I report accuracy from an accumulation of groups. For hunting rifles its generally 3 shot groups but a passle of them. Day in and day out.
Rarely shoot 5 shots in a hunting situation.
The reason I shoot 10 shot groups in the AR, after the ladder and initial 3-5 shot groups confirm, is thats the main use of the AR to us for years is CMP competition, 10 shot rapid fire groups.
Plus when shooting 10-22 shots for score/group it allows me to better see if my groups have shape to them, or flukes... if you know what I mean. I"ll take a rounded out group almost every time over one that has 5-6 in a knot and 3-4 fliers.
Of course most all my AR testing for competition was done at 300 and 600 yards.
Testing at 600 I shot 5 shot groups to test neck tension, primers etc....
But when I had time at matches I would compare the best 2 ammo combos in 11 shot strings one right after the other and do that a lot before you really know whats best.
And it was a dang good way to learn exactly how disastrous switching powders can be to grouping for a few shots until things settle back in.
