Latest .280 Range Report

[lik2hunt]

Got out to shoot finally today. Second time around with the factory purchased and fitted .280 barrel. The Speer Nitrex with the 160 gr. Grand Slams just ain't gonna work. Shot #1 from a stone cold bore was 3" high and 3/4" right, Ok didn't really get her sighted in last time so I figure let's start from here. Set the scope, allowed the bore to compltely cool. Shot #2 was 3 3/4" high and 1/2" left, after adjusting the scope down and left. Adjusted again to acheive 1 1/2" high at dead center and shot #3 landed right on top of #2, again after a cool down. Adjusted again and allowed a cool down time. Shot #4 went 2" low and 3" right. So I figure let's see what happens without adjusting. Long cool down time amd shot #5 came in at exactly 1" right and dead on with the bull. That was all the Nitex ammo I had left. 20 rounds and no decent group, only patterns.
So I had five 150 gr. Core-Lokts left and after a long cool down time I gave them a try. #1 was 3" high and 3/4" right. Cooled, #2 was........well crap, I really don't know, not even on the paper. So by now I'm getting ticked, to put it mildly. Let the bore cool for a while this time while I went down range and marked my target and talked on my cell for a few minutes. Shots #3, #4, and #5 with the Core-Lokts then produced a nice 1 1/8" group at 4 1/2" high and 1 1/2" right. All five shots with the Core-Lokts were fired with no scope adjustments being made at all.
So shots #38, 39, and 40 out of this barrel finally produced my first decent group.    I'm gonna get some more Core-Lokts and change the scope from a 6-18x50 Banner to a Simmons Aetec 3.8-12x44 and give it another try later. But if it doesn't do any better than this it's a goner like so many other of my Handi barrels have been over the last couple of years. Still like 'em but I ain't gonna waste my time on the non-shooters.

[DalesCarpentry]

You could sell it to me. I am really looking for a 280. But there are a couple things you might being doing wrong. you can not just take one shot and adjust your scope. you have to shoot 3 or 5 shot groups. Second is if you cleaned your barrel since the last time you went to the range it will take a few fouling shots to get it back to where it was the last time you sighted it in.

[lik2hunt]

Dale while what you say about the groups is usually correct and the way I usually sight in, I don't think it would have mattered with the Speer Nitrex ammo. A variance of 4-5" is just too much to be corrected even by working with 3 shot groups.
I hadn't even patched the bore since the last time shooting and that was on purpose for the obvious reasons you refered to. Cool down times between each shot was at least 3 minutes and most were closer to 5. The cool down was quite a bit longer before the last three were fired but the barrel was sufficiently cool for all shots, considering the nice weather we had today at about 68 degrees with a light southerly breeze, blowed right thru the bore while it sat open on the bags. I think mine just ain't gonna like the larger bullets and possibly a 140 grainer may work even better than the 150's. I'm not giving up yet, but it would have been nice to have a shooter right off the bat.

[DalesCarpentry]

Well then it might not be your practice's. You might just have to give it some TLC and some fine tuning. Let me know if and when you want to get rid of it.          Dale

[Mac11700]

Break it down and clean it completely...then Flitz it.....Then shoot the 140 grain core locks...Both groups I shot with mine were the 140 grain bullets...You know these rifles plenty well...so you know the barrel channel probably needs sanding to open it up so it won't touch...and it could need a small pressure point on it...borrow some of Diggers business cards before you go out again...

Mac

[lik2hunt]

Mac
The Flitz is a good idea. I think I will  give it about 150 strokes and then clean the bore out to eating surface clean before I go out next time. I have a lot of forearm clearance now already and a pressure point applied.  But I'll check it more closely too before the next range trip and may relieve some wood from the forearm channel. BTW, on a positive note, I did add a mercury recoil reducer to the butt-stock after the last range trip and it really tamed the recoil considerably for this trip. The .280 is a fine round and known to be a real performer in the Handi Rifle so I'll not give up on it until I've exhausted all of my  reasonable, and hunting applicable knowledge and resources.
I can't use a gun that is so temperamental that it becomes impractical for hunting with in the woods where BR accessories are inaccessible and illogical. What I mean by that, is after I sight in and group a gun for hunting deer or hogs or whatever, then I see how it'll do offhand or from sitting on a bucket shooting. Just me, but that seems to be how most of my woods shots wind up being taken. Tree stand shooting so closely resembles the sitting scenario that I figure I'm covered there too.

[James B]

I have an older 280 and try as I might, I can't get better than 1 3/4 inch groups. The only good thing is that I can't get groups worse than that either. Consistent as heck. For deer I have been using the 120 grain Sierra PRO-Hunter bullets. They do a great job on Mule deer.

[Mac11700]

I hear ya John...Nothing worse than a temperamental rifle in the woods to hunt with...and I won't own a inaccurate rifle either....they just aren't worth it anymore...They take too much time & effort & money to find one or 2 loads that shoot half way decent in them...and the time aspect is something I don't have the luxury giving them now a days...

Mac