Horizontal dispersion of shots

[signut]

What is the main cause of horizontal shot dispersion ? Trigger pressure, cheek pressure, or the nut behind the wheel.... Trying to fine tune our 6BR using some different powders and some seem to string out rather than up. Would appreciate some input on problem, and thanks for any help.

 

[4xforfun]

Are you using any wind flags?

 

[watercam]

Wind would be the first culprit to suspect. Other then that, any part of the stock touching the side of the barrel, bedding issues, etc.. If it is a well made rifle, wind.

 

[in2deep]

If your load is really out of whack it can throw quite a bit of horizontal. Wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself. If your jamming bullets in the lands try jumping them or vice-versa.

But if your new to shooting small groups and not used to reading the wind that would be the most probable cause if your vertical is good.

 

[necchi]

or the nut behind the wheel....

That's it in a nutshell for me ;D When all environmental and load issues are found to be non issues, (most of the time) I know it's ME that causes the horizontal stuff.

Look you can anaylize it and all the stats to death, it still boils down to pulling the trigger.
If we all did it right every time, all the time, there would be no compitition.

My theory is to admit the error, look for my mistakes, learn from'm and become a better shooter becasue of it.. Tuff part can be trying to find out what it is your learning.

Good Luck Friend,

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Range? 100, 200, 1000?

Front rest or Bipod? With a bipod, it is almost always driving the gun with the trigger hand. I don't shoot from a front rest, so I can't tell you about the dynamics of that.... Good test - are you seeing the target through the scope during recoil?

I've always had horizontal problems. They are always me!

 

[signut]

Should have mentioned a few pertinent things: group shot at 300, with Rempel bipod, no flags but did not ' notice ' that much wind. Load was 30.3 Varget. Dropped load to 30.2 , bullets ' just touching ' and group tightened up by half. Methinks it must have been some incorrect input into rifle as it is shooting much better; today we managed to keep shots inside the F class 10 ring at 600 in a light rain, light wind. There may have been more wind on original target than i thought

 

[necchi]

It's simpler than that for me,
I just think I had a bad day on Tuesday, and a good day on Friday.

 

[BoydAllen]

Without something to be able to look at what the wind is doing, you are flying blind.

It is pretty common to get questions that are in effect something like "how do I make my car ride better by waxing it?" The answer is something like "Fix the suspension and check out your tires." To which the fellow replies something like, " I don't want to work on the suspension. What kind of wax will fix the problem?"

Load tuning is a very important issue in the accuracy game, as is the equipment that you use to support the rifle, but without some way to "see" the wind, you are operating with too little information to make good guesses as to what is causing your problem(s). The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot. Sharpened sticks with pieces of surveyor's tape attached to their tops are a lot better than nothing.

 

[fdshuster]

In addition to all of the above excellent suggestions: watch your rear bag. I'm assuming you're using one? If not careful I sometimes find the inside of my right forearm touching the low bunny eared bag on the right side, and the front of the bag will be canted to the left.