Making it Better

[mechanic]

I've noticed that most of us Handi guys take an economical, simple off the shelf gun with reasonable hunting accuracy, and immediatedly set out to make it better.  While this is something many gun people do, it's not the norm among hunters, at least where I am.
 
My boss just bought himself a Weatherby Accumark in .223 to shoot yotes, and he and I went to the range.  I brought along my bull barrel .223 Handi, (one like I recommended to him).
 
End result, My "cheap" gun outshot his dramatically.
 
I began to explain how he could accurize his Weatherby a bit, and the benefits of handloading.  He said if he couldn't get better than MOA out of the box with just about any factory ammo, he was not satisfied.  He plans to trade the Weatherby back in and try something else.
 
I had him shoot mine, and told him to buy a Handi, and let me have it a week, I would have him shooting like he wanted.
 
He has no interest, he said, in cheap guns.
 
Ben
 
 

[Flynmoose]

You tried! It's like the old adage, " you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". Some people are too image conscious, that's OK, leaves more Handis for those that appreciate them.
FM

[petemi]

I feel sorry for the guy.  He lives his life not knowing the difference between inexpensive and cheap.  Like so many people today, he thinks the higher the price tag, the more "quality" he gets.  I believe most of it is an ego and status issue.  I wish I had his resources, I'd have more Handis

Pete

[reclusej]

Well, thats his loss!! I have been a range officer at our local range
for the last three years and it seems I'm the only one that ever
brings 'Handies'... Must be something in the water.
                                                 reclusej 

[rdlange]

When I started shooting airguns, I though I needed big $$ until I discovered the Crosman Forum.   And when I moved to Texas I figured I'd be saving up for a Ruger or a Sharps... and then I discovered this forum.  What really convinced me was this article in the FAQs...

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/feb97money.html

All my Crosmans are highly tuned by me... and my Handis are slowly getting there.  Here's my four favorite shooters... 454 Casull, .25, .22, 45-70. Together they cost less than a Ruger #1.

[Lon371]

 Oh well more for the rest of us   Just make sure you are at the range everytime he tries out his guns. Maybe he will catch on.
 
Lonny

[ratdog]

  every handi i have bought has shot real good but my 357 im working on it not quite as good as i like that's why i reload.

[Spanky]

You know that old saying about a fool and his money...
 
 
 
Spanky

[mechanic]

There is not a lot wrong with the Weatherby.  He just needs to work up loads, or try different ammo.  He had 70gr. sp. ammo he had bought somewhere.  The rifle is a 1 in 12.  If he had 45-50 gr. ammo it would have shrunk his groups substantially.  If he knew how to control trigger and breath it would help too.  Far too many try to buy accuracy, not knowing it must be learned.
 
When I was a kid, I won several matches against expensive guns using an old Springfield single shot bolt 22.  Shooting at 15' you don't need the very best, but you do need to know how to use what you have.......
 
Ben

[gcrank1]

I think Ive got that Stevens 'Springfield'  .
I like the variation,"You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them think".
Sounds like he forgot, or is unaware, that the reason for the dang launch platform is to get holes where you want them. He's kinda like the guy who buys a drill and drill bits. He doesnt need either one, what he needs is holes, but you cant buy a selection of holes.

[quickdtoo]

Stevens "Springfield"!! That brings back some fond memories, my first rifle!!

Tim

[mechanic]

Stevens "Springfield"!! That brings back some fond memories, my first rifle!!

Tim

Yep, mine too, and I still have it.  It will still put 5 in a dime at 50'
 
Ben

[quickdtoo]

Still have mine too, but don't shoot it anymore, my Grandfather gave it to my Dad when he was a kid in the late 1930s, Dad gave it to me when I was 8 or 9, about the same time he gave me the H&R M1900, I refinished the stock in junior high shop class, it has head space problems and spits gas at ya, so it hasn't been shot for a loooong time.

Tim

[gcrank1]

If the root of the bolt is the locking lug you can weld up the action tube and file to fit the headspace.

[flinthead]

And unlike your friend, really I'm pretty darn happy with my Handi's right out of the box.
 
44 Rem mag. camo stock 240 grain WWB 100 yards three shots = .75"
35 Rem. camo stock 200 grain Core-Lokts 100 yards three shots = 1.25"
25-06 Ultra Federal 115 Nosler Partitions 100 yards three shots = .75"
357 black syn. stock 180 grain Buffalo Bore three shots at 50 yards = .50"
44 Rem mag. Talo Trapper 240 Winchester Dual Bond three shots at 50 yards = .50"
 
Honestly, this was me buying these guns and then just shooting the bullet I wanted. Either I'm lucky or the Handi rifle just plain shoots!

[gcrank1]

 

[quickdtoo]

If the root of the bolt is the locking lug you can weld up the action tube and file to fit the headspace.

I know, but I have no interest in shooting it, there's not much legal here to hunt with it, few places to hunt rabbits, and squirrels are all protected, and I'm not a plinker, DIL is anti-gun, so the grandkids won't get to shoot it, so it's just an heirloom.

Tim

[gcrank1]

Illegal squirrels........whoda thought!
Strange new world..........

[quickdtoo]

All eatin squirrels have been protected here for years. I do shoot ground squirrels with the 17hmr, but they're beyond typical 22Lr range, particularly with old eyes with open sights. 

Tim

[gendoc]

tim, no shoot'n grandyung'uns !!!  you gotta work on that

[quickdtoo]

I think the only way that'll happen is if there's a death in the family, my son's workin towards divorce, but I don't think that will help. 

Tim

[OldSchoolRanger]

Oh well more for the rest of us   Just make sure you are at the range everytime he tries out his guns. Maybe he will catch on.
 
Lonny

It would be better if you were there when he wanted to trade in that Weatherby.  You could probably get it cheap,  since he doesn't want a gun that can't shoot MOA. 

[Cascade Pete]

I have run the Gambit, and have arrived back at My starting point. Single Shot H&R's. I have tried them all..and thank the good people of this site for setting Me once again on the right path..Well, You All and The Almighty...Thanks everyone!!!

[Catshooter45]

I too have had no trouble getting any of mine to shoot.  45-70, 45 Colt and 225 Win have all shot either less than MOA or right at it with the first bullet tried.
 
Gotta love that.
 
 
Cat

[mechanic]

Well, fella's I brought a Weatherby home today.  Boss said make it shoot and bring him the bill.  Probably gonna' take a LOT of ammo.
 
Ben

[quickdtoo]

Give it back to him with a Limbsaver De-resonator on it!!  Mac used one on his Wby and cut the factory ammo group size in half with no other changes, 1½" to ¾", tell him it's to protect the barrel in the safe too! 

Tim

[gcrank1]

And make sure the action is really properly torqued into that stock before anything else!

[mechanic]

I tried several tricks, the only good one was finding ammo it liked.  It's a 1 in 12, so I found some white box at Wally World, that was 55 gr.  That got me to about an inch.  I tinkered with the stock, torqueing, loosening, padding floating...no real change.  Re-mounted the scope, and loctited everything, still about an inch.   I just tried "Quick's trick",  the de-resonator.  Got one group of .370.  It's going home, the rest is up to him.
 
Ben

[quickdtoo]

 

[PHATINJUN]

OMG GB ain't gonna take to well to this . The REVIVAL of the RUBBER DONUT   We almost got thru the summer without it but there it is boys...have at it   Kurt