New .223 barrel - vertical stringing at 50 yards.

[philthygeezer]

Hello,

I have a new 26" heavy T/C Encore barrel on my Pro Hunter.  In two shot 'groups' at 50 yards, they always place one about 1.25" to 1.5" above each other (this was off a bipod, Winchester 55gr white box).  

I was hoping for under an inch at 100 yards.  1+ inches at 50 yards is not good.  What gives?  Does the barrel need to 'break in' before groups tighten up?  Is it bedding?

[Grumulkin]

Barrel "break in" will never help accuracy.  I would suspect your scope or your scope mount as the cause of your problem.

[kudzu]

Nornally vert. stringin is a heat thing, you may have a contact point tounchin somewhere. try a differant load, if same you may want to try and float the barrel.

[RAdkins]

Try shooting without the bipod and the rifle resting on the bag as close to the action as possible.  Most T/Cs and Encores shoot better this way.  If not it has not cost anything in modifications.

[Blackhawker]

Rest your rifle with the rest right under the hinge area if possible.  It'll go away.
You may end up scrapping that bi-pod and buying a sand bag or standard rest.

[Hopalong7]

     You refer to two shot groups...that not many shots.  Is it possible that the first shot is out of a clean barrel and then I assume the second shot isn't.  Or, the first shot is out of a cold barrel and the second isn't.  When shooting for a group, I normally shoot a fouling/warm-up shot off target and then shoot at least 3, often 5, for group.  You may be already doin' that...just checking.
Walt

[Blackhawker]

    You refer to two shot groups...that not many shots.  Is it possible that the first shot is out of a clean barrel and then I assume the second shot isn't.  Or, the first shot is out of a cold barrel and the second isn't.  When shooting for a group, I normally shoot a fouling/warm-up shot off target and then shoot at least 3, often 5, for group.  You may be already doin' that...just checking.
Walt

I second Walt's comments.  In fact, just to beat the odds of lucky string of three or four shots as well as to incorporate shooter error in my groups, I typically shoot 10 shot strings when testing loads etc.  I figure 10 shots is a pretty good representation of reality.

[philthygeezer]

    You refer to two shot groups...that not many shots.  Is it possible that the first shot is out of a clean barrel and then I assume the second shot isn't.  Or, the first shot is out of a cold barrel and the second isn't.  When shooting for a group, I normally shoot a fouling/warm-up shot off target and then shoot at least 3, often 5, for group.  You may be already doin' that...just checking.
Walt

We were shooting pairs and about 25 rounds went downrange in 15 minutes.  I don't know about barrel cooling, but it can't be cleaning.  RO thought the rifle just didn't like the ammo.

[kctibs]

I would say also shoot at least 5 shot group instead of the 2 shot pair 15 minutes apart. Just a thought but that is where I would start. Then I would be checking scope and mounts and bi pod. Good Luck and happy shooting.

[Hopalong7]

      That's why I threw in the "just checking" part.  Break open rifles are notoriuos for vertical stringing and .223's seem to be very sensative to it.  Most of the time I've found the problem to be, in some way related to action lock-up and/or head space issues.
Walt

[swampthing]

Try 45g win. white box. My 1-12 twist didn't "appreciate" the 55g's. If you like the 55g's a 22-250 might be a better choice. Or you may have to hand load. Rest gun at pivot point, no fore arm contact with frame, dry chamber and bore with isopropyl, SCOPE IS TIGHT, ahh, I'd try the 45g's before trying to accurize the rifle.

[avtech]

Maybe try a over size hinge pin?

[Bullseye]

Awful lot of things to try here, but I do not see how you can come to any kind of conclusion with informatiion about two shot groups.  If you shoot a 5 shot group and it measures 1 1/2 but is round then you probably need to try some different ammo.  I do not think I would go changing anything on the gun based on two shot groups 1 1/2" apart and assuming the gun is vertical stringing.

[yooper77]

Don’t change anything on your rifle.

I have the 24" blue Encore barrel and it likes 55 grain bullets very well.

I have tried with and without bipod and never had a shot group string.

I shoot for accuracy 7 shots groups, 3 to 5 shot groups are not enough for true accuracy in my mind.

Just double check your scope mount and scope and breathing and trigger pull along with a solid rest.

Additionally always give it a good cleaning.

yooper77

[rhbrink]

I've had the same results as Yooper, the only time that vertical stringing has been a problem is when I cleaned the barrel and allowed some cleaning solution dribble down on the locking lugs. That will cause mine to string vertical, clean them off and back to normal.

[philthygeezer]

Thanks for all this.  The jury is still out. I'm going to try Remington ammo as well.  The scope thing might be the case as I noticed something is out of whack with the clarity on my Bausch and Lomb 4-12x40 AO (clear on the left goes blurry towards the right in the FOV - couldn't get the scope to focus!).  I swapped to a Bushnell trophy and shot a few groups but can't make a definite statement yet. I'm hopeful the scope is at fault.

I can shoot 1/2 inch groups with .22s off the bench most days, so I doubt it's me.

Oh, and I love the crispness of the trigger despite its relatively heavy weight. I just need to bring it down to about two pounds and it would be perfect.  

[Grumulkin]

Cleaning solution in the bore, if it's not removed with a dry patch and the bore is still wet when you start shooting could cause stringing.  The first shot in such a situation will be high and each subsequent one lower until by about shots 3 to 5 it will settle down and shot a decent group.  The same thing will happen if you leave ANY oil in the barrel and try to shoot it out.  In fact, leaving oil in the barrel and shooting before removing it can damage the barrel so I NEVER leave a coating of oil in my barrels; it's just too easy to forget to remove it.  A product like Prolix or Microlon Gun Juice will protect a barrel from rust and will not cause stringing.

By the way, I doubt a oversized hinge pin will help at all with stringing.  I also, when shooting from the bench don't rest the bag near the hinge pin but usually about halfway down the forend and have found that this doesn't cause stringing for me.  If the stringing is related to heating of the barrel, then the first shots out shouldn't string since the barrel will not yet be hot.  If barrel heating was the problem, then it's a fault of the barrel (poor heat treating and stress relieving).  I've had and shot at least 20 or 30 Encore and Contender barrels and thus far have never found an accuracy issue from barrel heating.

I would agree with other posters who said that just one or two or three groups isn't enough to determine that a barrel is stringing shots.