Handi .223 accuracy.

[tracker370]

I've got a .223 NEW handi Rifle with the short bull barrell. I also have the wide aftermarket varmit forearm. I've had a problem with consistent accuracy since I've owned this gun. I've tried resting the gun on the hinge as recommended by others, and I've tried adjusting the tension of the barrel/forearm screw.

Here is the situation, whenever I start shooting my first shot is dead on a 100 yrds. My second shot typically drops an inch down and to the right, then further down and to the right with each consecutive shot. I'll clean the barrel but won't mess with the scope before putting it away. The next time I go out to shoot, the gun repeats the same cycle of being dead with the first shot and then subsequently going to
$#!t.

Rounds: Gold Tip with 55 grain speer bullet.

What do the experts think?

[indydave]

my 223 was odd too       i jb pasted it shot it 20 times cleaned the hell otta it  then shot it 85 rounds did it all over again  this time used a very thick o-ring under my forearm and torqued to 25 inch-lbs  used  24.7 grains Benchmark  Win case once fired   trimmed, deburred inside and out, de-burred  flash hole and seated a 55 grain sierra hpbt gameking  OAL 2.281    shot a 5 shot group of .142    then shot my 308 and it  was around .257 for 5 shots    they will do it  hang in there     try the basics first

[cwlongshot]

I would first dis-assemble the firearm. Thoroughly clean the receiver and be sure the latch and barrel shelf are absolutely clean and oil free. Clean the barrel, if you haven't already, JB paste it as per FAQ's.

Then I would recheck the scope mounts/rings.

Then at the range, shooting off SAND BAGS, its good your resting under the hinge. (or use other soft support, gun will recoil off a hard rest.) I would also remove the for-end and shoot 3 fouling shots in the berm/back stop. Set it aside to cool if warm. Anytime you cannot hold your hand on the barrel it is too hot to shoot. Be conscious of the way you close a handi. It should be done "smartly" and consistently. Come back and shoot for group.

If that's not fixed it, and it still vertically strings shots. I would go back and look at the shelf/latch. Smoke the latch and adjust the barrel shelf so its perfectly parallel to the receivers latch. Inconsistent lock up will cause vertically strung shots as you describe.

Good luck!!

CW

[LaOtto222]

All good advice. I would like to add one more thing to try. Take off the fore end, rest the rifle under the frame (receiver) and see if it shoots the same way or not. If you are more consistent then you have a fore end issue. If it shoots the same, then I would say you have a latch/lug issue. If you have a latch issue, follow the advice already given; make sure it is dry, consistent lock up, good lock up; advise already given. If it is the fore end, then there are several things to try there too. Since you have a "different" fore end, make sure there is even pressure on both sides of the barrel. I like to free float mine with of course the exception of the attachment screw and contact between the fore end and the receiver. Some do this by opening up the fore end and putting an O-Ring under the attachment lug. I did this by pillar bedding the fore end. I can add a pressure point at the fore end tip or not depending on how the rifle shoots. Some need it and some do not. Make sure you are consistent with the fore end screw torque. Some have bedded the fore arm to the barrel with silicone. You just have to try different things until you hit the correct combination. Good LucK and Good Shooting

[Badnews Bob]

Try the 45 grain bullets alot of handies don't like the 55s

[Steve P]

Quit cleaning the barrel so much.  You don't have any fouling seasoning the bore   

My competition guns shoot like crap until I get 10, 20, or more shots down the barrel.  I won't even try to confirm loads in a .22LR barrel until it has 10 shots of the tested ammo down the bore. 

Clean, IMHO and experience, is not always beneficial to accuracy.  Clean action yes.  Clean bore, not always.

Steve

[Graybeard]

Again I find myself agreeing with Steve. Folks in general grossly over clean their barrels to the detriment of accuracy. Each barrel is a separate entity and must be checked to see what it likes but few barrels if any shoot their best clean, really clean. Most all need some number of fouling shots for best accuracy.

I'm even worse than he is with rimfires. Long ago my best friend and I did some experimentation and determined that when changing brands or types of ammo you need to run a LOT of them down the barrel prior to best accuracy. I shoot a full box of 50 down the barrel before checking for accuracy with any .22LR ammo. No I don't clean it afterward when switching just run 50 of the new type down then begin shooting groups.

