new handi problems

[YoteAddiction]

Well, I just purchased a 7mm08 handi rifle, lucked out and got one with an extremely nice butt stock with the grain ripples (don't know for sure what its called, looks 3d, like the surface of water) and everything worked nice and smooth after a few breaks, locks up tight, opens smooth, everything is mechanically A OK.  I did not luck out on the accuracy.  It shoots terrible, i.e. 3 inch groups at 25 yards 5-7 inch groups at 50.  I don't have a ton experience with handi rifles, enough to know I love them, or with the 7mm08, again, enough to know I enjoy shooting it, So I don't wont to get rid of it, and I don't want to jump right to using tools on my new gun.  My question is how willing is H&R to work with customers to get their gun shooting right.... I hear tell the customer service is pretty good, but again, no real experience.  I did test several manufacturers and bullet weights, and i shot a five shot group without the fore-end on, with the same results, so I'm afraid its a little more in-depth than a fore-end bed anyway.

[bikerbeans]

Yote,

I assume your gun has a scope.  I would check the FAQs and verify the scope mount and the scope/rings are not moving when you shoot.  The last new Handi I bought the scope mount screws were finger tight so it didn't take long for them to loosen.  The other thing is make sure the stock bolt is tight.   You could have a bad barrel but I would rule out the really easy stuff first.   If it does turn out to be a bad barrel the accuracy is supposed to be 2" @ 100 yards I believe H&R would replace your barrel.

Good luck!

BB

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! Make sure there's no oil on the locking shelf and latch, they need to be clean and dry, oil or solvent there alone can cause terrible accuracy, read all of the Handi Basics sticky, several things there that can be the problem. Shooting it while it's hot isn't a good idea either, the 7mm-08 isn't a varmint round, so no need for long shot strings, 3 shots is plenty for shooting any kind of game animal, about two shots more than a good hunter needs!!  Shoot 3 shots and let it cool. 

Tim

[revbc]

++1 on what Tim and BB said.  Also my 708 didn't start shooting well until somewhere between 50-100 rds.  Clean it up the first few times, then let her run dirty (the barrel).

Bobby

[YoteAddiction]

haha, yeah, I've actually been waiting about 6 to 8 minutes between each shot, just trying to maintain a cold bore for testing purposes.  And as a matter of fact, there's oil every where, lol..... Except in the bore, every where else though.  Ill keep everything wiped down, double check the mounts, rings, and rail, and give her another shot. Thanks for the help.

[blind ear]

You might be better of to fire the three shots as quickly as you can get stable. At 6 to 8 minutes you are lettng the heat travel out in the barrel and have more likelyhood of heat expansion/barrel contact pressure increase.

To let it cool, set it in the shade for at least an hour with the breech open.  That is what I do to get a stone cold hunting zero.

ear

[Land_Owner]

It should shoot factory ammunition, particularly Remington factory ammunition, to 2" or less at 100 yards.  After reading and following the NON-INTRUSIVE FAQ's (don't modify anything) and it still does not shoot, you should return the rifle to Remington, they will take care of you.  I did on a new 357 barrel and am a Happy Camper today.  Good Customer Service.  Just be patient and let them do what they do best.  They will fit your rifle with a replacement barrel and send it back.  They will also pay for shipping both ways.  Now that is good Customer Service.  Many of us can attest to that.

[briannmilewis]

++1 on what Tim and BB said.  Also my 708 didn't start shooting well until somewhere between 50-100 rds.  Clean it up the first few times, then let her run dirty (the barrel).

Bobby

Like Bobby says, many, many Handi owners report accuracy coming together only between 50-100 rounds, and don't clean them very often. Get some over-the-counter low-cost ammo or reload and burn, baby burn. Good luck.

[marine]

it took a while before my accuracy improved on my .223.  I remember being very upset with it and my brother told me to be patient and break it in right.  Im glad i listened to him.  now i have several hundred rounds through it and we have killed a truckload of groundhogs.  It will shoot right along side my $1000 varmint rifles and usually better.  Listen to these guys and you will have it shooting great in no time.  good luck with your rifle.

[YoteAddiction]

well, I checked the rail and rings and the rail was nice and tight.  The rings were not, they were weaver sure grips (not currently impressed with weaver, pretty new to scopes, and the three sets of weavers I've bought were all a little loose on the rail, the first two were very noticeable, these ones had a very very slight fore to back movement), I shuffled through my limited selection of rings (three sets of weavers that are junk, one set for a bolt gun that aren't tall enough, and luckily one more set from millet) and found a set that fits good.  Didn't fix the problem buuuuuut, I burned another 30 (I'm at 70) and now instead of 6" at 50 yards, I've got 4-5" groups at 75. I don't how much more it will tighten  up,  but it is still fouling BAD so maybe she'll keep going.  I wont lose hope in her, and if it just won't get shooting good, there's still the new barrel option.  All i know for sure is I love it, and at the end of the road its darn well going to shoot good.  It was kind of fun,  watching five shot groups get a little smaller and a little smaller.

[ratdog]

i had Interarms 30-06 nice gun. bullet pattern was all over the place tried everything i could think of gave up  traded it in for another rifle. i know now it was the cheap tasco scope.didn't have the money for another scope to put on it  .i wish i had it back now.i had busnell banner that came apart in side after 50 rounds in my handi 223 took it back to cabelas they handed me a new one problem solved. don't give up to early. good luck

[kimark]

You have my sympathy.  My 223 Ultra is back at remmy for the 2nd time after a pitted first barrel and a second barrel that the chamber was miss-aligned with the firing pin.  I talked to them yesterday and they are going to replace the entire gun.  This is a rifle that I bought in April of '08.  I tried all the "accurizing tips", got into reloading, put over 500 rds thru the original barrel before I found a 'smith with a borescope  that showed the barrel was pitted.  I sent it back and had a new barrel in 4 weeks.  Got the new barrel and it was worse that the original.  Talked to different 'smiths and they all said that nothing could be done short of stubbing it so I called CS again and they said send it in.  I'd heard alot of bad mouthing about Remington CS but I can't complain.  I guess this is what starts the addiction 'cause I got this reloading equipment so's I gotta use it, so's I sent my gun back, so's I may as will have'm put a 357 mag barrel I can max-out.  Dang I'm Hooked!!!!!!

[gcrank1]

Love the pain, embrace the pain...........

[thejanitor]

Many of us with the 7-08 didn't get off on the right foot. But most of us after getting through any little issues wouldn't trade 'em. Mine isn't a perfect paper shooter, but it has killed the most of any rifle I own at this point- it is a meat shooter.  Hope you work through it and begin enjoying it like the rest of us have. Good luck.  thejanitor

[ratdog]

i really can not complain about my handi's. could not hit much with my thompson contender sold it and all the barrels years ago have never missed them. handi's are fun to change out new and different parts to your personal likeing.