Thread: 3 shot groups are useless!

Checked my zero yesterday for a Tahr trip. It got me thinking. As I fired my first, and intended only shot, I felt my right elbow move just a fraction on the tarpaulin I was laying on. I said to my spotter that I thought the shot might go left and he confirmed it was a cm to left of center. I decided to fire another shot and sure enough this time it was on the line i expected. Both shots were at correct height. With that, I was done.

I asked myself how I could feel so confident with this thread in mind?

My thinking is this. pretty much I have used what is effectively one rifle, one calibre, one load almost exclusively for 30+ years. I bought a BRNO .270 at the age of 20. Before that Id used a Century arms mauser in .270 for a few years. I exclusively used a load of 53.5-54 gr of 2209 and a 130gr projectile in all that time. Velocity in the range of 3000-3100. My new rifle I choose very much because it was 270, and stock dimensions LOP barrel length etc were very close too the old BRNO. I adjusted the trigger to match my old rifle.
Basically I know that at 100 yards my shot should land 3 inch high of the bull within a bullet diameter or so of the centreline each time I shoot. Any variance from that and I start looking for a problem.
I think its about having enough confidence in the cartridge, load, rifle and scope combination. And confidence in my own abilities. Built up from experience, to know that if a bullet does not go where its meant too, then find out why. If it does go where its meant to, then all is ok.