Author Topic: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win  (Read 820 times)

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Offline MrJames680

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TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« on: April 19, 2009, 09:05:12 PM »
Having trouble with my Handi. Cant get more than a 1.4in group @ 100yrds with hand loads or factory ammo. My Ruger 10/22 does better as well as my .223 so I know its not me. My .243 has done better before. Dont 'see' anything wrong with my crown but I am thinking about having a re-crown done. I cannot see any blemishes with a magnifying glass. Any suggestions before I re-crown?

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Offline troy5775

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2009, 04:14:38 AM »
try the FAQ's and help sticky at the top of the page it has a section on accurizing.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,26264.0.html

Offline rickt300

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2009, 04:16:40 AM »
Have you bedded the forearm, done a trigger job and tried different brands of ammo?
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Offline MrJames680

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2009, 05:33:05 AM »
I have gone thru the FAQ for sure. My rifle has been bedded, its has had a trigger job, and I have shot 3 brands of ammo thru it. I have shot with and with out frontend barrel pressure. Even the fouling marks on the muzzle looks uniform and neat tho i must admit that I would like to look at it again. The lock lug has a centered brinneling mark. When I said that my .223 works better I meant that a .223 barrel in the same frame works better. It usually shoots about .75in in average @ 100yrds. The 243 used to shoot .85in groups. I was hoping to tighten that up. 1in or more is just not gonna cut it for me. Hmmm.    :-\  I am gonna try adjusting lug screw tighness and maybe scrutinize the bedding. Thats all I can think short of a re-crown, but I still am not sold on even trying that yet....  ???
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2009, 05:44:01 AM »
Things to check/do...

1. Clean it good, shoot a few fouling rounds, then shoot for group.

2. Make sure there's no oil or solvent on the latch and latch shelf.

3. Check the base and rings for looseness.

4. Replace the scope with a known good scope.

5. Report back with your findings!!  ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline rickt300

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2009, 08:47:35 AM »
You say the forearm has been bedded, how so?  I have found that every barrel is a bit different and I started bedding the barrels instead of trying to have a different forearm for every barrel.  The post the forearm screw threads into is often not in exactly the same place on different barrels.  I have already found my barrels more consistant when I rest the forearm in my hand rather than on a sandbag or other rest.  Last but not least, you could just have been having a not so good day shooting.
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Offline MrJames680

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2009, 09:51:02 AM »
It's a type of pillar bed similar to LaOtto in the FAQ. It was done long before I owned the rifle and I checked it out to see if it is broken somehow. I really doubt it. The .223 barrel is done exactly the same way and they each have their own forearm. Before I tried my hand at reloading, the absolute best ammo I could find was Winchester 80 gr. Super-X Pointed Soft Point.

Otherwise, I think Tim is about to make me look like a fool because the one thing I did not check out was the scope and its mounts.   :-[

Let ya'll know later tonight when I am back from my test.
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Offline petemi

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2009, 01:43:54 PM »
Good place to look is the scope mounts.  I've had two factory intalled mounts shoot loose after only a few rounds, and one was an itty bitty .357.

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Offline troy5775

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2009, 03:22:35 PM »
If checking the scope and mount doesn't turn up anything, have you tried shooting with the forearm off to see if that is the root of the problem?

Offline MrJames680

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2009, 03:50:43 PM »
Just got back from the range and shot with and without the forearm. No Difference. Checked the scope and could not find anything wrong with the mounts or the scope, but, I forgot to bring another scope. So the guy next to me let me borrow his for a group or two and guess what...    :o  ... its my scope.

I guess my method of  troubleshooting with my own brand of "shotgun diagnostics" and "Occam's razor" didnt work this time.    :P

Thank you Tim, you sure nailed that one.  :D
Thank you rickt300 & troy5775 for your inputs, I always really appreciate any extra advise.   8) 8)

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  • New scope $99.95   :P
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2009, 04:55:05 PM »
It's always nice to solve a problem, glad ya got it figured out.  ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline rickt300

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2009, 07:41:42 PM »
Scopes are hard to blame because they look so innocent.  I had a Simmons scope that was new on a 300 Winchester magnum that cost me 4 boxes of 200 grain Nosler Partitions before I figured out what the problem was. Ouch!  All that fun recoil and powder, primers and bullets.  I kind of swore off Simmons scopes since then.
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: TROUBLE with Handi .243 Win
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2009, 04:53:03 PM »
Amen on that Simmons crap. Made me get rid of a nice Model 70 Winchester in 22-250. Bought a new 700 VFSS put that scope on it scratched my head alot and finally figured it out. I think I would stay away from most $99 scopes for anything above a 22 rf.