Thread: Load development/Gun Smith

OK, I have a couple questions and the answers are simply for you to think about?

How many shots in each group?

How much time between each group?

Do you have anything that is as accurate and cheaper to shoot such as a 223?

I have had a few people who are, shall we say, 5 inch group shooters. If they were to put 20 or 30 rounds through a rifle (leaving time between each shot for barrel cooling) then the overall group would be about 5 inches. But sometimes two or three of the shots are closer together and sometimes not so much. I had a 223 and was getting similar results. I would rock up to the range, pt 3 shots down and have a tight clover leaf group and thought - sweet. But my next group would open up or be somewhere else. When I took the time and put 40 rounds down at two separate targets, I got a pair of consistent and even 2 inch groups which is what I was capable of with that rifle. Both groups were about 1.5 inches to the right and about 1.5 inches high. It just so happened that the 1st shots would sometimes cluster together and not necessarily in the same part of the group as last time.

After much practise etc, I know what my groups are. And as such if I need to alter my scope I try to use a 5 shot average if the 1st three seem too good.....

I would suggest getting something like an accurate 223 and spend some time doing a 20 or 30 shot group and see what your shooting is like. You could do it with the 7mRemMag but it will be a lot more expensive.....But if you did this with the 7mmRM afterwards you may be able to see how much is rifle and how much is shooter. (EG if you get a similar group with the 223 and the 7mmRM then you will know that the rifles are fine and it is your groups. If you get different sized groups then one of the rifles may be "better" than the other.