Vertical Stringing

[hereinaz]

When reloading, assuming no other factor, what causes vertical stringing? And, why do some like to see it to know they are closing in on a good load?

I tried google, but wasn't satisfied... thanks.

I know there are lots of other things that contribute to VS like breathing, jumping bipod/rear bag, contact with stock, etc. But, assuming nothing like that affects it.

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[Billyram]

One thing that causes vertical spread is not pushing your rifle back in the same place in the bags. A fore end stop can help with this. Another is a head wind that's not steady.
Billy

 

[Dwh7271]

Neck tension variances. :grin:

 

[waveslayer]

Vertical stringing is a bad load, neck tension, bullet seating depth, barrel harmonics.

What set up do you have? Gun, bullet, powder , loads...

Also not loading the bipod correctly.

 

[OU812]

Primer brand.

 

[Darkhorse]

If I have a rifle shooting groups that string the bullets, either vertical or horizontal, the first thing I do is check the rifle. As the barrel heats it can swell or move and contact the stock and begin pushing against it. I do everything I can to the rifle that needs doing before I even begin shooting for accuracy.
Usually I free float the barrel then glass bed the stock, recoil lug, rear tang and the first 2 inches of the barrel. I also do a thinner layer in the barrel channel but still leave the barrel free floating.
I also adjust the trigger so it's actually possible to shoot those tiny groups.
What I'm looking for is a 3 shot group in a triangle as tight as possible. I try to get this by varying the seating depth. There is more than one node so if a load doesn't cooperate I sometimes seat deeper and look for another node.
I go the extra mile in my case prep and loading process to include turning the case necks etc. to achieve consistency.

 

[pharmseller]

Loose scope mounts.



P

 

[Teknys]

I've seen 2 rifles over the years that would string the shots. One was a 700 CDL Stainless 243W that I owned. I tried 3 different stocks and 3 scopes. Factory ammo and many diff handloads. As the barrel heated up it would vertical string about 10" up the 12 o'clock line. When you remove the action , you could see the aluminum marking the SIDE of the action. I shimmed the front screw with pop can aluminum - 2 shims. This helped. I think the action screw holes were not centered in the action but did not verify. Just guessing. The gun would actually shoot a group at that time. Not a great group but a group that you could hunt with. I ended up trading that gun in for a Savage 243 and was happy with the trade.
The other gun was a owned by a friend's father. It was a 700 from the 1970's that after you shot one group with it the second was a crescent arc about 1 1/2 " long. Some of the holes touching of the 5 shot group, but a horizontal string it was. He was happy with the gun and load as he should be. The first 4 - 6 shots were all in the group before it would "walk the dog" as we would call it back then.

 

[jimbires]

what are you calling vertical stringing , and at what distance ? how many inches vertical are you talking ? here are a few targets that show seating depth changes . these were all shot the same day with the exact same components . only difference is seating depth .







the reason I asked the questions above is , would this be called horizontal stringing ?

 

[hereinaz]

Thanks jimbires. That helps alot.

And, thanks to the others. I feel like I know so much more about this game every time I come here.

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