Accuracy woes!

[parson48]

Finally got to shoot my 44 mag today. I've had it a few months but this was my first opportunity to get to the range.

I shot at 25 yds. off a bench, and was very disappointed with the lack of accuracy. This is one of the newer, synthetic stock, sb1 rifles.

I shot several different loads, 240 gr. jhp, 270 gr. cast with gc, 215 gr. cast. The gun shot 7-8" groups at 25 yds. regardless fo the load.

I did try shooting with the forearm off, this didn't make any difference. With accuracy this poor should I send it back or is there some mojo that might be an easy fix?

My 357 sb1 shot very well, but the 44 mag needs help!

Thanks

parson48

[michaelt454]

Make sure the latch shelf and latch are absolutely clean, dry, and oil free.  I fought one forever that I thought was clean until I took it apart and cleaned both surfaces with a Q-tip and alcohol.  Fixed me right up. Thanks to Quik and CW!!

[Lefty Dude]

You need to break it in with at least 100 rounds of Jacketed rounds. This will burnish that new barrel. Then clean it very well, remove all copper fouling. Then give it a good application of JB bore paste with a tight patch, then clean it again.

At this point slug the bore and see what ya got. Load lead rounds with the proper sized bullets, at least .001" over the groove diameter. This will also tell you what size jacket bullets to use. They make 44's jacketed bullets in .429"-.430" & .431".

My Handi/44 barrel slugs .429", I am lucky. I shoot a Nosler 200gr & 240 gr. sized .429", and the accuracy is very good. For lead I shoot a Laser-Cast 240 gr. SWC .431".

[Graybeard]

Since I don't know you from Adam's house cat and have no clue as to your shooting skills I just gotta ask. How sure are you it's the gun not the shooter? If the distance was 100 I could understand but I don't think even the most inaccurate gun I've seen shoots that poorly at 25. Scope or iron sights? If scope I'd suspect something loose. If irons I always suspect shooter error until proven otherwise.

I have little experience with these rifles really so am no help if it's the rifle. But if the bullets are not key holing then a rifle shouldn't be capable of tossing bullets that wide if not shooter error or at least none I've ever seen have yet. Heck I had a revolver once that tossed two of six completely sideways and two more nearly that from each cylinder full and it shot tighter groups than that.

[parson48]

I appreciate the comments. I didn't look all that closely at the latch and shelf, I'l check that out.

As far as shooting skills, I'm probably at least average. I can consistantly shoot 1" groups with my Savage .243. The only other gun that I've ever had that shot this poorly was a ruger gp100, and, as I understand, that is very unusual.

I don't think that I mentioned in the initial post, but I did try 2 scopes. I tranferred that one from my .357, which was shooting fine, but that didn't help the 44 mag.

Also, there were no keyholes. The shots were just off in semmingly all directions by a few inches. I shot approx. 40 jhp loads and half that many cast. I did clean with hoppes, followed by dry patch after every couple rounds, also tried to not get the barrel too hot.

Again, thanks for all suggestions.

parson48

[Graybeard]

Since it was scoped my thoughts are something loose. You swapped scopes so likely not inside the scope but in what holds it to the barrel. I'd first check to be sure the base is really snugged down and not loose on the barrel. Some times screws are too long or holes too shallow and they bottom out without tightening the base down. Also be sure there is no play between rings and base.

If you have the iron sights for it use them and see if groups are better, worse or same.

Short of key holing bullets it boggles my mind that a rifled barrel on its own can toss bullets that widely at that close range. As I said if it's rifle related the handi holics must help as I have no clues in that regard.

[parson48]

I share your bewilderment Graybeard. This is some unusual lack of accuracy in my experience. I've been looking this thing over and it seems that bases & rings are tight. There was some oil on the latch, but still, that's a lot of impact for such a seemingly small thing to make.

Would perhaps a bad crown do this? There is nothing apparent to the eye, but I guess that it could be off some.

I'd like to have this rifle ready for deer season. Don't know if it would make it to the factory and back in that amount of time.

Looking through the stickies and open to suggestions.

Thanks

parson48

[myarmor]

At that distance I would think it would have to be a big burr on the muzzle, more than noticable. Does your barrel have any side to side play in it after you lock it up? Are you pulling all the way "through the trigger" to enable the transfer bar to engage fully?


-Aaron

[Jimbo47]

Use a dry Q tip to rub around the edge of the crown to see if it catches fibers, which would indicate a burr.

If not check the lock up and for any looseness as prescribed, and oil on the latch also.

When you shoot without the forend make sure you rest on the hinge area in front of the trigger guard rather than on the barrel.

Pull all the way through on the trigger as suggested.

If everything is tight and you do all the above I'd call CS and ask them about it, as a gun that doesn't shoot at that distance won't do you any good as a hunting arm anyway, so you might as well send it in.

[myarmor]

..................
If everything is tight and you do all the above I'd call CS and ask them about it, as a gun that doesn't shoot at that distance won't do you any good as a hunting arm anyway, so you might as well send it in.

Sadly I agree  I have had several second hand barrels that even with the sloppiest play, would still shoot better than that
Ask for a Call Tag.

[kennyd]

Square breech?  Problems with the foreend bedding?

I logged on to make a post about my .243 and saw this.  Wait a few and read it.

[mwilson]

friend at work fired leverevolution from new synthetic 44 at 50 yards. not sure of group size as all he would say is he was very unhappy with the rifle. tried my 240 xtp load that shoots great out of my 629. same thing. then tried my 300 grain xtps. should not have gave him those, i might have been able to buy a cheap rifle. he brought the targets to work to show me. it was only at 50 yards but 1 3 shoot group was 1 hole. the other was a nice cloverleaf. i dont think he shot over a couple dozen rounds thru it so not all guns have to have lots of rounds thru them before they shoot well. try some 300 xtp over h110.

[zoner]

i think i would clean the latch shelf real good and try it, if it wasn't better my next move would be to slug the bore,see what ya got.....

[wreckhog]

I think that the original poster did more than enough testing on a new gun. Call tag.

[quickdtoo]

As has been mentioned, oil on the latch/shelf will cause poor accuracy, good lock up is mandatory for any accuracy from a Handi, that means they must be clean and dry, read the Handi basics 101 sticky, if that doesn't help, call H&R and make arrangement to ship it back to them for repair, ask them to issue a UPS call tag to cover shipping, they'll send you a prepaid label. It would be nice if they stepped into the 21st century, and sent it by email tho, I just returned a defective motherboard to CompUSA, called and ask some questions about the return authorization and the rep emailed me a prepaid UPS label, get with it Remington.

Tim

[parson48]

I'm gonna ship it back. I called yesterday (Friday) but got a recording that it was some kind of employee training day. I'll give them a call on Monday to arrange shipment.

Thanks to all for suggestions.
parson48

[Dinny]

I don't know you from Adam's house cat

What's my cat got to do with it? 


Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. lol

Thanks, Dinny