Fellows five shot groups are the standard for National Benchrest Shooters Association targets. Five shots allowed in a five minute time limit to give the shooter more time to avoid barrel overheating.
Three shot groups is all thats needed for proving the accuracy of a hunting rifle. When was the last time you fired five consecutive rounds at game, with a 7400 in 30-06?
The gasport mechanism and the forend design on the 7400 or 740 Remington, don't allow for tight five shot groups, this is a hunting rifle made for guick follow-up shots not pinpoint accuracy.
One consulation, the short lived Winchester 100 shoots worse groups, much worse from my experience.
Don't own a semi-auto high powered hunting rifle and never will since I expect 3 shot groups under 1 inch from my hunting rifles and the majority of them group in the 1/2 inch range for 3 shots at 100 yards. My .338 Winchester averages in the .3 to .4 inch range. My .458 Winchester shoots 3/4 inch groups.
Another point before shooting for a group, fire a fouling shot before firing the group to avoid a first shot clean bore flyer. That's what the benchrest shooters do before starting a group, six shots fired the first one into the backstop and not on the target. The next five fired over the rest of the five minute shooting period allowed.
Anyway 3 shots in 1 to 1 1/4 inch is great accuracy from a 7400 Remington. Five shot groups a waste of time and ammo.
