Fired out of battery?

[Mike38]

I had something strange happen to me today while at the range. Shooting my .223 Handi Rifle at 100 yards, checking out some new reload recipes. I normally shoot this rifle using a bi-pod. It’s handy when you close the action. All you have to do is lift on the rear of the stock and the weight of the rifle closes the action. Well today I tried a sand bag front rest to see if accuracy was any different. On the third or fourth shot off the sand bag, I noticed the muzzle jump was way different then normal. I looked to see where the bullet hit the target, and it was 6 inches lower then the previous shots. I then looked at the rifle, the barrel was not locked into battery. It was partly open, I could see the brass case. I opened the action expecting to see a damaged / blown case, but it was fine. I did notice that the firing pin dent in the primer was on the very outer most edge of the primer. So far off center that I’m very surprised it even ignited. Well needless to say, the bi-pod went back on so I know the action closes. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

On a good note, I found a load that gives consistent 0.8 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards in my .223 Handi Rifle heavy barrel. 52 grain Hornady A-Max bullets crimped medium with a Lee factory crimp die, 23.0 grains of IMR3031, Federal brass,  Remington 7 ½ Bench Rest Primers.

I would imagine if I weigh sorted the brass, I could get it down below 0.7 inches, so maybe I’ll try that someday soon. My goal is 0.5 inch groups, but don’t know if that’s possible without a trigger job.

[thejanitor]

Sorry if I am confused but when the action is locked and on a bipod your action is closed tight? But if you rest it on the hinge on a sand bag it is gapping enough to see brass while locked? Sounds like you may have play in it and need a shim.? But that is just my interpretation. I hope you will explain more, others will chime in. Hope we can help.

Or did it pop open on recoil from the shot?   thejanitor
And yes if I don't slam the action closed with authority I have had pop opens. While resting on the hinge.

[Mike38]

Yea, I guess I didn’t explain it very well. It opened even before recoil. The barrel must have started falling open while I was squeezing the trigger, and that’s what made the shot six inches lower then the prior shots. It was kind of scary at first. I guess I need to close the action with some authority from now on.

[quickdtoo]

Sounds like a classic pop open to me, the bipod keeps it from opening all the way, it would have opened all the way if a front bag was used under the front tof the frame, using a bipod also hinders closing the action to lock up properly, extra care must be taken to make sure the action is firmly closed, it's more critical on a new rifle specially with a tight forend, read the Handi Basics 101 sticky and pop open medicine in the FAQs, they both cover it. 

Tim

[Mike38]

Sounds like a classic pop open to me, the bipod keeps it from opening all the way, it would have opened all the way if a front bag was used under the front tof the frame, using a bipod also hinders closing the action to lock up properly, extra care must be taken to make sure the action is firmly closed, it's more critical on a new rifle specially with a tight forend, read the Handi Basics 101 sticky and pop open medicine in the FAQs, they both cover it. 

Tim

Okay, I found “Pop open medicine” in the informational sticky, but when I clicked the link this is what I get…..

Not Found
The requested document was not found on this server.

Web Server at graybeardoutdoors.com

[quickdtoo]

Link is fixed, lots of the old Graybeardoutdoors.com links in the FAQs are broken due to the last software upgrade, I fixed that one, if anyone finds any more that don't work, please let me know. 

thanks,

Tim

[cwlongshot]

You have found one of the actions weaknesses. It's covered the the FAQs. In a perfect world with a correctly fit barrel (NOT just a factory fit barrel as MANY are not correctly fit for best accuracy but safe to shoot) the action will close the same everytime with minimal exertion. Thing is many are not so well or properly fit. Again I do not mean to suggest that they are unsafe. They could simply be fit better and the results would be better accuracy.

In the mean time the barrel should be "smartly" be snapped closed every time. Remember in everything accuracy regardless of firearm when accuracy is the goal consistence is KEY!!!

CW

[Mike38]

Thanks for fixing the broken link. After reading, it all makes sense now.

I wanted to add, besides the good results from the reload info in my post above, I did prove that bench rest primers are worth the extra couple bucks you have to pay over standard primers. I got 0.8 inch groups with that load, and the exact same load but with standard Winchester primers I got right at one inch groups. Now 0.2 inches at 100 yards may not be much to some people, but if you’re sniping prairie dogs at 300 to 400 yards, it could mean a whole lot.

I bought this Handi Rifle about 10-12 years ago. Took it to South Dakota to shoot some prairie dogs, then pretty much put it away and forgot about it. I dug it out last summer to do some more shooting with it. I dropped it in a Choate Varmint/Target stock, cleaned out the barrel channel because it was touching on the right side, did the “o-ring fix” and now with these new loads, it’s shooting the best it ever has.

I figure I have less then $500 in this rifle, including scope and new stock. It’s hard to beat 0.8 inch groups with that inexpensive of a rifle. There seems to be a lot of nay-sayers out there when it comes to these rifles. I guess they either have lots of money, or have never seen what a Handi is capable of.

Thanks for the help.....

[gcrank1]

Keep the shelf and latch dry (I use a Q-Tip) regularly and dont expect it to close and lock up like a hand fitted English gun.