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Why do you fire three rounds before adjusting a scope?

Once you've done your sighting shots it's down to fine tuning with the 'scope to bring the bullets into the bull.

By George Wallace

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

Deer stalking. I have just been on a rifle handling course and the instructor said that I should fire at least three rounds before deciding to adjust my scope. Why not just one round? Surely if it lands in the centre of the target there is no need to waste any more expensive ammunition?

Deer stalking
GEORGE WALLACE
You can certainly check your zero by firing a single shot, provided you are happy that you squeezed off the shot correctly, but when setting the rifle up initially it is necessary to fire groups of three so as to confirm the centre of the group.

You might make coarse adjustment after a single shot but the fine-tuning needs a group.

A close group confirms that the rifle ‘likes’ the ammo, that the first shot was not just a fluke, and gives the shooter the comforting knowledge that if a second or third shot is required the bullets may be relied upon to land in the same spot.

An accurate shot needs to be repeatable and the group tells us whether that is so.

However, as you suggest, once the rifle is zeroed, a single shot is usually enough to check that nothing has moved.