how about this:

 3 shots at 50 for the shotguns with slugs
 5  shots at 50 for the pistol caliber rifles
 3 shots at 115 yards for the Centerfire rifles
 3 shots at 100 for the .17hmr
 5 shots at 50 for all other rimfires, including the .17 hmr2

[JPH45]

Very interesting. I do think a 5 shot group tells more about the rifle than a 3 shot, and as often my 3rd shot is the flyer not 2nd, 4th or 5th. Also, the way the rules are set up, barrel heat should be a non issue, there is no time limit for the shots on the target, a fellow could take all day to shoot 1 target if he wanted, shooting either another arm or other targets between shots on a target. In fact, one could concieveably shoot at 5 targets at once, rotating the target fired and allowing for 20 minutes between shots and choosing the best of the bunch. One could do this several times, shooting as many as 50 targets if one wanted, just simply to increase the odds of seeing a really great group.

I don't think 3 shots or 5  will draw or keep participants away. I think people participate for reasons other than winning, after all, what is to win??? This match strikes me as much more a show of personal achievement than a true match where there is actually something to claim.

[student]

5 shots is more of a challenge for me, and makes me work harder at it.  I say stick with 5 shots.

Student

[jeff223]

i understand what you all are saying.the 5 shot group is just fine with me,it was just a idea i had.

jph45,i put three targets up at a time when i shoot for the match.i start on the first one and shoot for a group.if i get a flier or one is out to far where i know the group is going to be bigger than what i want i then go to the next target card.i dont fire all five shots on a target  if i see that group size is going to be to big.all the good groups that i have shoot with  Handi Rifles come out of the first 15 shots fired on a given day.if i dont shoot a tight group one day i try again on another day.the 17 seems to hold accuracy longer than the centerfire rifles.

these Handi Rifles are good cheap hunting rifles that shoot great with a cold barrel.you shoot them slow and they will perform for you.when the barrels get hot you might aswell forget it and set them down.

[MSP Ret]

Add my vote for the 5 shot group....<><.... :grin:

[Wlscott]

5 shots it is.  I am intrigued by the suggestion that we move the .17HMR out to a hundred yards though.

Comments.......

[scruffy]

I vote for the 17hmr to be shot at 100yards.  That's where it shines and stands apart from the other 22 rimfires.  Which is good since it purpose is a long range rimfire small varmint cartridge, and long range rimfire target round.

later,
scruffy

[Longcruise]

I can't resist being a troublemaker here :-)

I think they should be 10 or 15 shot groups.  Take as long as you wish and shoot from a cold barrel.  Sure, groups will be bigger, but it's a level field no matter how many shots and the 10 or 15 shot group tells a much more about the accuracy potential of the firearm, IMO.

This of course from a non-participant in past matches

The classic 3 shot group seems to have evolved in the shooting press.  Maybe those guys are trying to save on ammo or maybe shooting a series of 3 shot groups and then presenting the best one sets better with the advertisers :eek:

I remember when the american rifleman magazine was more about shooting than it is today.  The standard for accuracy was often 5 ten shot groups :shock:

Hope I haven't p****d in anybody's Wheaties

[Winter Hawk]

I didn't get in on the postal shoot either, and haven't seen the rules.  That aside, my feelings are that if we are testing the shooter, there should be four targets, one for each position (prone, sitting, kneeling, offhand).  Five or ten shot groups.  This would test the shooter.  

If we are shooting off the bench, three shot groups would show the potential of the rifle, though five shots will show up the fliers.

-WH-