223 Handi rifle???

[hogginhank]

I have been toying with my 9 year old duaghters H&R single shot 223 for a number of rounds and I was wondering about a few things. Granted it's only a $200 gun I have seen a number of these that have really shot well but the 22 hornet I had(sold it quick) and this one just don't seem to like the loads I'm feeding it. I tried a couple weeks ago to see how far out I could seat the bullet with the old school method I learned way back with the candle soot on the bullet to see if I could get any marks on it from the lands and I practically seated the bullet to where it was barely in the case neck and still never touched the lands?? Do they build these guns to accept the 90gr projectiles or what?? It's only a 1:14 twist .

I have tried a number of the popular 223 powders and 52gr'ers up to the 60 partition(which grouped 3 shot groups with 3" groups ay 100 yards, though it never key holed the rounds). I would love this gun to shoot at least 55gr bullets since it is a hunting rifle for my daughter and she never shoots over 75 yards.The scope is a Leupold 3x9 and is not the problem.

I guess some of that I posted was "Filler" since my main question here was about the depth of the throat to the rifling.

I am NEW to the OCW and the ladder method stuff so I guess I can implement those tests and see what I come up with. If anyone has any info on these little single shots I would love to hear it. For now I will take a step back and kind of start over with the mind set of having a new gun and working up a load with all the new information I have learned on here over the past month and see if I can get better results..Thanks in advance for ya'lls time and any info..Adios' for now..Hank

 

[Kinsman]

Re: 223 Handi rifle???

I have that same rifle, with a 308 barrel as well.
About what you would expect from a 200 dollar gun.
It does not handle the longer bullets well. The rifeling is too slow. Mine works well with 45-55 gr. bullets.
If yours is the older version, you may find that the spring powered extractor will not extract when using heavier loads. The new ones use a cam extractor, and work well.
It is not a target rifle, and I think you may be asking too much of it. I feel lucky that I have been able to attain 2 moa groups, and that with not much consistency.
One side note on this. At subsonic velocities, anything over 40 gr tends to keyhole because of the slow twist.

 

[hogginhank]

Re: 223 Handi rifle???

I see where your coming from on the fact that it's not a target rifle

I guess it's just hard to own a gun that wont print groups that are at least "On the Line" of the 1" moa(redneck OCD). I have found a load of 52gr Nos BT's that grouped some 1.5" groups. I guess that is acceptable for a $200 gun.

I guess I can try the OCW and work around that load and see if I can try out the method and see if there are any consistant POI's and keep my fingers crossed?? I really wanted to have a .224 gun that shot really good for my daughter so those 75 yard shots right behind the shoulder would do the trick on these small hillcountry whitetails. I sold my .243 so I guess I can load up a light load with my 6mm and some 85gr'ers and get her shooting it instead. I don't want her to start hunting and wound deer with a .224 and turn her off to hunting. I hope this doesn't stir up any controversy on the "223 is not big enough to shoot deer with" because I have seen folks get beat up on forums about that before. Anyways, thats a whole seperate rant and I'm just going to figure out a load for the 6mm. Thanks for your reply.. I will keep ya'll posted on my OCW test when I get around to doing it.. It's raining and windy here in Comal County so I will have to wait till next week to chunck some lead down range. Adios' for now..Hank

??? What about just sighting it in at 75 yards since that is the max I will let her shoot?? Just thought i'd get an opinion..Thanks

 

[dieselten]

Re: 223 Handi rifle???

3 things to pay attention to on a Handi.

Always make sure the lock up latch & shelf are 100% dry. No oil.

Pay close attention to reloaded case head space. The chambers are long and the rimless case will be pushed forward by the firing pin on impact. For best results use a Hornady head space tool to set your reloading die for .001-.002 shoulder setback.

When accuracy testing, rest the rifle right up under the front of the receiver, do not rest it way out at the end of the forend.

 

[mtrmn]

Re: 223 Handi rifle???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dieselten</div><div class="ubbcode-body">3 things to pay attention to on a Handi.

Always make sure the lock up latch & shelf are 100% dry. No oil.

Pay close attention to reloaded case head space. The chambers are long and the rimless case will be pushed forward by the firing pin on impact. For best results use a Hornady head space tool to set your reloading die for .001-.002 shoulder setback.

When accuracy testing, rest the rifle right up under the front of the receiver, do not rest it way out at the end of the forend. </div></div>


Sounds like the voice of experience here. Although I have never tried the gun of which you speak, I have run into the problem with resting the forend during accuracy testing with certain types of rifles. (BAR in my experience) The further back you can place your rest the better off you'll be. Also, 1 in 14 sounds like way too slow for anything heavier than 50 grains, IMHO.

 

[lukeyn]

Re: 223 Handi rifle???

I have this rifle as well, it shoots 45grain winchester white box hp's sub moa. Ive taken groundhogs at ~250yds with this gun and combo.