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Author Topic: Inaccuracy of handi .243  (Read 1180 times)

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Offline spurgon

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Inaccuracy of handi .243
« on: February 04, 2008, 01:40:58 PM »
I just read on another web site  that handi rifles chambered in .243 are know to be inaccurate. Mine seems to verify this. What is your experience?
spurgon
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2008, 01:49:07 PM »
I have 3 of em, 2 Ultras and a Superlight, they all shoot good, but they don't shoot the same ammo. One Ultra likes Federal Power-shoks and Fusion, the other like 80gr Rems, and the Superlight likes 100gr Speer handloads. What ammo have you tried so far?  I'd start by reading the Handi Basics 101 and the accurizing tips in the FAQs and Help sticky.

Tim

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Offline trotterlg

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2008, 03:45:52 PM »
I would say that if you compiled all the accuracy complaints that the .243 would have the biggest stack.  Larry
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2008, 04:04:41 PM »
To be fair to the 243 Handi, most 243 accuracy complaints are from the 20" Superlight model, but even it can be accurate with the right load, it's the most finicky of any Handi chambering.  ;)

Tim
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Offline Willie496

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2008, 04:26:38 PM »
We were out testing our ultra varmint .243 this weekend. We were using  Federal Power-shoks 100 gr shooting frozen gallon plastic jugs @ 150yds we made snow cone material like mad.
Then we switched to HSM 75g and could not hit anything, the shots were 3" high and to the right.
I am new at this and we do not reload. Would it have made a difference if I would have cleaned the barrel before changing to the 75g?
We had the gun on a bi-pod and let the barrel cool down for 2 or 3 minutes in between rounds.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2008, 04:36:45 PM »
It may have made a difference, but switching between standard jacketed bullets isn't usually a problem like switching between a coated bullet and a standard jacketed bullet. You won't know until you shoot the 75gr bullets from a slightly fouled barrel. I say that because most H&Rs shoot best from a fouled bore, not unlike a lot of other makes of firearms. Most likely it just doesn't shoot that load well. As it gets broke in and the bore simmers down a bit, it may shoot them both very well. Mitchell's 243 Ultra shoots 55gr and 95gr Ballistic silvertips extremely well, but it's got a lot of rounds thru it being he's the second owner, Mac owned it before and it shot extremely well for him with the Win 95gr Supreme factory ammo as well as another handload he made.

Tim
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Offline Willie496

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2008, 05:29:36 PM »
I think your right. We need to just get some time on the barrel and it come around. Thanks Tim.
Willie..
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Offline JonD.

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2008, 06:19:30 PM »
Spurgon I had the same problem with a .223 youth model, and after reading all the helps and accurizing tips it went from 4" groups to under 1 inch groups with the cheapest off the shelf ammo at Walmart. My forearm screw was EXCESSIVELY tight, and after putting two o-rings on the lug and just snugging it-- it shot a 3/4 inch group at 50. (I later found out that I had bad scope also-- it would shoot good groups, but one day a three shot group would be 2 inches high at 100, the next time I shot the group would be 6 inches low) After putting a new scope on, it shot 3/4" or less at 1" high at 75.
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Offline Willie496

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #8 on: February 04, 2008, 06:27:21 PM »
This gun is new and so is the scope. I will shoot it sometime this week and see how the 75gr will do.
I mainly shoot coyote and my kids will use it for deer. I walk and stalk most of the time and will take a 200 yard shot if I get a chance. I am still waiting for my first kill!!

Thanks for your help Jon..
Willie.
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Offline Default

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2008, 05:00:20 AM »
 Spurgon -n-Willie ,

  My experience with the H&R 243 is from a superlight youth i picked up for my oldest nephew  (turning 10 this year) i found it to have very good accuracy from the Federal 100 gr. walmart cheapy ammo , the win. 100 gr rounds (Super X)  shot great also .. But found that sited @ 100  when shooting @ 50 with the 100 yrd sighting ,the feds shot closer to the bullseye .. Now  while he hasnt complained about the recoil ,I have noted that the light little rifle with the 100 gr anything pushes him around a bit .. So i have worked up some 80 gr loads that i'll be taking to the range soon in my attempt to tame some of the recoil for him  (may have to do this very same thing in the 7.62x39 i bought for his younger sisters) I will be sure to post my range reports for you and the other 243 shooters benefit ..

  Regards ,

   Default
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Offline JonD.

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2008, 05:17:08 AM »
Willie496 I'm sorry, I replied to the wrong guy. I meant to reply to spurgons original post and got mixed up a liitle(It was after I got home from work --my brain was worn out) Sorry ;D

Spurgon my first post to Willie496 was intended to you instead of him. I will change it. I hope I don't confuse y'all.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2008, 12:57:09 PM »
Quote from: trotterlg on February 04, 2008, 03:45:52 PM
I would say that if you compiled all the accuracy complaints that the .243 would have the biggest stack.  Larry

I did, and I agree!  I sold my .243 barrel without even shooting it.
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Offline volksdriver

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2008, 02:49:19 PM »
  After visiting this site for some time as a "guest", I guess it's time to jump in ( I am a totally "newbie" to the center-fire game, and really appreciate all the comments and posts to learn from!) ...... I too was frustrated with inconsistent groupings out of a recently purchased new (first center fire rifle!) .243 Ultra Varmint. I have 25, 50, & 100 yd ranges on my property, so was able to shoot whenever I really wanted. Put up a very sturdy stand, shooting off bags, I tried factory loads in 55g, 80g, 100g, and best groupings at 100 yds were in the 2-3" size. I really wanted to try to tighten things, so as another "hobby" got into reloading...... after reading (and reading, and reading....) started to try some recipes with 65g and 87g bullets. Found the 87g Hornady SP to offer the most promise, and after settling with 41g of W760 powder, I was getting better results. Moved the COL out to 2.70" (started at 2.60") and am now getting groupings like pictured below......LOVE the rifle, just had to have some patience to find what it liked!


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Offline PHATINJUN

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2008, 04:51:56 PM »
There ya have it another silk purse from a sows ear.Kurt
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2008, 04:52:46 PM »
Congrats Volksdriver and welcome aboard!  ;)

Thanks for sharing,

Tim
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2008, 11:44:27 PM »
Will it group the 100 grain big game bullet?
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Offline volksdriver

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2008, 01:07:35 AM »
The only 100g I have tried so far has been factory Federal Power-Shok... still over 1" groupings. I have tried loading 67g V-Max, and 87g SP, next ones are going to be 100-105s to see what they do.   
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Offline mag41vance

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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2008, 12:52:23 AM »
3 shot groups and Handi Rifles are a good fit; However 5 shot groups and the Handi are an exercise in frustration.
 I have had 3 shot groups in my .25-06 that were in the .25" range, and by the time I shot 5 shots they were 2.5".
 I have shot good 5 shot groups over a 5 day period.
Handis are reliable rifles that perform to level they were intended. Tuning and tweaking can make it much better.
 Any Deer that has ever been shot at with my Handis are now digested and part of my permanent make-up.
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Re: Inaccuracy of handi .243
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2008, 03:52:45 AM »
Quote from: spurgon on February 04, 2008, 01:40:58 PM
I just read on another web site  that handi rifles chambered in .243 are know to be inaccurate. Mine seems to verify this. What is your experience?
spurgon

I did a pole on this last year.
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,129414.0.html
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