Debunking a Myth, Loose Groups in CAS are OK

[Doc Shapiro]

An awful lot of folks on the boards are under the impression that loose groups from your guns are OK for CAS.  It just ain't the case.  For the sake of example, we'll use a 14 inch square target.

A 14 inch square target has a surface area of 196 sq in. 

Now, say your gun (with the load you use) shoots a 3 inch group.  That means that the bullet could go as far off as 1.5 inches from your point of aim when the bullet exits the barrel (assuming your sights are regulated).  So, if the sights are lined up on one corner of the target when the gun goes off, you could very well miss because of large group size.

Since a 3 inch group takes away 1.5 inches on each side of the target, that 14 inch target becomes, in effect, an 11 inch target.  Reducing the surface area from 196 sq inches to 121 sq inches.  That's almost a 40% reduction in target size!

In addition, if a clay bird is presented as a bonus shot, with a 3 inch group you have to be holding dead center when the gun goes off to even have a chance of hitting it. 

Now to the 2nd part....

Get your sights regulated to POA AFTER you settle on the load you are going to use.  Otherwise, you are afflicted with the previous example as you try to correct using "Kentucky" windage.

Develop a load that groups well, you'll find that you hit more often as a result.

Hope you find this interesting.

Doc

[Sergeant Smokepole]

Doc,
You hit it right on the head.