Checking loads 3 vs. 5 shot groups .204's ONLY

[OldTurtle]

I also work on five shot groups, and I want my barrel dirty and warm.... Most of my long range shooting will be on a Prairie Dog field and it would be a rare day when the barrel is clean and cold for very long...

The ranch where we go has a PD town 300yd from the deck on the back of the bunk house, so we warm up the rifles while we are having our morning coffee, waiting for breakfast to get ready...

If I were to be mainly using my rifles for Coyotes or other game, then a load that works well out of a cold, clean barrel would be optimum,,,,I will agree that 100yd groups that will hold together at 200 and 300 yards are keepers..

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Dunno where I first heard this -- I think it was a Cooperism -- but they saying goes, "A 3-shot group is a test of the accuracy of the rifle. A 5-shot group is a test of the accuracy of the rifleman."

[FireBallGuy]

Couldn't agree more fred!