Horizontal Grouping

[WYcoyote]

I have a .260 Rem. Model 16 with the 2nd generation Accustock that is grouping horizontally about 1 1/4" at 100 yds with 5 shots.
Does this throw up any flags as to what could help tighten these groups up? If it shot side to side like it does up and down it would drive nails.
Any ideas?

Forgot to mention, tang is freefloated nicely as is the barrel.

[Eric in NC]

Wind or trigger technique.

[WYcoyote]

You will have to take my word on this, but it is absolutely not either of these. At the last session I put 4 shots from my 24" barreled .300 Win Mag (no brake) into one hole into the target right along side the .260. The Accutrigger is adjusted nicely and the pull is nearly the same. Recoil and flinching are non factors also. I was solidly sandbagged and am not a rookie shooter.
The groupings came on 3 successive outings with very favorable wind conditions (calm).
The scope is a 3-9 Ziess Conquest in Talley lightweight mounts freshly mounted, torqued properly, with blue threadlocker, as are the stock screws.
What else could cause horizontal groups?
I am going to change seating depths, primers, powder, etc.
But wondering if someone had this problem with the wedgeless Accustock.

[ellobo]

Try another scope.

El Lobo

[DarnYankee]

+1 on scope issue. Put rifle on your your rest and get it on target now without touching the rifle look through your scope moving your head side to side a little and see if your cross hair is moving on the target. Same as checking your parralex adjustment. If it moves the problem is the scope. confirm by swapping scopes.

[WYcoyote]

I will check this.
Thanks guys.

[243LPR]

Vertical(up and down) or horizontal(side to side) groups? Shooting over bipod or bags?

[WYcoyote]

Stringing side to side much more than vertically.
Over bags. Forearm over an adjustable 3 footed support with a small sand bag.

[stomp442]

Sounds like a bedding issue to me. Make sure your tang is floated and that your barrel is not touching anywhere and that your action screws are properly torqued.

[twarren]

Could be your grip the way you are holding and squeezing the trigger. Changing worked for me.

[possible]

I think stomp442 has got you on the right path.

[stangfish]

Good topic. Should this be aa sticky. How about vertical stringing?

[WYcoyote]

Sounds like a bedding issue to me. Make sure your tang is floated and that your barrel is not touching anywhere and that your action screws are properly torqued.


As mentioned previously, all of these have been done/checked.
This was done before firing a shot, as was a complete removal of all barrel fouling, especially copper, with Bore Tech Eliminator.

[Eric in NC]

You check for free float when the gun is in firing position on the bench and the barrel is hot?

[WYcoyote]

There is lots of clearance on the free float and the stock is in no kind of bind on the bags. Also the Accustock is fairly stiff, compared to the regular tupperware.
At no time does my barrel get hot, or even warm. I take my time between shots, usually shooting other rifles.

[wbm]

Change out the scope. Even great scopes can come unglued! I had a very good scope do exactly that and must have loaded 10 different bullet/powder loads before I figured it out. Mine was horizontal stringing also. I just assumed it was not the scope because I had not had trouble with it on other rifles.