Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Horizontal stringing?

So other than the loose nut behind the gun, what are some causes of horizontal stringing of shots? I know barrels heating up causes vertical stringing so not interested in that. I had a new gun to me do that yesterday with 2 different loads and trying to figure out a cause.

Bedding

By which I would assume Jordan means forend bedding.

The reason many barrels string vertically as they heat up is the "pressure point" used by many rifle manufacturers at the tip of the forend, which supposedly reduces barrel vibrations and so enhances accuracy. But as the barrel expands when hot, it pushes down against the pressure point, raising point of impact. The same thing can happen, but horizontally, if the forend places side-pressure on the barrel.

Another possibility: If not properly stress-relieved, a barrel can also warp as it heats up. This is most common in cheaper factory barrels.

Cross wind.

That happened with my 270W, when I used RE22 and a 130gr TTSX. The rifle is an H&R 300Ultra Rifle from the early 70's, which is supposed to have a Douglas barrel, Mauser FN Supreme action, Fajen stock, and always shot well.

I was determined to use RE22 because I got over 3,200fps with the TTSX, safely, and I figured horizontal stringing could be cured, by replacing old bedding, adding/subtracting a pressure point, seating depth, primers, brass, etc.

It could not be cured, with everything I did, until I changed powders.

H4831SC and H4350 got me back to sub-MOA, no stringing, but I lost 50-75fps.

Have also seen scopes cause it. In fact the worst case of horizontal stringing I've seen was with a well-known brand of 3-9x scope on a .375 H&H. The scope had worked fine on a .30-06, but the .375 did it in within a dozen rounds--whereupon it started stringing them about 12-15" horizontally!

But have also seen that happen on a much smaller scale with other scopes.

OK in thinking back, yesterday was around 90 degrees and I was shooting a 257 weatherby with 120 grain bullets over 64.9 grains of H4831. Time between shots was maybe 10 minutes if I controlled myself. Sporter weight barrel free floated in an HS Precision stock. Brand new Nikon Monarch 5 scope.

I started to put gel packs in the freezer before going to the range. After a 3 -5 shot string, I put that rifle aside and put the gel pack under and over the receiver and barrel and grab another rifle.

Our two.257 Bees get hot in a hurry, like 3 shots. Bedding made a huge difference though in my son's Rem CDL SF.

The gel packs worked wonders with our Savage smokeless ML's. Sabots keep their integrity when the barrel does not get cooked.

Neck tension.

Mule Deer,

What's your opinion of full length bedding of the barrel a la NULA?

DaddyRat: Moving air (wind!).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The full-length bedding of NULA barrels works great, but Douglas barrels are nicely stress-relieved, and Melvin's stocks use materials meant to capen vibrations. You can shoot them really hot, for shot after shot, and they'll just keep plunking them in there--and I expect to come up with a load that puts three into 1/2" very easily, often during the first range session.

Sell the ruger...

=]

All of the above are possible, as we as your stock having barrel contact somewhere unintended on the side, as the barrel heats the pressure point gets more tension and moves your POI as it cools it goes back... hence stringing...

Thanks.

I have a Howa alpine in 6.5 Creedmoor that shoots OK, but am considering cryogenic treatment for the barreled action and full length bedding to get it to settle down.

Two shots very near each other and the third up to an inch and a half away from the others.

Brand new brass.

Not a Ruger LOL, Remington 700