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.