The Extreme Spread Calculator helps measure the widest distance between any two shots in a shooting group. This value is essential for evaluating shooting precision, whether in firearms testing, archery, or ballistic experiments. It provides a quick way to understand how tightly shots are group by identifying the farthest pair of impacts in a set.
This metric is commonly use by marksmen, ammunition testers, and competitive shooters to evaluate consistency and accuracy. A smaller extreme spread usually indicates better shooting precision, while a larger spread may suggest variability in technique, ammunition, or environmental conditions.
Formula of Extreme Spread Calculator
Extreme Spread = Maximum Distance Between Any Two Shots
If the shots are plot using coordinate points (x and y), the calculation becomes:
Where:
- (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) are the coordinates of any two shots
- You calculate the Euclidean distance between each pair
- The largest distance from those results is the extreme spread
The result is typically given in inches or millimeters, depending on the measuring unit used in the range or analysis.
Reference Table for Common Shot Spreads
| Number of Shots | Small Spread (in) | Average Spread (in) | Large Spread (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-shot group | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| 5-shot group | 0.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| 10-shot group | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.8 |
This table helps provide context when interpreting your calculator results. Shooters can compare their groups to typical values for a given number of shots.
Example of Extreme Spread Calculator
Let’s say a shooter takes 3 shots, and their impact coordinates on a target are:
- Shot 1: (0, 0)
- Shot 2: (1, 1)
- Shot 3: (2, 0)
You calculate the distances between:
- Shot 1 and 2: √((1−0)² + (1−0)²) = √2 ≈ 1.41 in
- Shot 1 and 3: √((2−0)² + (0−0)²) = 2.00 in
- Shot 2 and 3: √((2−1)² + (0−1)²) = √2 ≈ 1.41 in
The largest distance is 2.00 inches, so the extreme spread is 2.00 inches.
Most Common FAQs
This is a ballistics and precision measurement calculator, useful for analyzing target group sizes in shooting sports and testing.
Not exactly. Extreme spread focuses on the farthest distance between two shots, while group size can also consider mean radius or other dispersion measures.
It gives a simple visual measure of precision. While not the only metric, it’s widely used in field tests to compare ammunition, rifles, or shooting skill.