Horizontal string?

[GuyWithGun]

I have always had an issue pulling the occasional shot to the left (right handed) by forgetting to square up behind the rifle on virtually every non-AR rifle I've ever had. Not sure what is different about ARs, but never seems to have been a problem. As long as I take a minute to think about where my face is on the stock, has never been an issues with any of the others.

I am setting up a new hunting rifle, 7600 with a 2-7 Leupold on Leupold bases and Burris Signature rings. The rifle shoots much better than one would think, but I seem to be getting a lot of horizontal stringing of my shots. I have to assume it is me at this point and am not lining up consistently behind the scope, but doesn't seem to matter much what I do to fix that, still happens- just a matter of degree. Any ideas?

 

[Art Eatman]

The most common cause of horizontal stringing is that of canting the rifle slightly from shot to shot. It doesn't take much of an angle to cause the spread.

 

[murf]

have someone else shoot the rifle and find out if it is you, or the rifle.

murf

 

[GuyWithGun]

Thanks Art, I should have thought of that myself. The rifle has a rounded slide and I haven't been taking the time to ensure it is level every time. Combining that with it being a pump and having to reset after every shot seems like a blatantly obvious cause after you mentioned it. Will square away the basics next trip to the range and see if the problem is still there.