I've got a .223 I bought in June of last year. Just bought it for plinking and 'cause I wanted something with a little more bang than a .22 but still affordable to shoot. The Handi .223 seemed perfect.
The first time I took it out shooting I stopped at Wal-mart and picked up a few boxes of American Eagle .223 (AR). At $5/box seemed a good deal. First couple shots and could tell I was going to really like this gun. Then a misfire. Then another. I'd say of the first 60 rounds I tried at least a third of them didn't fire.
So, headed back to the dealer and was told I should buy some Remmington and see how it shoots and that Handi-rifles don't shoot AR ammunition well because the primers are harder. I bought some Remmington and went out again. All 20 rounds fired, no problem. I called H&R and asked if it is true that AR type .223 doesn't shoot well with the Handi. I didn't get a very straight answer but was told they are tested with Remmington and if I wanted I could send it to an authorized repair center and have it checked and if it wasn't covered under warranty I would get a cost estimate.
I decided against returning it and paying the cost of shipping since the H&R service dept. didn't inspire much confidence that it would be "repaired". Instead I've been buying Remmington. Today I went out and shot a box of Federal .223 - also noted as being for AR type rifles but a good price. Although there were far fewer failures, it was still 7 out of 100.
Has anyone else encountered this same problem with the .223? Is the dealer right and it's not a problem but more by design? I hate too have to pass up the cheaper cost I'm seeing for AR type ammo and I'm wandering if there is something that can be done - stiffer hammer spring or adjust depth of firing pin penetration? Any suggestions?
