When you first get a new Handi ....

[bigjeepman]

I know I am new to this section of Graybeard Outdoors Forum but this single shot mania is starting to get the best of me. If I post too many questions, someone just needs to tell me to shut it down for a while ...

This is my newest question ...

When you get a new Handi, what are the things you do from the beginning to get it to be the best it can be? I have heard of the following:

1. give the rifle a thorough cleaning (common sense stuff)
2. using a bore mop, patch, and JB bore paste, polish the chamber to help prevent stuck cases
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?

I have not completely searched for the info I have asked for from you guys. I know there is something about placing an O ring under the forearm. I have been running back and forth to the rehab center that we placed my father in this past Friday after he suffered a stroke on the 17th. So when one of my four brothers relieves me, I drive the nine miles home and reload and check the forums.

Thanks for your patience with me and your well appreciated advice. My first Handi will be here in about 24 hours ... with a new Swift scope on top.

[cattleskinner]

The o-ring trick is one that I usually start with.  Next, what I do goes along the same lines as some say about pushing on the hammer.  The way I do it is to grab the trigger with a finger on both sides of it, and pull it towards the muzzle, while at the same time cocking the hammer.  What this does is knock off any little burrs on the sear/etc.., and tends to make for a smoother trigger pull.  Then like you said, clean the ejector, and barrel really good.  I did about 150-200 strokes up and down the full length of the barrel with a patch coated in JB bore compound, switching the patch out for a new one every 25-30 strokes or so.  When that's all done, again clean it out really good.  You can remove some of the fore end material to float the barrel, but you might want to try it first to see if it is even needed.  Then the usual things like making sure the scope base/rings/etc.. are snug, and the scope is level.  I'm sure I'm missing something, but others will surely chime in.

~~~Cattleskinner

[mitchell]

I know I am new to this section of Graybeard Outdoors Forum but this single shot mania is starting to get the best of me. If I post too many questions, someone just needs to tell me to shut it down for a while ...

This is my newest question ...

When you get a new Handi, what are the things you do from the beginning to get it to be the best it can be? I have heard of the following:

1. give the rifle a thorough cleaning (common sense stuff)
2. using a bore mop, patch, and JB bore paste, polish the chamber to help prevent stuck cases
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?

don't you dare "shut it down" if everybody else stopped asking questions how would i learn???  do you think i really want everybody else to know i don't know any thing??? so come on keep asking questions !

any way the first thing i do most of the time is droll on it. j/k

1. clean all the crap out of it.
2. on most of them i jb paste the bore. but if i don't i fire lap (i know here it come)
3. i free float the barrel all the way, not just to the forend screw , i do the entire forend
4. trigger job if needed
5. shoot it and start load work

this is what i do to all rifles.

[MtJerry]

HEre's what I do ...

1.  Remove the stock and clean the bijeebers out of the receiver and latching mechanism with break cleaner (removing the stock keeps you from having to refinish the stock  :shock: )

2.  Polish the barrel with JB's, flitz, etc.  As mentioned above.

3.  Remove the scope mount (if using one) and either use lock-tite, or clear fingernail polish.  I use finger-nail polish.  When mounting the scope, secure all the scope ring screws the same way.

4.  Go to Graybeards and do a search for caliber-specific information about loads that are working with handi rifles others have.  For example, for .223's try the 45gr. white box winchester's first, for the .243, try bullets UNDER 100 gr. first, for the 44mag, be prepared to work with bullets that will fire with a bore of .431 or better in dia.  You get the picture.

5.  SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT, and SHOOT some more and discover what YOU particular handi likes.

6.  Try the o-ring trick for comparison after you get what you think is your best load.  I did this with my .223 and discovered my best load was better with the o-ring.

7.  Come back and share with us, what worked for you.  This is MANDITORY for entrance into the Handihilics Anonymous Society here are Graybeards.

8.  HAVE FUN out-shooting lots of the bigger, more expensive guns at hunting camp and the range!

Well, that's what I do, others may have some different ideas ...  :-D

[MSP Ret]

As usual Mitchell is right on the button with his info. Perhaps it's just laziness on my part or wanting a reference point,  but I usually do all except the free float or o-ring which I save for after I shoot it for effect first. Some shoot great right out of the box and we know they can all use an initial cleaning, as can any new gun. I don't o-ring or free float it until I determine it could benefit from it. The old Maine phrase is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", and some are real shooters as issued ....<><.... :grin:

MtJerry, exactly as he said it, that's the way to go!!!

[Big Shooter Mike]

Gentlemen,

I just got my BC 45-70 (is not home yet) and would like to know what is "free float" and doing the "o-ring"

Thanks for all the info I got from you.

[tcman]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the free-floating is really an issue if a person shoots enough shots in one series to heat the barrel up, therefore causing it to move away from "tight spots" in the stock or forearm.

RIGHT?

As such, unless you plan to do a number of shots in a row, as in PD hunting, free floating is not really all it's cracked up to be?

[stiff neck]

Not exactly.  Some stocks are not cut properly, or they warp in the weather.  There may be a significant amount of pressure from the stock pushing on the barrel.  It messes with the barrel's harmonics, how it vibrates as the bullet passes thru it.  That will affect where the bullet hits the target.

You may be fine during the summer (or whatever season), but when it gets damp outside your stock may warp and change the harmonics of your barrel, which may change the point of impact of your rifle.  It may change back when the weather dries up.  But the point is that you don't want it to do that.  Free floating the barrel is allowing sufficient room for minor warpage without affecting where your bullets go.

Other things can cause the stock to put pressure on the barrel too.  Using a tight shooting sling for example.  Or simply resting the stock on a sand bag.  Or heat from repeated shooting or even the sun.

Think about the wheel well on your car.  It's much bigger than your actual tire because when your shocks compress you don't want to scrape rubber on the underside of the wheel well.  And when you turn there better be enough room for the tire to move around.  Same idea with your barrel and stock.  Leave a little extra room so that the barrel never touches the stock.

[Big Shooter Mike]

Thank you guys. I'm not sure I understand this... but I' pretend I did.

[Mac11700]

Thank you guys. I'm not sure I understand this... but I' pretend I did.

 
Mike...metal expands and contracts...with the temperature...and depending on the paticular handi rifle barrel fit...the barrel when it heats up or after it cools down...the forearm may be pushing against the barrel in a way that will effect the accuracy of the rifle...by."Floating " the barrel...ie..using the right size o-ring under the barrel lug...and opening up the barrel channel in the forearm...your eliminating that paticular problem...there's a whole bunch of things that will effect accuracy...and this is just one of them...some rifles shoot just fine from the factory...others don't...you need to shoot yours and see how it does before doing anything...
 
Mac

[Badnews Bob]

I do a basic cleaning then I shoot them before I do anything else.

 I have sevral handis that have nothing done to them but clean and shoot, and they shoot very well, All of those tricks work but may be unnessary.

Most of my handis like dirty bores so they don't always get cleaned after I shoot them, I'd say my .357 has more than 300 rounds thru it with out cleaning the bore and it still shoots inside  an inch at 50yrds (thats where I shoot it the most) with hand cast bullets.

I kinda like my handis.

[Big Shooter Mike]

Thank you guys. I'm not sure I understand this... but I' pretend I did.

 
Mike...metal expands and contracts...with the temperature...and depending on the paticular handi rifle barrel fit...the barrel when it heats up or after it cools down...the forearm may be pushing against the barrel in a way that will effect the accuracy of the rifle...by."Floating " the barrel...ie..using the right size o-ring under the barrel lug...and opening up the barrel channel in the forearm...your eliminating that paticular problem...there's a whole bunch of things that will effect accuracy...and this is just one of them...some rifles shoot just fine from the factory...others don't...you need to shoot yours and see how it does before doing anything...
 
Mac

Thank you Mac. I got it now. Soon I'll get mine from the dealer and I'll see first hand.
Thanks.