Horizontal Stringing and Seating Depth

shankbone

shankbone

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Disclaimer: I am relatively new to reloading for rifles. Don't hurt me.
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I found a 120g Hornady SP load for my Ruger 7mm-08. Yesterday I fired three five-shot groups of the same load with different seating depths. One of the groups was nice and round-ish, the second showed some horizontal stringing, and the third looked like four ducks in a row on a horizontal line, with the fourth and fifth duck being "really friendly." This group was also odd because it was two inches lower from POA than the other groups. I was shooting from a Caldwell Lead Sled, free floated barrel, light wind, 100 yards.

I read in this past thread from our reloading forum that horizontal stringing can be caused by seating depth. Can someone explain this in more detail?
 
Originally Posted By: shankboneDisclaimer: I am relatively new to reloading for rifles. Don't hurt me.
smile.gif


I found a 120g Hornady SP load for my Ruger 7mm-08. Yesterday I fired three five-shot groups of the same load with different seating depths. One of the groups was nice and round-ish, the second showed some horizontal stringing, and the third looked like four ducks in a row on a horizontal line, with the fourth and fifth duck being "really friendly." This group was also odd because it was two inches lower from POA than the other groups. I was shooting from a Caldwell Lead Sled, free floated barrel, light wind, 100 yards.

I read in this past thread from our reloading forum that horizontal stringing can be caused by seating depth. Can someone explain this in more detail?




I have not found that seating depth causes horizontal stringing...
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooter

I have not found that seating depth causes horizontal stringing...



Interesting. I read this in the linked thread and thought someone could elaborate: Originally Posted By: zillaThe general rule of thumb for stringing is

Vertical = bedding/rifle

Horizontal = shooter/canting, etc..

Can also be caused by bullet seating depth being incorrecty for that rifle.

First check the barrel clearance.

And this one from another thread:
Originally Posted By: Ridge Runnerget,
try a couple 5 shot groups, if you get 3 here and 2 just over here its a seating depth issue. make sure your action screws are tight, check your screws that hold the rings to the base.
RR

I will try the load and seating depth again. One five shot group doesn't necessarily convict the loading, right?
 
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Originally Posted By: Widow maker 223Load a few more and try again. Some dry fire practice might help you. When the trigger breaks the crosshairs should not move!!

Good point. It is a Ruger factory trigger, so breaks is spelled "breaaaaaaaks."
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Originally Posted By: shankboneOriginally Posted By: CatShooter

I have not found that seating depth causes horizontal stringing...



Interesting. I read this in the linked thread and thought someone could elaborate: Originally Posted By: zillaThe general rule of thumb for stringing is

Vertical = bedding/rifle

Horizontal = shooter/canting, etc..

Can also be caused by bullet seating depth being incorrecty for that rifle.

First check the barrel clearance.

And this one from another thread:
Originally Posted By: Ridge Runnerget,
try a couple 5 shot groups, if you get 3 here and 2 just over here its a seating depth issue. make sure your action screws are tight, check your screws that hold the rings to the base.
RR

I will try the load and seating depth again. One five shot group doesn't necessarily convict the loading, right?

I have also seen these kind of posts. But, there is nothing about bullet seating that would determine which way the barrel would move.

I remember the first time I saw this... it made no sense then and makes even less sense now.

Unfortunately, people say stuff on the internet that they "think", dream up, or make up (naaaaaw!!) that has no logical basis to it.

Then others that read it, think they have just learned something important, and then pass it around every where they go... in a few days, it becomes "da' Trut!" that everyone repeats.

When you read stuff like this, think about it, and does it make sense? Guns that have odd grouping patterns, have bedding problems, or barrel problems.

This one does not pass the smell test.

I own a 700 Classic that shot linear groups that went from 10:30 to 4:30 - no matter what the load. A new barrel fixed it.

Bonjour
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Generally: consistent horizontal stringing like ducks in a row is wind, if you're shooting for extreme accuracy without windflags...well you can't shoot for extreme accuracy without windflags.
Consistent vertical is pressure and can be improved with seating depth and/or powder, but don't change both at the same time (bullets closer to lands=more pressure).
3 and 2 groups are generally bedding.
Weather patterns are generally shot out barrel, possibly scope or bedding, but most of the time a bad barrel.
Groups from a clean barrel that are inconsistent for a few shots, then tight for a few shots, then widen out again is a bad barrel.
If you're not using wind flags, pay less attention to horizontal and more attention to the vertical and behavior of the others.
 
Originally Posted By: rdubGenerally: consistent horizontal stringing like ducks in a row is wind, if you're shooting for extreme accuracy without windflags...well you can't shoot for extreme accuracy without windflags.
Consistent vertical is pressure and can be improved with seating depth and/or powder, but don't change both at the same time (bullets closer to lands=more pressure).
3 and 2 groups are generally bedding.
Weather patterns are generally shot out barrel, possibly scope or bedding, but most of the time a bad barrel.
Groups from a clean barrel that are inconsistent for a few shots, then tight for a few shots, then widen out again is a bad barrel.
If you're not using wind flags, pay less attention to horizontal and more attention to the vertical and behavior of the others.


I only wish it was that simple, and cut and dried. But it doesn't always work that way.

Quote:
"Generally: consistent horizontal stringing like ducks in a row is wind, if you're shooting for extreme accuracy without windflags...well you can't shoot for extreme accuracy without windflags."



Where do you find wind flags in the real world - this is not "Benchrestcentral.com"

In the real world, horizontal is more likely "cant" if the ranges get long... which is what the little bubblie things are for.

.
 
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