I'm developing a load for my sons 30-06. I loaded 5 rounds each of 2 different powder charges. When we shot the first group we noticed the grouping was in a straight line progressively lower from the first shot to the 5th. Covering about 1.75". Shot the next load of 5 and it shot in a straight line progressively lower also. This group covered about 1.25". I thought that was really strange so I shot a group of 5 from a box of factory ammo and it grouped the same way. Covering about 1.5". Has anyone seen this before or have an idea of what might cause this?

Zero dollars, check every screw for proper torque.

Almost zero dollars, Emory cloth from the tip of the forearm all the way to the recoil lug.

If it's still doing it, bed the action.

If it's still doing it after that, you are not on the correct powder charge.

Often times a stringing group leads to an action to stock mating issue. Could need bedding, the stock could be making contact with the barrel, could be multiple items. If all groups are doing it, then i don't think it's the ammo. Sometimes groups will string right before you find an accuracy node. But if all groups string, then it's a separate issue.

Or he has a bad scope.

Sure, but that usually has them shooting in no pattern. Unpredictable POIs.

Highly doubt a scope issue. A scope issue is fully random and wide open patterns with big fliers. Shooting a stringing group with a pattern in 1.25" to 3" groups would not be a scope issue.

Agree that it's more than likely it's one of the things you and Fireman mentioned. Only reason I said scope is because I had a rifle stringing vertically like that and grouping about 3 inches. Checked all the screws, etc. This was a on a custom built 7mm-08 with pillars and glass bedding. After checking the torque, fired another vertical string. Took the Zeiss Conquest off the gun and put a borrowed Leuplod on it. Shot less than 1/2" at 100 yards after that.

tag

1.25" group, 30,06 hunting rifle???, just sight it in to shoot this group about 2.5" high. You'll be GTG.


You didnt mention what brand rifle/scope he has. Custom or Remington 700 plastic stock, in this case 1.25" grouping is good enough, no use sweating it.

Now, if its a custom rifle or $1500 Tikka, I would be concerned.

if not just choot it

Clean the barrel, foul it, shoot a group. If problem still exist do as the others stated resort to bedding. IMO you should bed from recoil lug to tang which will requires some milling at the tang at a minimum. I've seen some halfa$$ bedding jobs make things worse.

Yup. How far are you gonna shoot? Is the first shot in the same place? I’ve never shot at a deer five times. Actually, no more than two..

Remington 700 synthetic hunting rifle. I'm not losing sleep over this. I've just never seen or heard of a rifle stringing groups. Thanks for all the replies.

I would check the bedding on the stock, it may need to free floated

Barrel warming up?

Barrel comment is good!

How many rounds through it since a thorough cleaning? Coppper can fowl a rifle to the point accuracy starts degrading as well as pressure builds.

Suggest a bore cleaning with a good FOAMING cleaner. Let sit about 10 min between swabs/scrubs. Clean until most all or ALL blue is gone on patch.

I had an old buddy, now deceased, that had a Rem 700 in 243. It would string up and to the right, no matter the ammo. Tried free floating the barrel, but it didn’t help. I always thought the problem was just a defective barrel. I don’t remember if he replaced the rifle, and I doubt he rebarreled. If you can’t fix the problem, sell the problem.

Like others have said, maybe it’s the scope, but every scope problem I’ve had (not counting fogged ones and ones with loose lenses) caused random grouping and not stringing. Regardless, swap out the scope as a last resort. If that doesn’t fix the problem, sell it to someone you don’t like.

Are you letting the barrel cool between shots? Try to open the bolt and let the barrel cool for 5 minutes between shots. If the stringing stops, you will know that it is a barrel/stock issue. Try putting a cardboard shim between the barrel and the stock forearm channel at the end of the forearm. Business card thickness, about 1" long.