New man needs advice please

[BowBendr]

Hey guys- I'm a newb to the forums after reading as a guest for many years. Discovered the Handi-Rifle threads one day while searching for the answer to an issue i'm having, so I thought i'd join in and get advice straight from all of you.
I'll try to make my first post a short one.
After owning 2 USH's (12 ga.) for a couple years, I decided to try out single-shot centerfire hunting. 2 years ago I bought a new SS/Syn. .243 Handi for coyote/groundhogs at intermediate ranges, and maybe some deer hunting too. Nice looking rifle, handles well, and functions flawlessly. The accuracy however is another issue. Poor, to say the least. As soon as I started having trouble, I poured thru every stickey and FAQ topic, trying each suggestion one at a time...searching. I can honestly tell you that the only thing I haven't done is the JB trick in the hinge area, but I didn't do it because after checking the clearances and studying the whole action, I really can find no problem. Gun locks up like a bank vault. I've even had it to a smith to check for barrel issues (crown, rifling, bad tooling). I have shot it with every brand and weight of bullet made. Fore arm on/off, you name it i've done it. Every bit of tech info you guys have posted, i've tried. My best groups to date have been in the area of 8" at 100 yds. with absolutely no consistancy. This is the only firearm I have owned that I couldn't eventually get the bugs worked out of, and she's on her way to becoming a boat anchor. After all this and about $5k in ammo, do I give in, or is there just one thing that i'm missing ? Is my best re-course to contact CS at the factory and send it to them for help ? Any more tips or advice would greatly be appreciated !!! What say ye' ?  -BB

[gendoc]

i've seen this happen with factory ammo...
ya mite needta handload and work up an accurate load.
and always let ya barrel cool down between shots.
check the crown, and oil on the latch shelf.

also have you try'd different glass??

like tim says...(shoot it without the forend)

its gonna be hard to tell ya whats cause'n your problem.

cud be.....YOU...... wif them fine triggers they have....
good luck!!!!!!

[burntmuch]

What kinda ammo you shooting

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard BB!! I know ya said you read everything, but have you made sure the latch/shelf are clean and dry? H&R gunsmiths report that as the number one cause of inaccuracy. Other things to check are scope and scope mounts, one recent member's experience sounded just like yours, all was caused by a loose scope base. In the end when you've done all you can, contact H&R to have it returned for repair, it could have a broken latch which you can't see without removing it. Their accuracy standard is 2" or better, 3-shot groups at 100yds with factory ammo. 

Tim

[Hank in Indiana]

I've had three Handi's. None of them shot well. Sold the first two and the third I sent back to H&R. No word on that one yet. My son-in-law has one that shoots 5" at 50 yds but he only shoots it a couple times a year so he doesn't care. Your gun sounds average to me. Learn to live with it or up grade.

[dpe.ahoy]

Hank, 'fraid ya got the wrong idea on that.  I have 25 of them and none shoot that bad.  If that is the best I could get them to shoot, I'd be going through the FAQ's alot.  Most of mine have been as good a shooters out of the box as any other rifle I own, and I own a bunch of rifles.  Not braggin' but I have 3-4 other rifles for each Handi I own and NONE will shoot that large a group at 50 yd.  Not meanin' to dog ya man, but read the FAQ's.  DP

[BowBendr]

Thanks guys- I gotta tell you that honestly I was suprised when I bought it, how good the trigger was from the factory, actually very nice. The rifle is a dream to shoot mechanically. I can also tell you that there is not a factory load that hasn't been shot in it (pre ammo $ increase), but will admit that its never been handloaded for. I can assure you guys that the FAQ's and the threads I read have been my gun bible on this project, and some of you guys advice made me sign up. I made sure I covered every base before I posted up. Ain't kissin tail, this one's got me stumped !! Tim, could you tell me more about this broken latch you speak of ? If I do send it back, just wanted to know what to say..."it won't shoot straight"   Thanks-BB

[quickdtoo]

The latch is the part that locks the action in battery, it's the part that moves out of the way when you press the barrel release button, you can see it move with the action open. It's been known to break, only H&R can replace it, just tell em what you told us, that it's not accurate with any ammo, they'll check it out, they may have to replace the barrel if the current barrel doesn't fit or can't be fitted after the repair. It could also be something the gunsmith missed. 

Tim

[mitch132]

Shooting that poorly, I kinda wonder if the bore is oversize or otherwise out of spec. Have you tried slugging the barrel as described in the FAQ's? If it is either oversized or tighter at the chamber end, send that puppy back to H&R pronto. The old pre Marlin manufacture .44 caliber barrels were plagued with this condition.

[PHATINJUN]

If you have truly tried every thing and it sound as you have just by posting that you have read and gone thru the faq's so you would not get the FAQ'S answer. You may infact have a bad one if the smith has looked at the bore and the crown no oil on the shelf the only other problem is the mount and glass are your 8" groups sprayed around or does the group move around consistantly? As has been stated factory spec is 2"@100 shoot some targets to send with the gun if you send it in. Your gun is not average it is a freak and should be made right . Iv'e got a bunch of them also but have never had one that was not fixable but I can also say I don't have the .243 but many do and many have bought on the cheap"bad"243 bbl's that were tamed and shoot very well. What you got is an inexpensive gun not junk as some call them. Shoot the targets and send it in. I've never asked this before but maybe you can call them ask exactly what factory ammo they will test in it and get some of that and shoot the targets before sending it in?? Kurt

[PHATINJUN]

BTW welcome aboard  We'll get ya fixed Kurt

[Rustyinfla]

  You might find someone else that you know is a good shooter and have them shot it for you. Watch closely while they do and see if you can see anything wrong.

[BowBendr]

Thank you guys for thinking of everything you can. To answer PhatInjun, yes when the rifle was at the smiths' shop he slugged the barrel and was betting on there being a barrel problem of some sort. He said it miked out "in spec" and that there were no adverse tooling errors in the rifling and that the recessed crown was in great condition. To answer your other question PI, each shot is randomly placed, sprayed around the target in no paticular order. I really thought I just had a barrel that didn't like being warm, much less hot, so I really spent alot of time letting the barrel cool (up to 20 mins.) thinking that would show me a pattern of some type that would give away what the problem is. Oh well, i'm still not dis-satisfied with the rifle, never will be. I know they make great guns as evidenced by my 2 USH's. Could not ask for a finer slug gun(s). I think my next course is to contact these fine people and see what they say.

[bigvarmnt]

If you haven't tried this already, I would take the scope, rings, and scope rail off. Check the scope rail and threads in barrel. Put the rail and rings on properly and the scope you have. If same problem try a different good quality scope. Keep the targets to compare. I sold a really nice rifle then found the scope was junk. Then it would go to the factory. Know how you feel, Good Luck!

[quickdtoo]

As I recommended in my earlier reply, I wouldn't contact H&R unless you've positively ruled the scope and mounts out as being the problem, if you haven't, you're just wasting yours and H&R's time by sending it in for repair. 

Tim