The approach that provides one the ability to achieve their own personal goals would indeed be the best one to use as they do vary quite a bit from one individual to the next. 

JLouis

Seems like there are two different measuring sticks being used on this thread. One uses statistics to arrive at how tightly a rifle and load will group its shots, the other, i.e., J Jouis, who is trying to shoot 250s on the German ring target. Those two are not the same thing. A group is a group and where it falls on a target matters not. To shoot a 250, one must group all shots centered on the 25 ring. IMO, one is a test, being tight groups. The other is a game (sport), shooting high scores on a particular target.

I think the problem comes from the variables that aren't being specified or even possibly not controlled. Assuming you are testing indoors from a machine rest you still have barrel condition. Start clean? Cool? Warm? Fouled? Hot? Clean between shots? Dirty? Let's ask John how he manages his barrel when he tests. John? For the moment we'll exclude 22 RF where a rifle may not shoot its best until 15 or 20 shots have been fired with the ammo to condition the bore.

As already noted more than once, what you are using rifle for matters a lot. All I normally care about is the first shot from a cold barrel -- but the "group", to use the word a bit loosely, is distance from POA to POI for that 1st shot

Various times I have tried to use my reliable hunting rifles for target shooting, BPCR, metallic silhouettes, mostly. Usually, they are not very suited to those games. NONE are suited to offhand shooting, or ever used offhand when hunting. Most will not shoot even good enough 10-shot groups for any target shooting. 

However, one military single shot, still in full military configuration, is stocked suitable for offhand AND even shoots plenty good enough 10-shot groups with reduced loads, loads that mimik similar loads used in testing 1890s new semi-smokeless powders. That is only rifle I ever got decent scores with in offhand target games. But it is not a good hunting rifle, although I could often use it OK.

My usage would seem rather extreme, as compared to nearly every one else posting in this thread.

Yes indeed Rebel my comment clearly pointed out the various approaches are endless and simply based on personal needs. If someone is just going out to shoot tin cans his approach would not likely be the same as someone who is going out to set new competitive records. Simply put their expectations are clearly not the same one could shoot cans with a Stevens Favorite but it is not really suited for setting new records so a different approach would probably be used. 

JLouis

I use five shot groups to initially test jacketed bullets but rely on 10 shot groups to initially test cast bullet groups. 
This initial testing is to discover the nodes or powder load sweet spots for a rifle.

I use 30 shot groups to do the final verification for statistical accuracy of what I believe is a good load.

So far I have achieved thirteen (12 scope & 1 irons) 250 cast bullet targets.

I have a long way to catch up to Ron Smith who has 25 or more 250 scores.

Cat_Whisperer wrote on Sep 6^th, 2018 at 5:58pm:


That critter has its Paws Up! Did you shoot it or not?

For development purposes I shoot ten shot 200yd. group targets and I shoot breech seated. My 28-35SS's average based on 28 each, different days, conditions and times of the year is now down to 1.472 and real close to the year round consistency I am wanting to achieve. Doing so has taught me to recognize, understand and to be able to shoot all the varying conditions and more importantly how to recognize when my rifle is starting to go out of tune. For simply practice purposes I like to shoot at least three each ten shot 200yd. targets to keep myself in tune and at times up to five depending on what I might need to be working on for the day. 

JLouis