.243 pops open.

[semperfi1970]

I have purchased a .243 ultra varmint from walmart within the last month. I have shot around 40 factory loads through it and around 80 hand loads. The hand loads are 41 grains of IMR 4164 pushing a 75 grain v-max at around 3,400 fps with 50,200 cup. The factory loads are Winchester super x 100 grain power point. Are the hand loads to hot for the Handi or do I have a bad one.  There is a slight chucking in the lockup or there lack of that was not there when I first got it.  I did ensure the lock up was clean and had no oil and was dry as a bone per many post I have surched regarding this topic. I would hate to think that my hand load is too much for a handi as it was producing sub 1" groups at 100 yards for me. Great gun but what is going on here. Heck this little .243 Ultra varmint allmost had my Ruger 77 MKII VT 220 swift cowering in fear. Any help would be great.

By the way this is my first post and I would like to say great sight you all have here. I have been lurking in the shadows for a few months reading all there there is to read about Handi's.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! If the pop open medicine link in the FAQs doesn't help, check latch engagement per the barrel fitting instructions, if that doesn't look good, it may need to go back for repair, in that case, call H&R and make arrangements for them to cover return shipping.

Tim

[semperfi1970]

Thanks Tim.  I have checked out the pop open medicine thread and from what I can see all is fine. Could I have harmed the barrel under lug? What cup pressure can the Handi's handle?

[quickdtoo]

The 270 Win has a SAAMI max average pressure of 65kpsi, the 243 is 60kpsi. Remove the forend and check for a loose barrel with the action closed.

Tim

[semperfi1970]

Tim the barrel is loose with or without the forend on, looser with it off.  There is an audible chucking sound in the action when closed up. Before I shot the gun it was tight as heck. This may sound as dumb as the day is long but what is 60kpsi equivalent to in cup pressure?  My reloading books use psi and cup.

[quickdtoo]

There's no real conversion of CUP to PSI, they're two different measuring methods. More than likely the barrel wasn't fitted properly, there was probably a burr on the pivot of the underlug that wore off and left the barrel loose, it's happened before. It needs to go back to H&R for a new barrel, call them and make arrangements to have it returned and repaired, ask for them to cover return shipping, toll free (866)776-9292.

Tim

http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

[semperfi1970]

Thanks Tim for the info.  I will send it back next week and while its there I will get a few barrels for it, I was going to anyways.  25/06, 45/70, .357 mag and I was toying around with the idea of a .500 S&W.  On the .357 H&R states  " clean barrel, drilled and tapped, base included " mean?  Is it a scope base/rail?  I am sorry to bug you but customer service gave me two different answers inside of one hour during my inquiery into that barrel. I wish there were pictures of the accessory barrels on there sight.

Randy

[quickdtoo]

The 357 only has a scope rail, but they probably won't have any barrels for a while, that could always change, but they have told others they won't have em until the end of the month or April. I'd just be happy to just get the 243 barrel replaced quickly considering accessory barrels have not been readily available. 

Tim

[ejpaul1]

Mine did the same thing, open up upon re-loads being fed into it.  But, it didnt do it until after the warranty period. I gave up on it and bought a stevens 200 in 243 to replace it. I did get a 45-70 barrel for it that is near perfect. The other issue with the 243 was that it was marring cases slightly. I noticed when reloading. Then, the marred case would split in half when re-used. Sucked. I still have the barrel and have seen no cracking, but I aint gonna use it. I wanted to have it re-chambered to something different, but I cant think of what would have a slightly bigger case diameter that would have a 243 bore. EJ

[quickdtoo]

H&R is real good about repairs on out of warranty firearms, they've replaced barrels on firearms that were not owned by the original owner many times and well as repaired basket cases where a customer tried to do a trigger job and couldn't reassemble their second hand firearm!! 6mm Rem Improved is an excellent option for a rechamber depending on where the defect is, but I'd call H&R to get it replaced, toll free (866)776-9292.