If you don't believe it some day give it a try. Set up a target sheet with a bunch of dots to shoot at. Begin with a new type ammo and shoot five or ten shot groups until you've shot up a box of ammo then take a new box of same and shoot five groups and see if the average of them isn't less than the previous groups with that first 50. It ALWAYS was for us.

[Singleshotsam]

I'll scrub my guns and then shoot foul the bbl and sight it in.  Then I leave it be until my groups start opening up from what is consistent for it to shoot.  When it begins to open up, i'll scrub it for both powder and copper fouling.  then repeat...

[OBXPilgrim]

I gotta agree with Steve & Bill on this too.  I've switched 22 lr ammo lots of times in different guns & had to shoot several times before things settled down. 

I always get funny looks from folks I work with when I tell them I almost never clean .22lr's, if they ask. What are you cleaning out?

[petemi]

I agree with all you guys.  I clean bores seldom, and shoot well.  It's a great excuse, cause I'm a lazy old man

[FW Conch]

tracker, you said you have the "after market varmit forearm".  I have one also that I got from Midway & when I got it, it fit too tight. I had to force it on to get the screw hole to line up, so I had to adjust it to fit.  I was doing my best work, taking off just a little material @ a time when "doink", I took off a "thou" too much & it was too loose.  I added one layer of furnace tape  back to it & now it fits perfect. AS stated above, if this is your problem you will find out by shooting with the forearm off.  This is a royal pain!  I suggest keeping a forearm there & just slip it on when opening the action to reload so your rifle doesn't end up in 3 pieces.  If the rifle comes apart after every shot you can never get any consistency.  Most of us Handi shooters feel your pain, but just stay with it, hang in here, & we'll all get to the bottom of it together!
 

[oldandslow]

Well, they made one that absolutely would not shoot good and I bought it. I did everything I could think of and tried ever trick posted here. Tried several brands of ammo and a lot of different handloads. I never got a group good enough at 50 yards to justify trying a 100 yard group. Finally took it back and traded for a Stevens 200. It shot 3/4" groups with some of the same ammo right out of the box at 100 yards.

[quickdtoo]

I floated the Varmint forend on my fluted 22-250 by sanding the channel from the stud forward, and relieved the stud opening slightly to take the pressure off some, it now shoots <1" groups.

There's always one last trick.....return it to H&R for repair, they'll replace the barrel if there's a problem with it.

Tim

[tracker370]

Thanks guys. I'll put some of this into action and get back to ya'll.

[kgarner]

I have 223 that does the same thing. I just keep shooing it hoping it will get better.

[cwlongshot]

Sometimes these things can be frustrating. But trust me, if you closely follow the FAQ's it will solve 90% of these problems.

Yes sometimes there is just a bad barrel, but believe me, they are few and far between. Its human nature to take the easy way out and blame the firearm. More times than not the problem is NOT insurmountable and can be rectified thru diligance.

I have been here too, currently I have a 500 that dosent shoot how I like, but I am certain I'll come out on top.

CW

[dpe.ahoy]

Hey, CW.  You're back up and runnin'.  Good deal .  DP

[Russ Jerome]

I "just" returned from the range with a never fired 223 Ultra, my break
in shots with generic 55gr Wolf ammo grouped better than premium 55
grain Winchester, Remington 64gr premium were wildly grouped out to
2-1/2" at 100 yards.

Experiment with the ammo on top of what everyone said. Im heading
back to the ammo shop to try some more 55gr and lighter stuff, this
gun would apear to like light stuff (24"fluted Ultra, older production
assuming 1/12 twist)

ps: The cheap generic ammo that grouped 3/4" in low light and rain
at 100yards....4 of the 20 rounds didnt even fire but grouped nice!

[quickdtoo]

The fluted 223 barrel originally was released as a 1:9" barrel, but then they started switching back and forth tween it and 1:12". The only way to know what the twist of any .223 barrel made since 2005-2006 is to check it with a rod as described in the FAQs below the twist rates. Even H&R has no record of what twist rates were on factory .223 rifles or accessory barrels.

Tim

[Clayne_b]

i have a ultra in .223 it shoots fed real good. here is some eye candy... 3 shots 100 yards. 50gr