Is this going to be a problem .223 HR

[thecowboyace]

I had loaned this gun out and the fella flub the scope up.  Bushnell 4-12x40 w/ AO.  Took scope off and put a Simmons 3-9x40 Eight Point on it and did a cleanup job on it.  Weather has really been humid here for the last two weeks of rain, fog, rain, on and on.

Anyway when I was putting the forearm on, I had to really press the durned thing down and onto the barrel lug.  I mean it was a tight, well still is a TIGHT FIT and there is no room for movement at all.  Should I drill that hole out at least one size larger where it will not be binding when attached?  I think that this will be a defiinite pressure point and could cause the .223 not to group decently.  It really couldn't hurt it, can it.  Especially if I am going to put the O-ring  in place.  I am thinking of removing wood and then placing a strip of rubber along the complete trough there from the receiver to the end of the foreend with a hole for the screw to go thru.

[quickdtoo]

If the rifle got wet or was exposed to moisture, the forend has swelled and is causing the problem. I would make sure it was dry before I worked on it, probably won't need to then. I would seal the forend and butt before using it after it's good and dry. Don't use direct heat or it could warp the forend. I use Birchwood Casey Tru-oil on all my firearm stocks before I hunt with em. I seal mine by rubbing the oil in on all surfaces with my hands, several coats, not just on the outside. It will protect the wood from swelling as you describe and looks good too.

[MSP Ret]

Quickdtoo is right  (as usual). Another thing is don't drill out the screw hole, if you find that after drying it is still to tight, just remove the plastic spacer that mates with the frame (held on by 2 small phillips head screws) and replace it with a thinner one from another Handi (they come in three thicknesses at least) or put it on a belt sander and VERY carefully remove a thousanth or 2 from the flat side and try it again.  If you have any other handi's try another forearm or spacer, becuase I am always swapping barrels an recievers I change mine from gun to gun to get a perfect fit....<><.... :grin:

[Donaldo]

The main thing to remember on the handi forearm is that this is what makes the action stay tight when the gun is open.  If you open the lug hole up too much the barrel will wiggle waggle side to side when open.  I just opened mine up a tiny bit with a round file on the back side and got a lot more side to side movement.  It is not a real problem as the barrel locks up tight when closed.  Taking a tiny bit of wood out on the tight side of the hole is a lot easier than sanding the plastic keeper on the action end of the forearm.  The barrel lug is the real culprit in making these rifles shoot to their best capability.  Until we figure out how to treat the bedding of the forearm, they are always going to be erratic and temperamental.  I just tried something slightly different and when the weather gets better so I can go to the range and try it I will post the results.

[Longcruise]

Go with MSP's suggestion.  My nef 223 came out of the box with that kind of fit.  I did as msp suggested above and solved the problem.

I tried the rubber gasket full length thing using a piece of bike innter tube.  Results were not special but it may work great for you. :-)

[quickdtoo]

I've done 2 forend spacer adjustments per MSP's instructions, works fine for me... :wink: