String Measure Scoring

[Dan Cash]

Please explain how a "String Measure" of a shot group is achieved. I have heard this term all my life but have never understood it. I am getting old and would like to know before I die.

[Don McDowell]

Dan as I understand it a string is laid along the outside of a group, and marked where the ends meet, then the length between the end of the string and the mark is the "string measure". It was a way of seeing who shot the smallest group on a target without the benefit of scoring rings etc.
Hopefully Cody or one of the other Schuetzen guys will jump in and correct me if I'm wrong or at least give a more detailed explanation.

[Cody Smith]

Hello Dan, string measure is really simple so don't over complicate it. It doesn't even involve a string. It is simply the measurement from the center of the target to the center of each bullet hole in a group with each measurement added together. Usually a ruler or a caliper works best. So if you have five shots and you measure from the center of the target to the center of shot #1 and it is 2 1/4", shot #2 is 1/2", #3 1 1/4", #4 is 3" and #5 was 1/4" you would add them all up and get 7 1/4" and that would be your string measure score. They often would measure to the closest 1/16" so 7 1/4" might be expressed as 7 4/16". It was a good way to shoot when folks didn't have uniform targets and was commonly used. In practicality, I find it unnecessary today. I think it is a pain in the rear end to score and I prefer comparing my shooting with German Ring targets. It is kind of fun to do it a couple of times just to relate to the old timers, but beyond that, I'll stick to my paper targets with scoring rings. Hope this helps, Cody

[Don McDowell]

Thanks Cody

[Dan Cash]

Thanks Cody. You clearly answered my question of nearly 60 years.