Horizontal stringing in .243

CRNA

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Hey guys. Just wanting to run a question by yall. I have a .243 chambered Remington 700 with a cheap scope on it. I took it to the range today just to see how it shot. I was using factory Remington (cheap Wal-Mart ammo) 100gr. As I shot my ten shot group the shots would hit further to the right. Vertical wasn't too bad, (about an inch vertical at 101 yds). I really couldn't ask for a whole lot better than that with this gun/scope combo. But the horizontal would travel back and forth for a spread of 3+ inches!!! This is not my long range gun by any means. In fact, it is my son's rifle that I hope to get him deer hunting with this fall. My first thought is the scope rings/bases are loose, but do you fellas have any other ideas as to what is causing my problem? Thanks in advance.
Steve

Here's a pic of this hideous group.

DSC_000119-27-58.jpg picture by screamin_chief - Photobucket
 
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First, I would try to tourque your action screws a little differently. Try, getting the top action screw about 3/4 hand tight and then torqing the rear screw 1/2 tight. Then tighten the front screw all the way down and leave the rear screw alone. This was the only way my Rem 257 wea would shoot consistent. If that doesn't work try different ammo, probably something in the 85 grain range. I say this because when I am working a load, allot of times I will see horizonal stringing in my lower powder charge groups. The faster I push them, the more they tighten up usually.
 
I've never used a torque wrench on my guns, ever.. maybe I have a calibrated elbow... who knows... tight is tight... anyways I shoot very well with all my rifles and haven't seen this issue, my guess would be barrel heating up, do you have a sporter barrel or bull barrel? try a barrel de-resonator. Also what is the poundage on your trigger, are you right handed? Are you shooting with your 1st knuckle and not the pad of your finger tip?
 
I've never used a torque wrench on my guns, ever.. maybe I have a calibrated elbow... who knows... tight is tight... anyways I shoot very well with all my rifles and haven't seen this issue, my guess would be barrel heating up, do you have a sporter barrel or bull barrel? try a barrel de-resonator. Also what is the poundage on your trigger, are you right handed? Are you shooting with your 1st knuckle and not the pad of your finger tip?

The barrel could be heating up, but the majority of the lateral spread occurred within the first three shots. I would be surprised if the barrel was really getting hot enough in three shots to cause such drastic changes. It is a sporter barrel, so I expect it to get hotter quicker, but just doesn't seem to be a likely cause. The trigger pull is whatever it is set at from the factory. And I always shoot with the pad of my finger and not the first joint.
 
The barrel could be heating up, but the majority of the lateral spread occurred within the first three shots. I would be surprised if the barrel was really getting hot enough in three shots to cause such drastic changes. It is a sporter barrel, so I expect it to get hotter quicker, but just doesn't seem to be a likely cause. The trigger pull is whatever it is set at from the factory. And I always shoot with the pad of my finger and not the first joint.


Ok do some trigger work and try a barrel de-resonator, also is it floated, if not float it yourself it's easy.

I've shot a gun just like yours and the best thing was to literally shoot 3-5 shots in fast succession into the ground and then shoot your groups.
 
Ok do some trigger work and try a barrel de-resonator, also is it floated, if not float it yourself it's easy.

I've shot a gun just like yours and the best thing was to literally shoot 3-5 shots in fast succession into the ground and then shoot your groups.

I may just do that. My shooting buddy said he saw very drastic changes in the accuracy of his Rem 700 in .223 after floating the barrel. So why do you shoot the 3-5 shots fast and then shoot for groups?
 
I may just do that. My shooting buddy said he saw very drastic changes in the accuracy of his Rem 700 in .223 after floating the barrel. So why do you shoot the 3-5 shots fast and then shoot for groups?


Yes floating is easy, a rod and some sand paper, then oil it.... done...
Look on youtube, I'm sure there are some videos

As for the 3-5 in the ground - it's to get your barrel heated up, you will almost always notice this on any gun, floated, blue printed, anything... when your barrel is warm is when you shoot your groups, to get the best groups..

Here is a link to my Load data with .223 - Load data link
 
Yes floating is easy, a rod and some sand paper, then oil it.... done...
Look on youtube, I'm sure there are some videos

As for the 3-5 in the ground - it's to get your barrel heated up, you will almost always notice this on any gun, floated, blue printed, anything... when your barrel is warm is when you shoot your groups, to get the best groups..

Here is a link to my Load data with .223 - Load data link

Thanks for the link. Those look like some pretty nice group sizes there!!!
 
It takes a very well put together rifle and some very consistent reloading and shooting techniques... keep practicing consistency! If you need to shoot 2 shots into the ground to make a tight 5 shot group... then that's just the way your gun is.

I'd suggest never buying a sporter barrel for shooting anything but 1-2 two rounds for hunting. If that's what your after (hunting) then really only 1-2 coldish bore shots are all that matters!

Me on the other hand... I shoot thousands of rounds a year at targets and prairie dogs...
 
First, I would try to tourque your action screws a little differently. Try, getting the top action screw about 3/4 hand tight and then torqing the rear screw 1/2 tight. Then tighten the front screw all the way down and leave the rear screw alone.


Sound like a recipe for getting a good cell phone signal.
 
It actually sounds like the never tightened the back screw... Sounds like his guns are like a teter-totter
 
Give the rifle a tune up, that is Glass bed the action with one inch of the barrel, free float the rest of the barrel and adjust the trigger pull at around three pounds. Pore groups are most often inproved after a tune up. Check the bolt locking lugs to see if each lug shows about the same amount of contact but only two of the rifles Iv worked on need the luggs lapped.
 
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