Horizontal stringing
- Thread starter 29aholic
- Start date
I think its a good idea to get a dab of scilicon and put it on the comb of the stock to anchor your cheek weld in the same place eash shot.... just like drawing a bow back... wanna anchor in the same spot every time... same techniques each shot!
What I thought. I did find my bipod legs were not as tight as they could be and still function.
I'm curious also to hear the responses. I am new to reloading and my first batch I shot several 5 shot groups of each charge weight (6.5 cm) Each group had 3 of the rounds touching and then 2 shots that dropped 1-1.5 inches low of the group. I called all the shoots good, but I think it was because I hadn't trimmed the cases short enough or consistently. I have since purchased a WFT and I think I got it worked out.
Another option for me could possibly be inconsistent charge weights. I am hand trickling each load into a cheap Franklin Arsenal digital scale that is supposed to be good to .1 grains.
I don't mean to hijack your threat at all, just sharing my results as we may be doing similar things that could cause the stringing.
Another option for me could possibly be inconsistent charge weights. I am hand trickling each load into a cheap Franklin Arsenal digital scale that is supposed to be good to .1 grains.
I don't mean to hijack your threat at all, just sharing my results as we may be doing similar things that could cause the stringing.
Like D&B said vertical could be velocity either not enough (to an extent) or large variations in SD (standard deviation). OR, you just tossed them
Seriously though, if you are consistently getting fliers in an otherwise tight group I would look at #1 technique and #2 equipment issues.
I chronoed last time I went out to the range and got an Extreme SPread of about 40 fps in a 10 shot string. Is that too high?
I think this would depend on what your SD is. I read one way to eliminate a load is if your ES is more than 6x your SD.
It might be you, but I submit it could be load, just like vertical could be load. After all, what law of physics states a barrel only oscillates in the vertical plane?
John
Running down the laundry list:
Aiming Point - some people will tend to drift a little left or right with their aiming from shot to shot when firing groups. Make sure that you use a target that gives you good hard and fast vertical & horizontal reference points, and that you have the sharpest/clearest aiming point that you can get.
Cheek Weld - per above, make sure this is not changing as you fire each shot in the group. Stay on the rifle, pay very close attention to any movement when you run the bolt.
Rear Bag - assuming you are using one, make sure it is flat/level, and it is not rolling to one side or another.
NPOA (Natural Point of Aim) - make sure you do the "Eyes Open, Eyes Closed" test. When you are on target with everything aligned, close your eye on the scope for 2-3 seconds and then reopen it. Make sure your Point of Aim is not significantly drifting one way or another.
Trigger - make sure your technique is solid/consistent, you are not milking/pulling it on some shots.
Rifle Mechanics - double and triple check that everything is setup properly, fasteners torqued, barrel is not making contact somewhere, etc.
Unlike vertical, it is hard to nail horizontal stringing to anything in the load. Ruling out wind, and assuming that it is a properly developed load, it is most likely somewhere in the mechanics/technique of the shot.
Aiming Point - some people will tend to drift a little left or right with their aiming from shot to shot when firing groups. Make sure that you use a target that gives you good hard and fast vertical & horizontal reference points, and that you have the sharpest/clearest aiming point that you can get.
Cheek Weld - per above, make sure this is not changing as you fire each shot in the group. Stay on the rifle, pay very close attention to any movement when you run the bolt.
Rear Bag - assuming you are using one, make sure it is flat/level, and it is not rolling to one side or another.
NPOA (Natural Point of Aim) - make sure you do the "Eyes Open, Eyes Closed" test. When you are on target with everything aligned, close your eye on the scope for 2-3 seconds and then reopen it. Make sure your Point of Aim is not significantly drifting one way or another.
Trigger - make sure your technique is solid/consistent, you are not milking/pulling it on some shots.
Rifle Mechanics - double and triple check that everything is setup properly, fasteners torqued, barrel is not making contact somewhere, etc.
Unlike vertical, it is hard to nail horizontal stringing to anything in the load. Ruling out wind, and assuming that it is a properly developed load, it is most likely somewhere in the mechanics/technique of the shot.
Thanks, I guess I was just confirming it was probably more me than anything. I am just getting back in to rifles after many years of shotgun competition and more of no shooting of any kind. I was a BR shooter several years ago and could hold my own, but it seems like it's NOT like riding a bike and I am having to retrain myself all over.
I have never heard of horizontal stringing being seating depth related. I am at kind of a hindrance on depth feeding out of a mag.
Seating depth affects stringing. Could be the load. Also could be a parallax issue with the scope tricking you about where you are aiming.
Here is a nugget of hard won experience, I suspect. Have ruled out equipment, shooter technique, and good numbers on chrono, I start playing with seating depth.
While I don't compete (with anyone but me that is), I have some very good equipment and an extremely high regard for accuracy first, last, and in between. What I am getting at is, when I see horizontal flyers, and there are no external circumstances, seating depth gets looked after post haste.
YMMV, $.02, and all that....
