.38-55 Target Vertical Stringing, Ideas how to fix

[mcgiiver]

Finally arrived at a load that has potential, but it strings vertically about 2 inches at 100 yards, horizontal spread is about 1/2 inch, so without the stringing vertically, it would group real nicely. I did the O- ring thing on the fore end, not much help. Fired the gun without the fore end, which gave the 2 inch vert spread. Let the barrel cool between shots which seemed to help a bit.
Here's my idea, I would like your expert opinions on it. I am thinking of bedding the fore end to the barrel from the attachment lug to the receiver, with a hard compound, like JB Weld. The barrel forward of the attachment lug would be free floated. I would then tighten the fore end to the barrel such that with the hard bedding, the two would act as one piece. Since the rear of the barrel is the stiffest part, I don't think there would be much differential movement between barrel and bedded fore end. The flimsy muzzle end of the barrel could then vibrate freely to its heart's content. Do you all think this might help the vertical stringing? Has anyone tried something like this?

[gcrank1]

There is quite a bit of info in the FAQs regarding bedding.
Where where you resting the front of the rifle and on what kind of bag, hard or softish?
I discovered that vert. stringing for me was often caused by an inconsistent position by me behind the gun. This happens with a break action pretty easy as we must get it off the bag to reload, try to get it back down just the same and then place ourselves in exactly the same position, feet, chest to the bench, elbows and especially the placement of the butt into exactly the same place on the shoulder. Any deviation in this will cause the recoil impulse to be different and the shot will change POI vertically.
All in all 1/2 X 2" groups is pretty promising; what is your load?

[mcgiiver]

245 g  Penn bullet, as cast, not sized, about 0.380, IMR 4227, 15 grains. The rest was a tripod front rest with a firm sandbag, Rear rest was a firm sandbag.

[gcrank1]

And just where did you have that front of the rifle sitting on that bag?

[mcgiiver]

Front part of receiver resting on the bag.

[gcrank1]

Have you actually tried having the forestock on and placing it at the screw, shoot a group, move it, say 2" back and go again, and so on to sort out your own rifle's sweet spot?

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

when rested on the front of the receiver, is it front heavy?

could it be that you are varying how much you are holding down the butt into the rear bag?

[quickdtoo]

When shooting from a rest it's real easy to leave the rifle on the rest when loading and reloading, a Handi requires a firm lockup for consistent accuracy, that doesn't always happen when the action is closed on the rest, it should be picked up and closed firmly to insure good lockup, inconsistent lockup can result in vertical stringing, as can oil or solvent on the locking surfaces. 

Tim