Vertical shot string

[Redmt]

Question for all the reloading wizards. I've heard of vertical shot stringing but never paid much attention to the threads. I'd never seen it until now.
I broke in the barrel on my custom 6.5 bored #1. I figured I would start with a known load that produces excellent results with my Ruger Predator. I've been shooting the same load for years. So same load, completely different rifle and I got an S shaped vertical string about 6-8" with 5 rounds. What do I even start with looking for the WTF?

 

[Coule stalker]

what is your shooting position? The S shape sounds like potentially a combination of trigger pull and breath… I recommend starting completely over, it doesn’t sound like the new rifle likes your pet load. I’m no expert, but I always start with new brass, or shoot some higher quality factory ammunition and keep that brass for that gun. If you like your pet load components, back off to the book minimum and work up from there.. sometimes just a primer change makes big changes..

 

[Coule stalker]

I should have mentioned in my first reply, when I see vertical I start thinking about increasing powder charges… if there is a lot of horizontal, I start playing with seating depth.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Very common issue with #1s. Dealt with it with my 257 Roberts, 275 Rigby and the 300 H&h. Free floating the barrel, bedding the spring hanger as well as bedding the interface between the fore end and the receiver helped significantly I thought I had done a pretty good of that. P ham did it better. I also installed a Hicks accuriser, it helps also. Prior to my efforts I could go three shots before seeing vertical stringing.
With PHams bedding I fired 40 rounds, slowly, working on load development, no stringing with 8 differs loads.
Also you will settle the rifle down by putting the front bag at the back end of the forearm, next to the reciever.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Before you go slapping JB weld around and gouging wood try a very slow fire test; take a 10 minute break between shots. When I did it I simply set a timer, cleaned the rifle squeaky clean and waited. Even under warm conditions that was enough time to allow me to closely mimic a cold bore shot. Granted, many rifles perform better after a couple of fowling shots. For this test however you’re simply trying to identify what causes it to string. Getting her squeaky clean will allow you to be the most consistent. I’ll bet you don’t see the stringing. The number ones I’ve hung on to all shot good groups with that test but most would start to string if I shot rapidly. It could be a pressure point in the stock, could be barrel expansion is moving the base. Could be both. I’ve been able to get them calmed down by addressing the stock issue.

 

[Sheltowee]

As several others have mentioned, I suspect the cause is uneven forend pressure exacerbated by the barrel heating up.

 

[Redmt]

Thanks for all the replies and fixes. I should have given a more descriptive original post.
I'll start at the top with replies. It was shot off the bench on bags resting next to the receiver. Trigger pull and breath, this may be part of it. P-ham is sending me some offset rings as the stock Ruger rings give 5"+ eye relief so climbing the stock is necessary and uncomfortable. Yes I know better but I was anxious to try it out after waiting for the barrel to be rebored and 6 groove fluted. As far as a pet load I also know better than expecting one custom load to work in a different rifle. That is the reason we reload,,,,,, I should have started from scratch. The background on this rifle is that it was a 22-250 that I've shot for a year or so. It was very accurate. The barrel was already free floated and the mounting boss epoxy bedded too.
We are still being held hostage by the county with our main roads being closed 24/7 until 10/19 because of neglected repairs. There's no mail, no FedEx but UPS has agreed to deliver on Thursdays as the only way in and out of here adds 150 mile detour. I should probably get the new offset rings by next Thursday if all goes as expected. I'm going to take the rifle back down to bare bones and assemble again. Mount the scope correctly and start a from scratch load development as I should have in the first place.

 

[Coule stalker]

I hope you get her figured out!! I thought it was a reloading issue you were asking about. I have zero experience with the #1, so I am sure the gentleman that gave you their insight are way more knowledgeable than I could be with the way those things operate! Good luck sir!

 

[Redmt]

I hope you get her figured out!! I thought it was a reloading issue you were asking about. I have zero experience with the #1, so I am sure the gentleman that gave you their insight are way more knowledgeable than I could be with the way those things operate! Good luck sir!

Yeah, I thought it was probably a reloading issue as I never saw stringing before. It never really occurred to me that I was too anxiously blind and that it's more than likely my screw up.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Bet you get her figured out, looking forward to your follow up report.

 

[Redmt]

Step one. Offset mounts many thanks to p-ham. I'll start with my standard old ELDM load and see what it does hopefully tomorrow.

 

[yakimanoob]

That's a beautiful setup.

 

[Redmt]

That's a beautiful setup.

Thanks. If it shoots half as good as it looks I'll be VERY happy

 

[Redmt]

I loaded up some TTSX and some ETips in different loads and powders. First of I took my old stand by target/scope sight in load and sighted it in. Tomorrow I hope to start with the hunting loads and see what works. I sight in on a piece of white paper and orange 3" stickers at 100 yards. 5 and done. #1 was about 12" left and 9 high on a guess.#2 1" rt and 10" high. #3 pretty close. 4&5 are good enough. I'll punch holes in the same target until there's no room left!

 

[EastTNHunter]

I loaded up some TTSX and some ETips in different loads and powders. First of I took my old stand by target/scope sight in load and sighted it in. Tomorrow I hope to start with the hunting loads and see what works. I sight in on a piece of white paper and orange 3" stickers at 100 yards. 5 and done. #1 was about 12" left and 9 high on a guess.#2 1" rt and 10" high. #3 pretty close. 4&5 are good enough. I'll punch holes in the same target until there's no room left!View attachment 344247

Good deal. Make sure that you clean it well between jacketed vs mono for best accuracy

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Sure seems like a stresses in the barrel issue and not a reloading issue.

 

[Redmt]

Sure seems like a stresses in the barrel issue and not a reloading issue.

Explain what you mean by stresses? The stainless Ruger heavy barrel was just rebored and broken in according to the instructions of Wayne York. I've run probably another 50-60 rounds through it.
The groups are tightening up but still not what I'm expecting. I don't think I have found the right load recipe yet but it's getting better. These are about 1-1/4" group.
One thing for sure is that I need a lighter trigger. 3-1/2# doesn't get it when you're used to a 2-1/2#. I'm still fighting a bit of eye relief distance. I could still take another 3/4-1" closer.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Explain what you mean by stresses? The stainless Ruger heavy barrel was just rebored and broken in according to the instructions of Wayne York. I've run probably another 50-60 rounds through it.
The groups are tightening up but still not what I'm expecting. I don't think I have found the right load recipe yet but it's getting better. These are about 1-1/4" group.
One thing for sure is that I need a lighter trigger. 3-1/2# doesn't get it when you're used to a 2-1/2#. I'm still fighting a bit of eye relief distance. I could still take another 3/4-1" closer.
View attachment 345408View attachment 345409View attachment 345410View attachment 345411

I’m no metalsmith or or scientist that understands it all but I know that stress relieving in barrels is important in relation to holding POI with different barrel temps as one is shooting. I know machining can induce stresses so I don’t know if anything was done or necessary after your review to relieve stress. The other part is contact from the furniture of that rifle that is likely more of a factor with that rifle than a free floated bolt gun.

That said, those groups are much better. Im saying stringing 6-8” is probably not a load dev issue unless something is pretty piss poor in the load process.

 

[Salmonchaser]

That looks pretty classic for a Ruger #1; fore end bedding issue. Been there with most of mine. I didn’t have any luck with the Etips shooting well in my 300 but accubonds, ttsx and partitions all shot well.

 

[Redmt]

The fore end is free floated, plus from what I have read (everything on the Internet is true) that with the heavy barrel the fore end is less critical. If I can pull them consistently within 1-1/2" that would be great for my hunting here at home.