What, if anything, have you guy's done to help eliminate the first round fliers? Is this a result of a clean barrel or simply that it is cold? If it is cold, would waiting say 15 minutes between shots help? Thanks
Hehehehehehe :grin: I don't have the first clue, but boy I can sure sympathize with you. I spent 2 1/2 yeras with my 357 Max before getting to a point that I could shoot 10 shots into an inch at 50 yards on demand with cast. I'm lucky and have two loads that will do this, one at about 1200-1300 fps and one at about 1700 fps. It turned out that over time, the scope base had become loose. I do not know how long this was a problem, could have been 3 weeks, could have been 6 months.... I've no idea, but getting it tightened down made a tremendous difference, but every load won't do this.
I'm also lucky that my 38-55 exhibits the same characteristic at about the same velocities, this is with two different bullets in this case. My 44 Mag would do it with two different loads, my 30-30 was a bit more wild, my 45-70 nearly unpredicable.
It was nice to read Tims post to Sourdough, it confirmed whta I ahve suspected for a long time, that most Handis will shoot OK for 2 or 3 shots and begin to wander after that. These are hunting rifles and expecting day in and out target grade accuracy from them is a rather high expectation. I do have that expectation, afterall, practically all my shooting is a 50 yards. A rifle worth being called that should easily handle 1" at that range with something, but I can assure you, it has only been my 38-55 that was easy to get there, in fact did so with the first loads I shot through it and has done so ever since.
As to how, I relieve the screw hole in the forearm so that it doesnot bind on the barrels screw stud and leave the forearm just a tad loose, you should be able to feel the slack but not hear it. Aside from that a good trigger, and lots of shooting. I've found that my hold at first is not always the same as that of later shots and I can assure you that even a tiny bit of canting will result in bullets that strike outside a group. That doesn't explain the 3" and greater throwouts I've seen, and enough people have complained of the same that I believe there is a real problem with the Handi.
Some claim solutions, but I believe the best solution is finding a load the rifle likes and limiting the speed at which you shoot (time between shots) to not more than 1 in 30 seconds, 1 in 60 is better. You can burn a barrel up trying to find a good load, so be very honest with what you want to do with the gun. A deer rifle that will reliably shoot into 3" as far as you honestly expect to shoot game will bring home the venison everytime so long as you do your part. If that aint good enough (and it aint for my tastes) expect to spend a lot of time at the loading bench, a lot of time at the shooting bench, and expect to go through at least 2 if not 3 Handi's for every one you find to be a keeper. Or you can expect to buy a tuneable bolt rifle, put a high grade barrel on it and use your Handi for what it is, a beat around rifle that will steadily entertain you, burn up ammo and bring home some deer.
To put this in perspective, I've fired at least 8000 rounds through 5 Handis in 2 1/2 years. I found 1 to perform completely to my expectaions, no hassels, 2 that took a quite a bit of load development, and had I been willing to use jacketed bullets only, 1 that was a real house burner. But it would not shoot cast to my expectations, a result of lousy, and I mean really lousy barrel dimensions. 1 barrel I didn't spend much time with, it didn't shoot cast well and I was not willing to spend the time and energy to find something it would shoot, I have better ways to spend my time today.
That's my story, no punches. I dearly love my 357 Max and my 38-55. Had I not needed some cash bad, my 44 would be in my house not my friends. I hope you find a way to get your gun to shoot as you like, but be prepared, it may not be an easy or simple journey, and you may find it will only shoot with one load. When they do shoot there's nothing like a Handi. When they don't......
