diff --git a/src/fenigma/firing_panel.py b/src/fenigma/firing_panel.py
index a60c6dc..ebabfbd 100644
--- a/src/fenigma/firing_panel.py
+++ b/src/fenigma/firing_panel.py
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@ class FiringPanel(Gtk.Box):
         self._list_box.set_margin_start(10)
         self._list_box.set_margin_end(10)
         scroller = Gtk.ScrolledWindow(child=self._list_box, vexpand=True)
+        # Horizontal scrolling is never wanted here (fixed-width sidebar),
+        # leaving it on AUTOMATIC (the default) lets a vertical scrollbar's
+        # own width shrink the content area enough to trigger a horizontal
+        # one too, which then perturbs card heights and can trip vertical
+        # scrolling that wasn't actually needed. Pin it off outright.
+        scroller.set_policy(Gtk.PolicyType.NEVER, Gtk.PolicyType.AUTOMATIC)
         self.append(scroller)
 
         self.refresh()
@@ -173,11 +179,13 @@ class FiringPanel(Gtk.Box):
 
         def sort_key(t: Target):
             dead_last = 1 if (self.show_dead == "sort_later" and not t.alive) else 0
-            strike_first = 0 if t.type is TargetType.STRIKE else 1
-            return (dead_last, strike_first)
+            return dead_last
 
         # Stable sort: ties keep board order, which is exactly what drag
-        # reordering (Board.reorder_target) manipulates.
+        # reordering (Board.reorder_target) manipulates. A new strike goes
+        # to the front once, at creation (see app.py's _add_strike_at),
+        # not forced back there on every refresh, that would fight any
+        # later manual reorder.
         targets.sort(key=sort_key)
 
         if not targets: