RANGE REPORT on Handi- with accuracy problems.

[huntsalot]

I am the one who posted on the handi with possible lock up troubles. James B. and alot of you others have given me advise on this rifle as far as tinkering and I have utilized alot of it. I decided to hold out and continue putting rounds through it to see if it does settle down as up to this point all shooting has been very erratic, Shots going different places with no pattern or group. I remounted another Leupold last night to rule out the scope. I also polished the chamber and bore with some flitz and then cleaned out very good. I took it out today hoping for better results. I bore sighted it before going out and it took me about 3 shots at 50 yards to get it in the vicinity of the bullseye. The shots were still flying around. I shot about 3 more shots still with no pattern or group developing. I then shot 9 more shots which all went into about a 2 3/4" to 3" circle. 4 of then was holes in holes. I could tell because I could see the rounded out part of another bullet hole in the edge of the one before it.  I did not have anymore ammo and it was starting to rain so thats all I know. At least it ended on a good note. I was wondering after you get alot of rounds through one and it settles down and begins to shoot good as many of you have had experience with, does it do it all of a sudden or is it a gradual thing? How does this sound to you all. Is there hope and is it just a matter of getting some more rounds through it???
Whitey

[handirifle]

huntsalot
I don't recall, what caliber are you shooting?  My son's 223's were about to be tossed until I found the Win Varmint value pak.  The guns LOVE them.  Of course this was after several hundred rounds. of other ammo.

Now some of my hand loads are starting to perform.  never had rifles like these that had to "break in".

I'm waiting on my new scope for my Ultra to arive so I can see how it does.

If you're the one with the play in the barrel, Id send it back to NEF for sure and NOT shoot it till I did.

[MINNESOTA DICK]

Check the crown on the barrel.  I have found that the Handies that I have bought have had bad crowns (small burrs) on them.  The Crown on a barrel is very importent as far as grouping goes.

When I buy a handie the first things I do are:

1) Clean the barrel real good using Flitz & Hoppies # 9.
2) Clean the barrel locking latch real good with Break Cleaner or Carb Cleaner on a rag.
3) Have the crown kissed with a Crown repair tool.
4) O-ring trick on the forearm.

Most of my groups settle down after 6 shots or so.

[MSP Ret]

huntsalot, Go with Minnesota Dick's reference to the crown. The only thing I can think of that would account for the rapid improvement in your group size with no other changes except shooting 10-20 rounds is the possibility of a burr from the factory left on the crown that was cleaned up/shot off in the first few rounds. A perfectly concentric crown is vital to good shooting. If it shoots small groups now your all set, just watch out you don't bang the muzzle end/crown on rocks and clean from the breech end unless you use a rod guide. On these guns I always suggest cleaning from the breech end. These guns set up right and "tuned" will shoot better than most of us are capable of. Have fun and let us know about the next time you shoot. Also be sure you don't cant the gun or place any undue pressure on the gun at the grip area. Check if the rear stock is loose as well as the forearm. Pull only the trigger and pull it straight back without knowing when it is going to break. AND, support the gun close to the hinge area, just forward of the trigger guard, not out by the forward end of the forearm on on the barrel....<><.... :grin:

[MINNESOTA DICK]

HI  MSP Ret

I just thought you might like to know that I have found out that I can shoot from the bench using a Bi-pod attached to the forearm with good results.  But you must do the o-ring trick to remove any forearm pressure between the barrel and forearm.

The O-ring trick is almost like piller bedding a rifle.

Just passing along so info I have found out.

I need to get one of those fancy cameras and learn how to post some pictures someday, that is if I am not to old to learn how to do it. I know the kids sure are good at it.   :lol:

[MSP Ret]

That sounds great MD, I have a digital camera, but posting a picture eludes me. I have read some of the instructions given but if the words used in the instructions are unknown then the instructions are useless, they sound something like this,  go to the URL and disable the html, use the GIF picture format??? What the heck do statements similar to that mean, and what language are they in??? I do appreciate the info about using a bipod on your handi though, that I can understand....<><>.... :grin:

[Flash]

GIF= Graphic Image Format
HTML= Hyper Text Mark-up Language
URL= Universal Resource Locator

Thanks for all the tips guys. I had a Ultra Varmint in 243 that left the target looking like I had 00 Buckshot. Holes all over the place. The gun is long gone but the next NEF will get the crown worked over, that's for sure.

[jeff223]

make sure everything is tight and that your scope is holding zero.use only good ammo,factory or good handloads.dont use the cheap import ammo .have your crown checked out like the others have said.i had a new crown and the gun shot good.the smith took about 1/4 inch of metal  off and this is how it looks now