Tim

[Frank V]

Tim, thanks for that phone #, just put it into my phone book. Are the bbls in .243 giving trouble? There is a used .243 rifle at a local shop for $165 that looks pretty clean.
Frank

[guns-o-fun]

I have been looking at 22 hornet data - and to give you an idea of the difference - the LASC Saami maximum for the round is listed as 25,000 CUP - the latest Hodgdon data goes as high as 43,000 PSI.  I have seen a formula for converting - but the relationship is not a simple linear one and depends on several variables.

[quickdtoo]

Tim, thanks for that phone #, just put it into my phone book. Are the bbls in .243 giving trouble? There is a used .243 rifle at a local shop for $165 that looks pretty clean.
Frank

I've got 4 of them if that means anything, two are Superlights, the most troublesome of all H&R chamberings, but even they'll shoot good, just don't count on good accuracy after it heats ups. Stick with the 22" standard or 22" or 24"  bull barrel and you'll be happy. Ejector barrels tended to stick brass, but even that's usually avoidable, not an issue with extractor barrels, $165 is a good price. 

Tim

[semperfi1970]

Well H&R has done good by me in that I shipped the defective .243 back on the 9th and on the 18th I have a ups tracking# to follow its return (its in the mail).  Seeing how I live 3 hours from Illion NY the shipping is fast.  The customer service fella told me they replaced the barrel.  I ordered no accessory barrels as all they had was stainless 243, 22hornet, 30/06 and 270 on hand.

[semperfi1970]

I went to the range today to try out the repaired 243.  Out of 60 rounds it opened up twice when fired. The repair document technician's comments state they found that the rifle "opens when fired, bbl loose in receiver/frame" there fix was "replace barrel catch, refit barrel, test".  Is this common or am I just encountering a freak thing. I hate to have to send it back (pain in my a$$) agian but it is worthless the way it is. Rite out of the repair box I am able to shift the barrel in the reciever from side to side ever so slightly. Am I the only one living this misfortune?

[quickdtoo]

Rite out of the repair box I am able to shift the barrel in the reciever from side to side ever so slightly.

If that's with the action open, it doesn't matter, if it's with the action closed, it needs to have a new barrel fitted or it needs to be shimmed by yourself, they won't shim it. But that in itself won't necessarily cause pop opens, latch engagement would have to be minimal for the action to pop open,  insufficiently resized handloads can cause the same thing as well as oil on the latch/shelf, or just plain not closing the action firmly enough when it's new.

Tim

[gcrank1]

FWIW, I have learned to slap, not snap, these closed pretty sharply. I prefer a tight action with minimum headspace and if that means doing so for the break-in, seat-in period so be it. Mine have become better with use. When not accustomed to thse actions it is easy to be concentrating on shooting groups and get a little subconscious in the closing up on another round.

[semperfi1970]

The shifting is with the action closed and the forend off. With the forend on it is tight. I opened up on factory amo today. I will try closing it harder the next time I fire it.

[quickdtoo]

If the barrel is loose without the forend after slamming it shut, it needs to go back to H&R for repair.....on their dime, ask them to send you a prepaid UPS shipping label to cover shipping, there's no excuse for sending a barrel out like that. Enclose a tag attached to the trigger guard so the gunsmith knows exactly what the problems are......that is if it doesn't shoot well after trying it out again with a little more effort on closing it,  but it probably won't be very accurate if the barrel truly is loose since it may not be in the same position each time it locks up and the looseness also mean there could be a little more headspace than is desirable.

Tim

[gcrank1]

The forend spacer by its shape helps to locate the barrel onto the hingepin and minimize the side to side play. The FAQs have more info on shimming, but may not be neccessary if you can otherwise get acceptable accuracy. I havent had to do any of mine.
You might try just an 'Arkansas Stone' to smooth up the ledge and it might gain you a smidge of engagement to help in the break-in period. Basically just take off the bluing and dont go too far at first, you can always do more as time goes by if needed.

[semperfi1970]

Thanks for the info and insite. I will see how it works when closed with a little authority as I am using a bipod and just bringing the buttstock up to close it.

[quickdtoo]

I've only used a bipod on the fluted 22-250 Ultra which has the Choate Varmint forend with bipod adapter, I press down on the rear scope ring to add some leverage to get the action locked up good. 

Tim