Vertical shot stringing

eglide

Hi,
New to the forum. I have a Savage .204 that is stringing vertically. Last time out ten shots save one were touching in a vertical string.

Any ideas on what would cause this. As info. the gun shot regular nickel size groups at 100 yds. before a relocation. After the move I couldn't buy a group the size of a tennis ball. I've been troubleshooting with loads and so far this is the best I can do. So far I THINK the scope is ok and I'm keeping the bore clean.

Any ideas?

nononsense

eglide,

Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!

"...the gun shot regular nickel size groups at 100 yds. before a relocation."

This sounds like a mechanical failure of some sort. Before, good groups. After, bad groups. Check your scope, rings and mounts to see if they are securely tightened. Shoot some groups. Switch your scope to another scope and test again. If there's no change, something in the rifle or the method of shooting is wrong.

Here is a good article that details out the potential problems:

http://www.6mmbr.com/verticaltips.html

"...and I'm keeping the bore clean."

Sometimes it's possible that you are over cleaning your barrel. The usual procedure is to shoot a couple of fouling shots and then shoot groups, with time between shots and groups to keep the barrel at a cool but average temperature.

Please let us know what you find out.

Best.

osubullrider

You might also check the condition of the barrel, more specifically the crown. With a round that small, the slightest burr in the crown could send that round end over end (maybe not that extreme, but close). Anyway, good luck. Hope you get things figured out.

Hawkshaw

You might also pull the metal out of the stock, and see if there is anything under the metal. Then re-tighten the action screws according to specs.

shooterone

I doupt if you are getting yaw in the bullet like osubullrider sez. If that happens it will show on the target. If you are using real paper targets the slightest yaw will show as a tail on the hole. The tail will change sizes at different ranges. So check your targets carefully. I had that problem with a 30-06. It seems to happen when the barrel got very hot. I never did figure it out but my feeling is the hot barrel had something to do with it.

5mmgunguy

Two possible items tend to make for vertical stringing...one is bedding the other is the barrel as it gets hotter tends to shoot higher. Make sure the barrel has sufficient clearance...a minimum of two business cards all the way. Then shoot and let the barrel cool 2 minutes and shoot again...see what happens.

asphalt cowboy

You say you've relocated. What kind of climate extremes have you encountered?
If you have moved from say Phoenix to Miami, or vise verse, humidity level may be affecting your stock.

RCrosby

+1 5mm,
Sounds like bedding. Try the 2 business cards at the fore-end tip. You might also try putting a thin coat of inletting black on the barrel then tightening it back down and see if there are obvious isolated areas of contact. Pressure up front or free floating would be two easy fixes to try.

eglide

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. As to the move, I was shooting at Whittington Center @6000-7000 elevation? and moved to Fort Worth Texas area @ 900 elevation and MUCH more humid. The one thing I have not been doing is cooling off two minutes between shots. I will let you guys know how it works out. Thanks again.

mrbruce

If your shooting off of sand bags that have hardened up you'll run into vertical problems.
The crown needs to be checked out too.....