Frusterated!

[henry1]

I have always had a hard time with my NEF .223 Handi Rifle, from about 50yds to 400. I have shot pdogs at these distances b4 but last spring i couldnt hit crap. I missed 2 yotes one at about 50yds and the other at around 140yds and i guess im just tired of having to hold hi or to aim low. I dont know why im rambling on but it might have something to do with it being almost 130 in the morn. So if you guys can talk to me about this that would be super! Thanks guys!

[Woodchuck Sniper]

henry,

You likely need to provide more information than you did for some of the avid handi rifle shooters to provide help.  Some of the basics may include.

* If the scope has an adjustable objective,is it being dialed in properly for the yardage?
* What size 3 or 5 shot groups do you average at 100 yards?
* What distance is the rifle zeroed at?
* What grain ammo or loads are you shooting?
* What position did you shoot at the coyotes from,sitting w) sticks,sitting,kneeling,off hand?
* Are you familar with your cold bore shot placement and what cleaning or non cleaning methods keep the gun in the groove?


Most of the guys shooting Handi .223 calibers are reporting an average 5 shot of about M.O.A.  Many whom hunt .223's zero for 200 yards.  Many tweak the forearm action screw for tightest groups and mark it.  IMO, it is a must to know what your cold bore p.o.i. is for coyote and woodchuck hunting and know how to keep it in the groove for that.  Many handi's (at least my Hornet) prefer to shoot from a dirty bore.  I have a home 50 yard range and practice offhand with rimfires.  To stay in the groove shooting off hand for field use, I need to fire at least 5-10 shots per week from that position.  If you don't practice that position and shot at the coyotes from off hand or even sitting with out shooting sticks.  You may have just plain missed.

W.S. / Bill

[safetysheriff]

in late June i was ready to tear my hair out over a problem with a light-barreled NEF in .223!  (finally took one groundhog after missing with the first two shots!)   i decided to SCRUB the bore with a bronze brush and my mix of Hoppe's with Rislone.....and then did the same with Birchwood Casey's Bore Scrubber.......'mucho' scrubbing to really clean the fouling out that i didn't think was in their (powder fouling mostly, not copper).   then i got some R-P brass, some Win' small rifle primers, 27.6 grains of WC-846 (bulk powder) and 50 grain Hornady spire points assembled.   i re-sighted the rifle at 50 yds' at a State range here in Ohio.  the 3-shot group was centered 1" below the line of sight at that distance --- and it fit into less than 7/16" !    (other bullet weights tried first that day)

the center-to-center spread of that group is approximately .2135 inches.....

i thought i might have a rifle/scope/base/load/etc/etc/etc/  problem from somewhere!   believe me, a cheap clearance-priced Bushnell 4-12 x 40 with AO on Millet rings (three of them!) did the trick out of a Wonderful little Handi' once it was cleaned.   

don't give up.   i didn't; and it was worth the extra effort.

take care,

ss' 

ps: i don't have a digital cam'; and doing this at 50 yds' doesn't make me a sniper.  so i don't have a pic' of the group.    but, this does show how a Handi' can react to a good cleaning and a good load.