Do I have a bedding issue? Where do I start?

[Rumpelhardt]

I shot my no.4 for the first time today. At 100 yards it seems to want to string the shots horizontally about 6 inches. vertically they stay within 3 inches. It did this with both174 and 180 grain Privi ammo. Could this be a bedding issue or more likely me? I shot my .308 as well and kept all rounds within the usual 1/2 to 3/4 inch but that was through a scope set at 12x.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Information

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[Badger]

Check the MKL ..

The Canadian Marksman (Bedding the 7.62mm No.4 Rifle) - 1965

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Hope that helps ...

Regards,
Doug

[Peter Laidler]

Before I did anything else Rumpel, I'd shoot the rifle over cover (fore-arm rested) using bog standard NATO RG or RL .303" ammo and see how it groups. Only THEN might I look at it in more depth

[Rumpelhardt]

This was from a bench off a rest with a rear bag. I will hunt up some of the appropriate ammo and try again.

[RJW NZ]

If it was me ... horizontal stringing is a loose butt bolt or leaning/pulling ie flinching ones shoulder against the recoil. To reduce this remember to use your trigger hand to point the rifle, not the fore arm, that is supposed to be a steady rest but can easily over control the rifle too.

[Rumpelhardt]

A flinch was my first thought and the one I still give the most credence. I use my off hand on the rear bag not on the forearm. The two things that made me question flinching is that my son videoed some of the shooting and after watching it I did not notice any flinching but the angle could have covered it up if not to severe. The second was that I shot my .308 as well as I normally do but there I was shooting a 13 pound rifle with a 2.5 lb trigger and scope set on 12x and also a rifle that I am quite accustomed to. I guess I will have to give it another try before taking any rash actions.