Ok guys I have been working on some loads for my 222 rem. & here are my problems. My groups are only about 1/2" wide but string up and down the target about 1.5". This is no mater what load I use. I have been playing with different lengths with very little improvement. It is a very light gun and does seem to jump up harder than my friends 22-250 with heaver barrel he said it kicked more than his when he shot it and got same results.I am trying not to but much pressure on the stock or barrel.I am happy with the wide part but the up and down is going to drive me to a new gun. HELP

BossMoss,

Three possible areas and I am sure there are more. I would verify three measurements: your powder measurement, your bullet depth and you neck thickness. All of this will impact your initial velocity and cause vertical climb. Actually vertical climb is not a bad thing if you know the variable causing it. It provides good data for your reloading.

Shoot straight.

Harley

How is the bedding on the gun. Does this style vertical string happen with all ammo or just this reload? This is another factor to look at too.

Hcliff

Boss--do you shoot with a hand on the forearm?? Try pulling the gun into your shoulder just as you would have to if shooting in the field. Of course make sure you don't have the swivel stud on the sandbag. I was getting alot of vertical stringing on a 30-06 bar. I fought it for 2 years and then FINALLY figured out that the ouls ear type sand bag up front was gripping the "more rounded" forarm of the BAR. (all my bolt actions could float around inside the "U" shaped sandbag.)
Don't know if this makes sense but I'll bet it is either a bedding problem or a "style of holding" problem. STyle of holding is more easily experimented with first.

Unless you are dropping really incosistant powder charges, I just can't see it being a load problem. I presume it is either a bedding or scope problem. I just don't see a 222 recoiling enough to be causing stringing.

Two quick things to try. Remove the barreled action, and fold up a business card to provide foreend pressure on the barrel. The other thing is to swap out the scope with a known good scope.

[ 01-30-2003, 05:07: Message edited by: Paul H ]

Try seating the bullet so it touches the lands then wokk on your loads only making one change at a time. AA2230 works will in my .222 with a 52 grain match bullet with a flat base. The flat base bullet is more accurate then boat tail bullets up to 300 yards. What type of rifle are you shooting and what type of rest are you using? Good Luck

Thanks Guys, I am shooting a CZ 222 with a Simons Astec scope. I am useing cadwell shooting bag filled with rice. I have taken some mesurments and getting to lands will not leave much or any bullett in case. The gun is stock so Bedding is as factory. I will keep trying.

Have you had a chance to use a chrono on this load?
If your getting inconsistant velocities then it would mean inconsistant powdwer charges most likely.
A chrono could narrow your problem down to the solution a little quicker.

Try moving your grip on the forearm forwards/backwards.

You shouldn't need much bullet in the case a 1/4" should work. I single feed each round, that is if you are looking for the best accuracy. Try filling your bag with either sand or shot. For best results a rest in front is best but sand bags work and the have a rear sand bag. Fill part of a jean leg with sand it would work. You are probably getting to much movement with the rice. Good Luck

I agree that it looks like a rifle or technique problem rather than a load problem. Although I have had my PPC do the same darn thing on some loads, so don't rule it out.

Another thing to check: does the rifle do this with very mild loads as well (< 45,000 PSI)? If it doesn't, it might be that only one lug is engaging.

Good luck chasing the gremlin down..... Dutch.

IMO this is a classic case of a bedding problem. Either one of two things will most likely cure it. If there is wood touching the barrel, and on factory guns there usually is a pad of wood bearing up near the forend tip, you can try increasing the pressure by adding a business card between the wood and barrel, as was mentioned. My guess is that this will make the stringing worse, but try it first. If the stringing does get worse or no change, free float the barrel so no wood is pushing up on the barrel or touching the barrel anywhere. I bet that will cure the problem. Don't worry about it being a light barrel. A lot of people think that a light barrel must have forend pressure and that is just not so. Some do, but just as many don't. I have a Rem. Mountain rifle, 7mm-08, that after free floating and pillar bedding the action, will put 5 shots into an inch at 200 yards even while shooting just as fast as you can work the bolt and pull the trigger. After 5 fast shots you cannot touch the barrel, but that rifle makes it impossible to miss. Conventional thought says the barrel will string its shots being free floated and will throw them all over the place as it heats up, but not so with this rifle.