Horizontal stringing ?

[Boisblancboy]

That's the problem. I obviously don't have a consistent method, as exemplified by that target! The pad of my trigger finger on the Target Accutrigger safety blade, and a very light thumb on the top of the stock, behind the safety, just to help steady. Trigger is set at 6-7 oz.

That’s what I did this season with the same trigger weight. I think I’m going to trying placing my thumb on the back of the trigger guard.

 

[corning]

How did this morph into a discussion about vertical stringing? The OP was asking, primarily, about HORIZONTAL stringing.

Question(s) to OP...

1) Bench, F-TR, F-open, or sling?
2) Bolt or semi-auto?

I am sorry if this info was included, and I missed it.

 

[Nature Boy]

I added more sand to the ears of my rear bag and it cut my horizontal stringing in half

 

[rebs]

Bench rest shooting with 69 gr SMK's in a 223 24" 1/8 twist. Groups at 300 yds about 1 1/4 vertical by 2 3/4 horizontal but they can vary more or less. After reading some of the replies I can see it is probably me causing it. It doesn't seem to be wind as it happens when there is no wind. Is seating depth a possibility ?

 

[golong]

Never witnessed this,and I shoot down to about 30 below zero . Who in AK is claiming this,benchrest folks ? That is an interesting concept .

Frank Gali and Mark (Marc?; don't recall his last name) - Marine Scout Sniper guys that run a class up there.

 

[dolek]

Frank Gali and Mark (Marc?; don't recall his last name) - Marine Scout Sniper guys that run a class up there.

OK,thanks . I will look it up, sounds very interesting.

 

[eric n]

Bench rest shooting with 69 gr SMK's in a 223 24" 1/8 twist. Groups at 300 yds about 1 1/4 vertical by 2 3/4 horizontal but they can vary more or less. After reading some of the replies I can see it is probably me causing it. It doesn't seem to be wind as it happens when there is no wind. Is seating depth a possibility ?

Shoot the numbers through JBM. A quick look through my phone shows 2.9” drift with a full value 3 MPH wind at 2850. It’s not exactly a slippery BR bullet and 3mph isn’t much. I’d definitely rule out cheek and shoulder pressure. And yes, revisit seating as well.

 

[golong]

OK,thanks . I will look it up, sounds very interesting.

Everyday Sniper podcast. It is on Podbean. Not sure about other platforms. I want to say the first time they talk about it is in the early episodes, but it comes up every once in a while.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Horizontal stringing is very common. You just have to know your gun and conditions to know its the tune. It seems to be more common/obvious in larger calibers. Seating depth will usually fix it. Make sure your cheek is not on the rifle too.

 

[Bill K]

Guys up in AK have found that vertical split rings are causing vertical stringing.

Never seen any indication of such on the split rings I have used. As for the horizontal stringing, inconsistent rifle holding, canting and/or wind, most of the time.

 

[rogn]

Bedding depending on the type of stock and action. I once had a rifle that I missbedded and used a 3x5 card for a target. 4 shots cut the top edge of the card and the odd one was in the card. Group was essentially 2.8" X 0.4" something. Ripped the bedding out and rebedded with groups shrinking down to sub 0.8 level. '98 small ring mauser and 7x57. Mauser are odd to bed.

Also canting.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Are you shooting free recoil? I do, and find a very small amount of thumb pressure will throw a shot. Last weekend I put 4 of 5 at 100 yds into a group that measured .09" CTC and one at 9 o'clock that opened it to .5"

Very frustrating

View attachment 1135773

Wobbly benches at a public range, neighbors with 300 WM and brakes blowing my headset off MAY be a factor.

.223, 69g lapua,Varget, BR 4, Criterion 26 in 8 twist. Wind freshening rapidly post frontal.

Thumb pressure does not equate free recoil.

 

[Texas10]

Horizontal stringing is very common. You just have to know your gun and conditions to know its the tune. It seems to be more common/obvious in larger calibers. Seating depth will usually fix it. Make sure your cheek is not on the rifle too.

Thanks, Alex. I think you just pointed to a more likely cause of my stringing experience. Not my thumb after all.