# Stringing

## Contents

For a "large" number of shots, to the extent that either $$\sigma_h \neq \sigma_v$$ or $$\rho \neq 0$$ then elliptical shot groups will result instead of circular shot groups. A "small" number of shots may have any pattern due to chance. So at least 10 shots should be used before any visual impression is assessed.

If the shot groups are not round then there are three options.

1. Isolate the error source experimentally and remove it (for instance weigh gunpowder carefully to remove vertical stringing).
2. Use a mathematical model for analysis that allows for stringing.
3. Scale the raw data to remove the stringing.

Obviously the experimental reason for stinging may not be obvious and easy to remove. Experimental designs to isolate and quantify the source of the stringing are beyond this basic discussion at this point, but possible.

There isn't any theoretical ballistic requirement that requires correlation between the horizontal and vertical dispersion of gunshots. Therefore, most statistical measures implicitly assume $$\rho = 0$$. In general if $$\rho \neq 0$$, then there would be an elliptical shaped group with the major axis oriented at some angle to the horizontal or vertical axis.

# Horizontal Stringing

Given that $$\sigma_h > \sigma_v$$ then the shot positions on the target would be elliptical in shape with the longer axis of the ellipse along the horizontal axis.

We do know that targets can often exhibit vertical or horizontal stringing as evidenced by an elliptical shaped group along the vertical or horizontal axis respectively. Obviously in such cases $$\sigma_h \neq \sigma_v$$.

(1) The primary source of horizontal stringing is crosswind.
If we measure the wind while shooting we can bound and remove a “wind correction” term from that axis. E.g., "Suppose the orthogonal component of wind is ranging at random from 0-10mph during the shooting. Given lag-time t this will expand the no-wind horizontal dispersion at the target by $$\sigma_{wind}$$."[1] Since variances are additive we could adjust $$\sigma_h$$ via the equation $${\sigma'}_h^2 = \sigma_h^2 - \sigma_{wind}^2$$.

# Vertical Stringing

Given that $$\sigma_h < \sigma_v$$ then the shot positions on the target would be elliptical in shape with the longer axis of the ellipse along the vertical axis.

A typical source of vertical stringing is muzzle velocity.

We can actually measure the muzzle velocity for each shot with a chronograph and then correct for the muzzle velocity dispersion. E.g., If standard deviation of muzzle velocity is $$s_{mv}$$ then, given the bullet's ballistic model for the given target distance, the vertical spread attributable to that is some $$s_v$$. Here too we can remove this known source of dispersion from our samples via the equation $$\sigma_v^2 = \sigma_v^2 - f(\sigma_{mv}^2$$. This adjustment is shown in several of the examples:

# Stringing due to Horizontal-Vertical Correlation

Given that $$\rho \neq 0$$ then the shot positions on the target would be elliptical in shape with the longer axis at some angle to both the horizontal and vertical axes.

1. Wind deflection is a function of the ballistic curve and distance, but can be expressed as a simple product of the cross-wind velocity and lag time. For more information on the "lag rule" see Bryan Litz, Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting, 2nd Edition (2011) A4; or Robert McCoy, Modern Exterior Ballistics, 2nd Edition (2012) 7.27.