help with keyhole targets Ultra Flutted 22-250

[jj141979]

I went to the range yesterday and this is what happened. I loaded a bunch of different weights and lengths with the 50 grain V-Max and H4895 powder. I loaded the starting load seated to O.A.L. of 2.484 into the lands and 2.464 and 2.444 all of the loads popped open the chamber ever round I fired in it??? Dont ask me why? I also loaded 5 of each in .5 grain incretments until I got to the max load. AND all of them popped open the chamber? I seated them at 2.444 well off of the lands, so pressure should not have been high. So after getting disgusted at the range and cussing at the gun and calling it every name in the book I left. I went to the local gun shop and bought FACTORY Hornady ammo with 40 grain V-Max. I then took it the range, I cleaned the gun and proceeded to fire once I got on paper at 100yds it shot half decent but I still was getting the fliers some would just fly 2 or 3 inches from where my crosshairs where??? And then some would hit almost where I was aiming. I think I do have a problem with the gun what it is I dont know but I hope H&R can fix it. If they send it back and say nothing wrong with it I am going to sell it and get a bolt action. I forgot to mention the FACTORY Hornadys I bought never popped the chamber, but it was pretty hard to push the lever to extract the shells, a little harder than I think It should be. Whether or not there is something with the gun (I think there is), I am going to send it back to H&R anyways to see what they say.

[quickdtoo]

Pop opens can be caused by handloads that haven't been sized properly for the chamber, they don't allow the latch to fully engage the latch shelf. You need to push the shoulder back far enough to allow the action to close completely, if not, the round will protrude from the chamber above flush with the chamber face. That's why the pop opens didn't happen with the factory ammo. Hornady 22-250 ammo is loaded hot, may stick in the chamber in ejector barrels and will make the barrel release hard to press.

Read the Pop open medicine link in the FAQs and the Handi Basics 101 at the top of the list here, there should be enough info there for you to improve the accuracy. Are you placing the front rest just ahead of the trigger guard? That alone will help accuracy, unless you fully bed the forend. I fully floated mine from the stud forward before it shot good, but still shoot with the forward rest up against the trigger guard, it's just normal for break barrels. I've never got good accuracy from a bipod on my fluted 22-250 if that's how you're shooting it.

Tim

[Mac11700]

As quick said...your reloads may have to have the shoulders bumped back..to keep it from popping open...but having any lubricant or oil on your cases..or on the latch will cause the same thing...Try something if you haven't sent it back..run your cases thru a full length sizing die and wipe them off with alcohol before chambering them...I also wipe out all of my chambers with q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol prior to any shooting that day at the range...Wipe off the lug shelf with it as well...and see if it pops open with your reloads...It won't matter if you are seated out to the lands unless you are crimping your bullets...or...if you have too much neck tension on the case...In both of these instance's...the rifle won't close and latch properly... When you snap it closed..and if you can reach into the lands...it will push back in the case...and you have to shut it hard to do this...Sometimes ejector barrels won't release the case when seated out into the lands....even when it has not been fired...This is a good indication you have a very tight neck..which you may have to change your expander for to get your desired tension...you should have about .002" difference... or you can  have it opened up just a little by your smith...You also can have a rifling issue at the lead and it needs to be smooth out...Flitzing it will sometimes help in this regard...but..I have seen some Handi chambers that have chunks missing out of them and some real rough rifling at the leade ...and had to go back for replacement..Since it is shooting factory ammo correctly...I suspect it is your dies or how you have them set up that is causing the problem..

Mac

[jj141979]

I resized all of my cases with a full length resizer the shoulder is set back all the way, the gun is just as easy to close with the reloads as it is with an empty chamber. If I neck size the cases the gun will not close unless slammed hard to close I never neck size!!! AND I do use a bipod at the range I also like to use it in the field, thats why I use it when I am at the range. I will try to take off the bipod and place the front rest right at the trigger gaurd like you said. I will buy another box of FACTORY ammo and try it. If I cant get it to shoot good its going back to H&R!!!

[Mac11700]

I resized all of my cases with a full length resizer the shoulder is set back all the way,

With out actually seeing how much set back your actually doing..I will ask 1 thing for you to check...Re-size a case...and push down on the extractor or ejector and allow the case to slide all the way in...See if the case seats below flush with the chamber edge or if it is even...If it is below flush..back your sizing die out until it bumps the shoulder to be even with the edge of the chamber..Inducing additional head space can cause severe accuracy problems in the Handi's..besides having to shoot them off the receiver...

Mac

[MZ5]

Sounds like everyone has you on the right track already, but still:  Handloads keyhole and factory ammo doesn't means the handloads are the problem, not the rifle.  Good luck getting it straightened out!

[Dave Allen]

hello...i agree with everyone trying to help...maybe i missed something but did the factory ammo keyhole ??  as far as resizing i learned to pay close attention to how flush the case head is to the end of the chamber/barrel...i have had numerous brass problem's i won't even try to explain...i will say this i think i was tricked by the handi's springy action...thinking in the mindset of a bolt rifle...if it chamber's action/bolt close's easy must be ok ?? not so....

[goodwrench6710]

My 22-250 doesn't like 40 gr. bullits. holds a 3" pattern at 100 yards if I'm lucky. This was with white box Winchester hollow points. I have loaded 55 grain v-max with H380 & have not had any problems with key-holing at all. I still don't have the accuracy that I'm looking for yet, but none of the problems that you're having. I think you may need to send it back too.

[LaOtto222]

For you shooters of 22-250 in single shot rifles there is a Forster bump neck sizer die. It bumps back the shoulder and neck sizes the case only. You can adjust it perfectly for head spacing and still use bushings for perfect neck tension. You can get them for the 223 too. It is a perfect solution to bumping back the shoulder to exactly the right place and neck sizing only.