Handi won't shoot straight

[patw]

A friend has a handi in .223, he says it sprays bullets like a shower nozzle.  At 25 yds it is all over the target with some key holing.  This is all with factory ammo 55 gr bullets.  He does not hand load.  It looks like it is a heavy barrel, and the bore looks ok other than not having been cleaned in a while.  The crown looks fine, the fired cases look ok, and he says he had no extraction problems.  I know nothing about handis, my only thought was to clean it and try heavier bullet, but figured there must be someone here with better ideas.  He tried two different scopes, but the keyholing makes it sound like something else is seriously wrong.  Any thoughts?

[torpedoman]

try a lighter bullet, the keyholing means the bullet is not stabilizing,

[quickdtoo]

55gr is about max for 1:12" barrels, as Torpedoman said, try lighter bullets, also read the Handi Basics 101 sticky, oil on the latch and/or shelf will cause poor accuracy, so will not closing the action properly.

Tim

[PawPaw]

Keyholing is about bullets that are too long for the twist.  Go to a lighter bullet and get that issue resolved before you try anything else.  I had a rough time getting my .223 to shoot, but you work one issue at a time. 

In my case, I wasn't putting the front rest close enough to the trigger guard.  Once I figured that out, it started shooting just fine.

[moorepower]

Copper fouling can cause it also.

[gendoc]

man, that sounds lika fun investigation !!!!

i've never seen a .223 handi that wud'nt shoot store bought ammo at least 2" @ 100yrds.
with all attachments in order and fitting is in proper spec.

your eyes can fool you when look'n at the crown.... tell him to take a q-tip and insert in the crown area twisting in the same direction as the rifling,  if ya come up with some cotton pulled loose or fraid.
you might need to do a   "crown touch-up"  located in the (FAQ'S).

1:9 and 1:12 should handle the 55gr ammo.  i know every one i have, had, held, shot, borrowed, stole
or seen have without major complaints.  even with the cheap offerings out there.

don't give up !!! ifin the barrel is good, it can shoot.........    it had'nt been shimmed has it ?  

if this is a new gun, send it back.   if its old, ask him if it has ever shot decent.
gotta bore scope ??  that might be inline for him to check too.

good luck.......BTW----my avatar speaks for itself  

[bigvarmnt]

Love your avatar

Shultz is qualified to be our next President

Clean it real good first and Good Luck if it still keyholes w/55gr bullets.

[gcrank1]

Does it 'spray' the bullets with someone else shooting it?, especially someone used to 'handies (jerking a heavy trigger will make patterns, rather than groups, but doesnt explain the keyholes).
FWIW, I usually have to see the results for myself, rather than take someone elses analysis, to avoid rabbit trails.

[Ron 1]

 i had a .204 that would key hole every bullet but the heavy ones 45gr  i sent it back to h&r and it was a bad barrel h&r replaced the barrel in a different cal. of my choise   if the 223 is new send it in to be fixed they are good with the repairs/replacement. best wishs 
                  rw