How long between shots/groups?

[BoilerUP]

Question for those with much more experience than I at printing very small groups on paper:

How long should it take to shoot a 5-shot group "for record"? How long do you wait between 5-shot groups to allow the barrel to cool?

I realize the answer is "it depends", but I'm curious in everyone's technique.

thanks!

[Rocca]

I was watching something the other day and they were talking about shooting 1 fouling shot then a 5 shot group with 5 MINUTES between shots.
I just dont have the paitience to shoot 30 minute 5 shot groups.

I have several targets at home that were shot one 5 shot group after the other. I suppose if I REALLY wanted the best possible group I would wait a minute or 2 betewwn shots and 5 minutes between groups. Maybe I'll try that next time at the range.

[1Shot]

...the first 5 I just clip off at an easy rate... I have some bbl's that will put-em all in there.. Others I have to shoot a fouler as it's called before they close up.. I usually just put my hand on the bbl. to see how long I wait..lol..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/sqek/nos.jpg

[Billch]

My local range hosts a small time BR style match every three months. The time allotted is 10 rounds in ten minutes, including sighters, per target. That's how I practice, I like to wait one full full minute between shots just to duplicate the match situation.

One minute sure can seem like a long time.

B

[82boy]

If winds are switch I try to get all my shots off as quick as I can. Say under 4 seconds. If the wind is calm I may wait the hole time to shoot.

[Terry Balding]

If winds are switch I try to get all my shots off as quick as I can. Say under 4 seconds. If the wind is calm I may wait the hole time to shoot.


You get 5 shots off in 4 seconds?

Terry

[Hammer]

.

When some of the best benchrest competitors shoot in competition it sounds like a machine gun.

They get all the rounds down range before the winds can change.

.

[82boy]

If winds are switch I try to get all my shots off as quick as I can. Say under 4 seconds. If the wind is calm I may wait the hole time to shoot.


You get 5 shots off in 4 seconds?

Terry


Yes, 4 seconds can be a lot of time.

[chj3]

As you said, it depends, I tend to emulate what I might be doing with the rifle:

Silhouette rifle -- 5 shots in about 2 min. and then wait a while for another 5 shots

Especially with a T/C or Ruger No. 1 -- may shoot a series of 3-shot groups, 3 shots in about a minute and a few minutes between groups, then overlay the groups to obtain a composite group and look for any vertical tendencies as the barrel warms up

Hunting rifle -- Two targets, cold barrel shot on target 1, a quick second shot on target 2, set the rifle aside and shoot something else for 20+ min, then repeat the process to obtain two 3-shot groups and compare

For some varmint rifles -- a couple fairly rapid 5-shot groups, let it partly cool off and try again -- have had a problem with a couple rifles spreading vertically when partly cooled -- differential cooling stressing the barrel ??

I'm looking for variations as much as shooting small groups.

[sharpshooter]

You get 5 shots off in 4 seconds?

Terry
[/quote]

Yes, 4 seconds can be a lot of time.
[/quote]

Pat...that's just down right braggin'. You musta been having a slow day at St. Louis, cuz according to Mickey's big hand on my watch, it took you 35 sec. to get 5 downrange. ;D

[yobuck]

If winds are switch I try to get all my shots off as quick as I can. Say under 4 seconds. If the wind is calm I may wait the hole time to shoot.


this is common practice at the 1000 yd matches. get them off before conditions change.

[lal357]

so i'm not the only one thinking shoot faster when the wind is right. local club is going to try a f-class shoot so i went to the rangefor some practice and when the wind was good i'd fire off 5 rnds.the guy next to me thought i was kinda nuts i understand 20rnds in 20min. but if you get the wind in your favor take advantage of it that my theory.looking forward to my first f-class shoot.