.223 handi accuracy

[MIdeerhunter]

I am thinking of buying a .223 handi with the wood stock, what kind of accuracy do you get out of yours? I'm going to put a scope on it, what kind of tricks should i do to get good accuracy, it is going to be a varmint and target gun, what kind of accurcy should i expect?

[Ditchdigger]

I get 1.5" with Win varmit pak,and after trying 7 different powders,several different bullets,and about 400 shots later got it down to .5".  I float the barrel with some business cards,a bipod and 26.5 grs. of H 335 behind a 40 gr. moly Vmax .  If I change anything it starts going back to 1.5" at 100 yds. They're several on here that there's shoot very well. I think if I ( with my luck) get a barrel that will shoot less than a 1" group out of the box,I'm going straight to Texas and buy a Lotto ticket,because with luck like that I'm bound to win.  Digger

[MIdeerhunter]

would a .223 handi with a nice high power scope make a good varmint rifle? would i be better off with the heavy barrel or the regular barrel? I would prefer the regular one as long as there weren't much difference in accuracy, also what would my expected accuracy be at 200 and maybe 300 yards, (with a good shooter, and good ammo) could i hit a pie plate at these ranges?

[cattleskinner]

To answer your question, it would make an excellent varmint rifle in my opinion.  I use the SS model 223 for groundhogs, and on a good day, I can make kills on them out to 250yds.+ as long as I can hold still off of the shooting sticks....you can hit a pie plate easily, and with a steady hold, chest/head shots on groundhogs is possible on a consistent basis.  I've never had the bull barrel model, but I can tell from experience that the superlight model while handy isn't that great at a distance, but the stainless version I have now works great while not being too heavy.  Also the part of being a single shot shouldn't hamper your decision...how many times have you got more than one shot at a varmint?  I look at it this way...if I miss, most groundhogs you can time to about the minute that they will be back out 25-30 min. later...and the young ones?  Well they are dumb enough to sit around for a reload sometimes...that's when they need to wisen up :wink: .  Hopefully that helped.

~~~Cattleskinner

[like2shoot]

I have a HB 223 with a wood stock. It shoots around 3/4" with no modifications. My only complaint is the shape of the forearm makes mounting a bipod difficult. I solved that with a rubber wedge from Harris , the same company that made the bipob. I use 55 Gr. V-max bullets and H335 powder.

[MSP Ret]

MIdeerhunter, get anything but the superlight barrel and it should be a great varmit gun. I have not heard of any of the superlights shooting great, OK for hunting but not really tiny groups from the bench. I suggest the standard barrel. Being from MI I would think there are not a lot of prariedog towns around where you will get a lot of shooting with several shots fired in succession. Therefore the standard configuration barrel would do great. I have a bull barrel on my .223 Handi and it shoots great but does get a bit heavy carrying through the woods for a day of hunting, it's OK but the standard weight barrel might be better to lug all day, it's a personal preference really, some like the added weight and it doesn't seem to bother them to carry it all day, as I said, it's a personal; thing.  I would not change mine now because it shoots and looks great but I may some day get a standard weight barrel also!!!....<><.... :grin:

[TrapperZach]

i just got one for x mas in heavy barrel and i got a scope and need mounts havint shot it yet. what kind of bipod would yall sugest for this gun? also is it any good for deer hunting with like a 63 grain bullet?

[AZ223]

i just got one for x mas in heavy barrel and i got a scope and need mounts havint shot it yet. what kind of bipod would yall sugest for this gun? also is it any good for deer hunting with like a 63 grain bullet?

The Handis don't typically like bullets bigger than 55gr, as they have a 1:12 twist rate which doesn't stabilize heavier bullets very well. Some have had luck; try yours and see. For deer, unless you get a good head/neck shot, I wouldn't recommend it. Even here in AZ where desert whitetail don't get as big as their eastern cousins, I'd hesitate a heart/lung shot. But, that's just me.   :grin:

I use a "Stoney Point" bipod to rest the rifle; doesn't attach to the stock. I use a heavy clip to carry it from my belt when I'm walking. The one I have is 13" to 45" I believe -- good for sitting cross-legged or on a makeshift seat at the range. Also, handis tend to shoot more accurately if you don't place the front rest too far forward. I started out getting 2 1/2" groups at 100, and using the same ammo on the same day, they were down to .75" consitently just by sliding the rest further back, just in front of the hinge.

I don't reload yet (Santa couldn't afford one this Christmas), but the Winchester white box 45gr HP's are very good out of the handis, as are Ultramax 40 & 50gr V-Max if you can find them. Ultramax are about $18 for a box of 50. Wins. are about $12 for 40, but I found them at Sports Authority for under $10 if you have a store nearby. I doubt I could reload for much cheaper.