[onehitwonder]

what does it mean when you shoot your rifle and your group is not in a close together or at least round pattern but an almost straight line up and down? And the shots were not concecutive top to bottom they skipped around to make this line

[SquirrelNuts]

I don't know the specific answer to your question, but perhaps this will help you get closer to your answer...if it was done INTENTIONALLY, it is called a "string."

-SquirrelNuts

[onehitwonder]

no not intentianaly. I change may oal on my hand loads. I seated them .02 .03 .04 off the lands. the previous groups were clustered like normal

[GP100man]

pressure point on the barrel inconsistent & barrel heat.

GP100man

[onehitwonder]

floated barrel. cooled down and cleaned between groups

[1858rem]

inconsistent ignition maybe? probably a pressure point on the bbl though

[jim147]

Could be mirage. Your seeing the target in a different place each time you fire.
Or was this a group of different OAL loads?

[Strongbad]

9 times out of 10, it's the barrel heat issue mentioned above. The barrel heats up and presses down on the stock (doesn't have to be down, varies by the gun). The downward pressure causes the stringing. :)

[Mal H]

But he said the shots weren't sequential, they skipped around in the line. That is generally a sign that it's not caused by heating of the barrel unless there is another variable involved such as a variable amount of time between shots.

I would look closely at the possibility of a scope with a loose elevation crosshair.

[onehitwonder]

correct they were not sequential time between shots was probably 30 seconds to 1 minute. very little mirage. 6x18x40 AO nikon with sun shield. the oal differences were by groups. one five shot group was .02 off lands. one was .03 and the other .04. I need to check the bbl clearance changed the trigger spring on it and maybe somehow got something stuck under it. It is free floated and glass bedded from the factory.

[SciFiJim]

I am not that experienced at it, but my first thought was breathing issues, especially off of sandbags or bipod. Do you breath out half a breath and then stop breathing to take the shot?

[kelbro]

What kind of rifle?

Have you checked the screws on your front base?

If the previous loads shot normally, don't mess with the OAL.

[onehitwonder]

browning 222. everything is tight. I breath the same way everytime I shoot, just kinda built in I would have to sit down behind a gun and evaluate myself. had it sitting on a caldwel rock benchrest with rear bag. I only messed with the oal to try to tighten up the groups. was using suggested oal

[something vague]

My guess would be that it is caused by user inconsistancies. Just the slightest bit (sometimes unoticeable by us) of inconsistant behavior at the bench can cause varied performance, which I'm sure you're aware of. But maybe you were doing something slightly different in each shot that changed the vertical swing of the groups. I've notice people at the bench next to me sometimes grasp the back stock rest with their non trigger hand and change something without realizing it, and groups would be vertical like you have explained. Tell them to leave their stock and rest alone and groups would tighten up. Just a thought.

[ranger335v]

"previous groups were clustered like normal"

Go back to the previous loads.

[onehitwonder]

Ranger,
I see your point but there are still variables that I have not yet tried or fully completed that could possibly create a more accurate hand load. I'm just trying to find some info so that I can make a more educated adjustment to my loads. Granted it isn't a target rifle but I honestly believe it can shoot better groups if I work on it. That and I cant leave " well enough" alone.

[proplinker]

Was the wind in your face?? OAL would be my choice. I was told by many shooters that if the group is left & right it is conditions and if the group is up & down is a sign of your load. good luck

[Borg]

I would say you either need to change primers, or refine your load better.
Borg

[onehitwonder]

slight wind from the right less than 5mph. I've got some things to check and then I'm gonna try again with the same oal's I believe it to be equipment issues and possibly primer seating depth.

[Mal H]

Please clarify something for me. You have mentioned that you are trying different OAL's, experimenting with the bullet to rifling distances. Can we assume that all rounds in one group are all the same OAL?

[WNTFW]

Did this occur before or after choosing "OneHitWonder" as a screen name? Screen name could be bad luck. (as if life were that simple)

Definitely sounds like something varying. If something was loose I would think windage would vary a bit more. Something cracked may not show up easily or consistently.

I would look at your charge weights. Is your scale having a malfunction? Other than that I'd check some bullets to see if they vary in some dimension like weight or diameter. Are the cases all over the map?

I think some more background info may help. Range, Rifle, bullet, powder, brass & prep etc.

You sound like you are pretty good at reloading already, just the problem seems a bit complicated.

[onehitwonder]

Mal H .

You are correct 5 round groups. each group one oal.



WNTFW.

browning a bolt 222. floated glass bedded from factory. 3lb trigger other than that stock. Leupold rings n mounts Nikon buckmaster 6-18x40 with side focus.

Out door range with cement benches and tin overhead.

50 gr hornady v max. new rem brass checked sizing and length of each piece debured primer hole . Cci small rifle primer. Varget, don't remember the exact charge have it somewhere in my notebook in the other room, mid range load nothing hot. Max suggested oal got me a .590 5 shot group. individually weighed each powder charge and checked each round oal. did not uniform primer pocket at the time did not have the necessary tools to do so.

[33rowdy]

Try a bore sighter. One person looking through the scope and another wiggling the scope and barrel.