My .223 Handi Suprised Me Yesterday

[JPShelton]

I took my .223 Handi out to the range yesterday, firing group after group hovering around MOA, with Remington UMC 55gr. FMJ ammo.  Until then, I had never had good results shooting this rifle with bullets lighter than 60 gr. and some of the worst groups it has printed were with 55.gr Remington UMC FMJ.  At the start of yesterday's shooting session, my expectations weren't real high.  I was primarily interested in converting the ammo into once-fired brass for reloading.

I haven't done anything to the rifle that would explain why it suddenly, and with respectable precision, shoots ammo it didn't used to like.

Anybody else have a similar experience?

JP

[RugerNo3]

Weight of the bullet has little to do with accuracy in a given barrel twist rate. Length of the bullet is the key to accuracy in the twist of your barrel. Compare the length of bullets used in your experiences with your loads and judge where the inaccuracy lies. A sixty grain round nose in a .22  bullet would be shorter then 55gr monolith copper bullet in same caliber and wouldn't be necessarily stable in a 1 in 9 twist. This is the primary reason for all the plastic tipped bullets for reloading. Increasing the length while holding the weight down.
A boattail bullet is also longer for a given weight.

[quickdtoo]

I took my .223 Handi out to the range yesterday, firing group after group hovering around MOA, with Remington UMC 55gr. FMJ ammo.  Until then, I had never had good results shooting this rifle with bullets lighter than 60 gr. and some of the worst groups it has printed were with 55.gr Remington UMC FMJ.  At the start of yesterday's shooting session, my expectations weren't real high.  I was primarily interested in converting the ammo into once-fired brass for reloading.

I haven't done anything to the rifle that would explain why it suddenly, and with respectable precision, shoots ammo it didn't used to like.

Anybody else have a similar experience?

JP

My first guesses would be the bore got dirty enough to shoot good, Handis shoot best dirty, and/or the bore also had enough rounds thru it to start shooting it's best, my 1:12" 223 Ultra didn't shoot good until I had over 80 rounds thru it, and that was after I lapped the bore with USP. Shooting the Win White box 45gr JHP value packs, groups were 1½-2" for the first 60 rounds or so, then it gradually started shooting better getting to under 1" with some nice ½" groups on my good days. Many members here have put over 200 rounds thru theirs just shooting them, no bore lapping, before they start shooting good..... on the other hand others shoot good right out of the box too. 

Tim

[LaOtto222]

+1 on the dirty barrel. I also have found that Handi rifles and many other guns I have like dirty barrels - to a point

[44 Man]

JP, good for you!  Glad you got her shooting like she is supposed to.  It's great when we are happy with our new handi's!  I'll be picking mine up in a couple of weeks.  A friend who owed me a favor (or three), bought a .223 for me and I have to get with him to pick it up.  So I hope to be posting shooting results soon also.  Again JP, congrats on an excellent shooting Handi!  44 Man

[dw06]

Good to hear J.P. Mine did about the same as Tims, I lapped or polished mine with Flitz paste and after about 15 or so shots it settled down and shot great. I don't clean it but once a year weather it needs it or not as after cleaning it takes a few to settle it down again.