My groups are in a line?

[wm5l]

I have loaded several different loads with 3 different powders and 3 different bullets. Why do ALL of my groups string vertical and horizontal? I am shooting a Encore pro hunter 28" 7mm-08 with 120,139 and 140 gr bullets. Leupold FX-III 6X42 scope. Weaver mount,quad lock rings,Custom stock. I can put a dollar between the forend. I don't think it is touching. Could a fouled barrel do this? I have scrubbed it with Hoppes #9 Bench reast and Wipe out several times. I am kind of new to this reloading thing. Any suggestions?

 

[goodgrouper]

I had a custom built TC contender that did that all the time if I wasn't paying really close attention to the way I was gripping the stock and how it sat in the bags on the bench. Unfortunately, any gun with a two piece stock is prone to this problem.

 

[wm5l]

I see. I am using one of those fancy Caldwell bags to shoot it. I wonder if I used a lead sled what would happen? The owner of the range has one I can use for free...Jim

 

[Buffalobob]

Insted of a hard bag try a towel folded over several times. This absorbs the shock and keeps the gun from bouncing on the bag. It does not cure all of the problems of the two piece stock but it helps with a Ruger #1.

 

[wm5l]

I found an another site that the hinge pin can sometimes be sloppy causing poor groups. Bullberry makes a larger pin for some $change to correct this. Anybody heard of this problem with the Encores?

Tune Up Kits

 

[goodgrouper]

I found an another site that the hinge pin can sometimes be sloppy causing poor groups. Bullberry makes a larger pin for some $change to correct this. Anybody heard of this problem with the Encores?

Yes. I had one of those too. It made no difference on my shifting POI. It came from what I mentioned earlier.

Are your groups big and strung out in a line or just strung out in a line only?

 

[wm5l]

Big and strung out. Out of 10 different loads (4 shots each) I only had 2 shots touching at 100 yards.

 

[goodgrouper]

Big and strung out. Out of 10 different loads (4 shots each) I only had 2 shots touching at 100 yards.

Well, accuracy comes from a thousand different things as you know, but if you are getting horizontal or vertical lined groups or "y" shaped groups, you have the problem I mentioned earlier no matter what the center to center size of the group is. My custom TC was in a tight necked 223 and was capable of groups in the .3" at 100 yards IF I held it right and consistently. But when I forgot, my groups formed crazy shapes.

 

[J E Custom]

Wm51

Vertcial stringing is normaly caused from erratic trigger control (To
much weight,inconsistant grip or poor sholder contact.

Horizontal stringing is normaly caused by poor fitting stocks or
bedding.

But if you have both it may be the loads and the best way to
find this is with a chronograph and the standard deviations.
( try to load to single numbers ) but 15 and down is good for the
smaller calibers .

If it has a good hinge pin then try to close the action the same
way each time.

Thats all I can think of ,Hope it helps
J E CUSTOM

 

[Augustus]

Rule #1 get a good scope and hang it on with the best rings and bases you can afford. Some of the, no, a lot of the rings and bases out there simply will not stay hooked.

 

[wm5l]

Well I checked my chamber and it would seem it is way long. I measured it the way the Nosler book says to do it and got 2.925" according to all I can find it the col should be 2.800 max. Reckon I should seat my bullets out to about 2.895 to 2.910? That is a long way past spec....Jim