GREAT results so far with my .280 Handi...

[jim62]

Guys,

Due to business commitments taking up a lot of my time since Thanksgiving, it has taken me a while longer than I'd hoped  to get "into the swing of things" with my .280 Handi- Rifle.

After merely cleaning the bore a bit and solidly mounting an old(but nearly new) 1975 vintage K4-1 Weaver scope, I took my .280 Handi to the range Friday morning.

Shooting Hornady 139g SST "Light magnum" Moly factory loads , here is my first three shot group at 100 yards fired off of a solid rest.It was the only group I fired, as after the sighting shots and a bit of shooting to confirm my zero at 150 to 300 yards, I quit shooting groups to save some ammo for hunting.

The rifle is ready to harvest a tasty meat buck or Whitetail doe tomorrow.

The group measures 5/8" on centers..Not bad for a $100 plus tax ,slightly used Handi Rifle..I think I may keep this one a while.That says a lot ,as I am a confirmed .270 fan :grin:

BTW, this rifle has had NONE of the tuning tricks done to it-No trigger tuning,No "O" ring under  the forend,etc. It locks up tight as it came from the plant and has a very nice 3.5lb trigger pull as well.I simply put a good scope on it and fed it good ammo.The ejection was also snappy and FLAWLESS.

I am pretty darned impressed.. :wink:

[quickdtoo]

So much for the don't-buy-a-used-Handi cuz they wouldn't shoot for the original owner theory!!! Great shootin Jim!! :wink:

[jim62]

Tim...

I hear you about the "Jinxed" rifle theory..

Actually, after I had bought the gun ,I bumped into the first owner of the .280.

He only sold the gun as he had too many rifles.He said the gun was a pretty good shooter and I should be pleased with it. He was right.

Now that same gunshop has a little used 6.5Lb Stainless /snythetic stocked handi in .223.THAT rifle DOES have a rep for being a poor shooter from it's first owner(who is a real nimrod :roll: ), and the second owner swapped it on a deer rifle about a month ago...

Well, I was in that shop this morning,buying up the rest of that Hornady .280 ammo he had in stock . I did some serious fondling/ inspection of that Stainless .223....The gun locks up FINE. The bore and crown look good to me and when the forend screw is snugged down tight, the gun is also tight as the barrel is tipped-no wobbling.It also has the lightest and cleanest trigger pull I have ever felt on a Handy rifle.

That little gun is beginning to "talk to me" like the .280 did.The shop owner said the Stanless rifle will cost me nearly twice what the .280 did-about $200. But, it's a nice looking gun(as new condition) and from what I understand dealer cost on the stainless Handis is around $230+++..

So like Charlie Brown's  forlorn little Christmas tree that merely needed a little TLC, I think that Stainless .223 Handi will get a loving home soon.. :wink:

[Ditchdigger]

Jim62,if you want a real shock shoot it through a chronograph.With that 26" barrel you'll find you have a nearly 7 mm mag. The 280 is probably the best long range gun in the Handi lineup.  Digger

[Mac11700]

Awsome...that is a real nice group ...especially since it is with the Light Mags...they don't have a sterling reputation for being accurate out of our Handi's...and this makes me want a 280 even more..

Congrats

Good Luck on your hunt

Mac

[MSP Ret]

OK Jim62, I know you must need $ for Christmas, I'll give you $150.00 for that .280 right now ( I know I can get the money, I have been saving it up to buy my wife a combined Christmas and Birthday gift, I am sure she won't mind). My 19" barrelled .280 Handi, aka "Thunderboomer" is a fantastic truck gun and wonderful for hunting the thick stuff where a long shot may offer itself. It started out life as a 26" barrel, part of a gun lik2hunt purchased and thankfully the barrel ended up in my corral. I had it recrowned and drilled and tapped for more sighting options, currently it wears a Williams rear sight with a peep (WGRS) and a front sight from a H&R .22 Hornet. But as soon as I can get a few bucks in cash and get to the gunsmith it's going to be wearing a new set of firesights from a H&R .500 (my apologies to my friend here I bought the sights from, I cannot recall who?). It needs another front sight screw hole a bit further back and a size larger, each front sight I use will cover the other hole so it will work out well. I am going to try the front firesight with the peep and with the rear firesight also to determine which is best for me and my needs. Anyway, just send me that 26" barrelled .280 and I'll send you my wife's Christmas/Birthday money, I am sure she won't mind (just don't mention it to her OK?)...Merry Christmas to all!!!!....<><.... :grin:

[jim62]

MSP,

If I sell the .280,there is one local gun nut ahead of you. A friend of mine told me he'd litterally KILL ME if I did not give him first dibs on the rifle should I ever decide to sell it...

Besides, from reading your posts here, your wife really DESERVES those hard earned presents!! :lol:

I did a little hunting this morning, saw nothing but pheasants and pheasant hunters.I covered a lot of country but the deer had other ideas this AM.

Well, at least there is always this evening and then the first week of January for our special anterless season. I also have a new box of Hornady 120g Vmaxes and some H4350 put aside for some "Hammer of Thor "coyote loads after that.. :grin:

I swung by the range on the way back from lunch an shot at some steel plates @ 200 yards from field postions.This .280 is the real deal.With those Hornady factory  loads ,it lays 'em in there.The load must be hauling A*S out of that 26" tube because it shoots VERY flat out to 300 yards.

If I miss a deer with this gun,it is definitely my fault. :oops:

BTW, I have had GOOD luck with the Hornady light mag loads in other rifles,so I am shocked to hear of folks having problems with their accuracy  in Handis .Most of the time they shoot so close to my handloads using Hornady slugs, that I use them instead. :wink:

[MSP Ret]

Thanks Jim and good luck connecting with a deer using that fine .280. And thanks again for the info on the Hornady Light Mags, I will be sure to try some if I can find some in a gun shop. Bing from the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts I cannot order ammo or even components through the mail!!! I can't even buy lead round balls for my ML without showing a license to carry or can't order them thropugh the mails either, I guess "they" think someone is going to start a revolution with a pre 1865 replica of a sidehammer single shot black powder muzzleloader!!!....<><....  :roll:

[jason280]

Jim,

I've chrono'd some of the Hornady LM 139gr bullets out of my 22" Remington Mountain Rifle, and they averaged around 3030-3040fps.  I haven't gotten a chance to try any through my 26" Handi, but Federal HE 140gr bullets did do almost 3140fps in the gun.  Plus, all the loads have been very accurate.  

IMR4350 has been a pretty good powder, but I just bought a pound of RL-19 to try.