Do you get vertical stringing??

[460Hank]

Looking for some insight from other Encore users. 

I'm using 300 gr cast and 325 gr cast bullets in my 460 S&W, 20" barrel.  First shot from a cold, clean barrel is about 6-8" lower than where it will shoot when warm.  While warming up it will vertically string.  Shooting 250 gr jacketed did not seem to exhibit this issue.

The loads mentioned were while working up to max per several manuals with AA #9, H-110 and 1680.  The 250 gr are easy at full throttle, the 300 are getting uncomfortable.  And the remaining 325 gr will be melted down; way too much fun.  Using a sandbag kind of screws up the eye relief on the scope.

I have the same problem with a thin 22k Hornet barrel.  With a 223 heavy barrel I am shooting in the 3's at 50 yards for a 5 shot group while working up loads.  22 cal bullets are jacketed.

When warm the cast 300's and 325's will group at 2-3" at 50 yards.  They are hard as rocks with gas checks.  I've not had this problem with any other rifles in over 30 years of shooting cast bullets.

Anyone else run into this issue or have a solution?  Thanks.

[HTS]

i noticed that while shooting cast in my g2 30-30 i had that problem.although not to the same amounts your seeing.i decided to lessen the amount of engravment of the bullet in the rifling.and the stringing was less.so itook them in even more so they just barley touch and it went away. now it shoots really good with cast.the frames seem to not like being in tension with the bbl.as in bullet engravment or case shoulders being forward.hope this helps you

[460Hank]

Thanks HTS,

To be touching the lands would surprise me.  I've been led to believe TC is into long throats.  And my bullets were seated to the crimp groove.  I'm working a couple of loads well below max so seating them 1/8th deeper should not create any pressure issues.  I'll try that for my next trip to the range.

Thanks again.

[Qualitymilk]

Usually vertical stringing is caused by "barrel bumping" when as the barrel heats up it actually comes in contact with the frame.  Shoot it a few times to warm it up and use a feeler gauge btw. the frame and barrel when you lock it up.  There should be a few thousandths of clearance.  The downside is that if they are touching, to solve the problem you have to lathe some material off the back of the barrel to create space.  Hope this helps. 

[smong2000]

I did but then I put a thin washer between my forearm and barrel on each screw, no contact points except them now and it shoots amazingly- it's a .243.  The space also lets air circulate better so i think it cools faster.  Look for a burnish mark on your barrel to confirm if it's touching and where...

[460Hank]

Thanks for the suggestion Qualitymilk.  I'll try that on my next trip to the range next week.  Is it most likely to contact at the 6 o'clock position or can it contact anywhere?

460hank

[Qualitymilk]

I would just use a feeler gauge and close the barrel on it.  There should be .001 or so of clearance even after the barrel has warmed up from a few shots.  I agree with smong2000 with the washers being a good idea as fore-end spacers, but don't think not having them will cause stringing.  I've also used plastic from a shotgun shell as a spacer to "float" the fore-end.