Author Topic: New handi ultra varmint 204- about like I figured. (Read 3002 times)

gcrank1 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 13, 2010, 12:54:56 PM »

Six months of messing about with a 'problem child' rifle had me about done in. When it finally all came together and I found the solution it was all worth it (and the devil didnt beat me).

doninva · « **Reply #31 on:** January 13, 2010, 01:43:09 PM »

I didn't slug the barrel. It was a brand new rifle 2 months ago. I am done with it. I will use it for a calling rifle the next few months if I have to. I am talking to a gentleman about a trade. He is fully aware of my problems with the barrel. I would never pawn a bad barrel or anything else off on someone. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE, VERY MUCH, FOR YOUR HELP AND INPUT. I could probably get the gun to shoot better but I want to start predator hunting in a couple of weeks and have put way to much money and time into the H&R. I am very impressed by the perseverance of some of you to make a H&R shoot but I just want a rifle I can throw on a set of sticks or bipod and dust a predator or ground hog. Thanks again, Don

shvlhead.45 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 13, 2010, 04:55:46 PM »

Don,

Sell the barrel here on the classifieds stating it's lack of accuracy at a reduced price.

Keep the receiver and stocks, send receiver off and get another barrel on one of the calibers that work or pick up a used barrel on the classifieds and fit it.

Someone will snatch the barrel up and there is at least partial funding for the new barrel.

Barrels in rimmed rounds seem to be pretty much trouble free from what I've seen.

SH.45

doninva · « **Reply #33 on:** January 14, 2010, 03:57:44 AM »

Thanks SH45, I am shipping barrel this morning for a 243 barrel. Don

guzzijohn · « **Reply #34 on:** January 14, 2010, 04:15:09 AM »

With a .243 you are really asking for headaches most likely.
GuzziJohn

rickt300 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 14, 2010, 04:58:20 AM »

Fishing and finding a good load for a 243 rank high on my list of ways to improve your patience.

doninva · « **Reply #36 on:** January 14, 2010, 05:07:39 AM »

Thanks guys

, Do these guns shoot anything well. I'm starting to think they should be called dumpster guns. Don

Daman · « **Reply #37 on:** January 14, 2010, 05:37:48 AM »

The 22 Hornets I have shot in the past were awesome, so were the 30-30's. I do not own either, but have shot both a bunch. I had a 243 superlite compact for a while and it shot great.

Daman

doninva · « **Reply #38 on:** January 14, 2010, 05:42:56 AM »

Thanks Daman, that makes me feel a little better. The guy I traded with said the 243 shot good. Don

quickdtoo · « **Reply #39 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:01:49 AM »

Don, I have four H&R 243s, two are 20" Superlights, they all have shot great, don't let the naysayers sway you, the 243 Superlights give the 243 in general a back rep, but mostly due to ignorance, the light barrel heats up fast and accuracy goes south causing a lot of frustration at the range trying to work up a load, keep the barrel cool and they work fine as with any light contour barrel. Heat isn't such an issue with the standard and bull barrels.

Tim

Daman · « **Reply #40 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:16:32 AM »

doninva

I agree with Tim. Take your time shooting the .243. After I zeroed mine (boresighted) and shot 3 times to group, the only time I shot it more than once at a time was when I was putting meat in the freezer at the end of hunting season. I shot 5 deer with it in about 5 minutes between 50 and 150 yards and all were bang flop kills. Just give it time between shots.

Daman

doninva · « **Reply #41 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:29:38 AM »

Thanks, the barrel I'm getting measures .680 at the muzzle so it's not a super light. Don

quickdtoo · « **Reply #42 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:37:44 AM »

That would be a standard barrel.

Tim

doninva · « **Reply #43 on:** January 14, 2010, 06:41:17 AM »

Thanks Tim, I was wondering about that. Don

rickt300 · « **Reply #44 on:** January 14, 2010, 07:05:05 AM »

Just a little over view of your 204 experience. Mine only liked bullets under 34 grains. Oddly it also liked a bit of a jump to the rifling to shoot well (3/4 inch groups). Loads it didn't were all around 2-21/2 inches. What I didn't like about the round was it's noise and the way it destroyed anything it hit. My 204 barrel was bought used and it was already broke in and the guy I bought it from gave me a heads up on the powder it liked (H322) and that it did not like magnum primers at all.

briannmilewis · « **Reply #45 on:** January 14, 2010, 09:30:08 AM »

I vote you stop cleaning the rifle too. (I did not read all 44 replies, but I figured someone else had said to stop cleaning the rifle too)

mikemarler · « **Reply #46 on:** January 14, 2010, 10:10:01 AM »

Don, one more thing. I just purchased my first handi about a month ago. It's a 243 and I was wanting to use it as my coyote gun. Tried 2 boxes of Hornaday 58 gr V max bullets. Shots were all over the place. Never owned a rifle that would shoot groups this large before. I tried 100 gr bullets next and the group came right in. Zero it in and brother killed a deer with it the next few days. Stay away from light 243 rounds as the handi does not like them.

Daman · « **Reply #47 on:** January 14, 2010, 10:43:10 AM »

+1 on what mikemarler said.

I shot 95 grain handloads and 100 grain core lokts in mine and it shot both wonderfully.

Daman

AtlLaw · « **Reply #48 on:** January 14, 2010, 10:47:50 AM »

Sure would be nice if whomever you traded your barrel to would let us know how it shoots for him... $:-\$

quickdtoo · « **Reply #49 on:** January 14, 2010, 11:42:38 AM »

Just a possibility on th 204 Barrel that I just remembered

, Roadking 95 had one of the early 204s that only had rifling in half the barrel, he had it replaced by H&R on their dime.

Tim

Uncle Harry · « **Reply #50 on:** January 14, 2010, 04:36:52 PM »

My .204 Ultra didn't like Hornady 32 gr V-Max at all. Berger 40gr. moly's seem to work pretty well over Varget.

I'm still fussing with it though.

After I get it to shoot like I think it should, I'm gonna tackle a .243.

doninva · « **Reply #51 on:** January 14, 2010, 07:35:51 PM »

I was hoping to shoot some 68 grain V-max's in the 243 but might have to rethink that. The guy that I traded with says he may have a trick to get the 204 to shoot and he will let me know if it works. Don

quickdtoo · « **Reply #52 on:** January 14, 2010, 08:52:54 PM »

I wouldn't count the light bullets out in the 243, Mitchell shoots 55gr in his, nor would I dis the 40gr in the 204, here's one of his range reports on both.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,79053.msg488957.html#msg488957

guzzijohn · « **Reply #53 on:** January 15, 2010, 06:49:08 AM »

.243 Factory Winchester 55 gr. shot about the best at around 2", the Hornady 58 gr. were around 8"! 95 gr reloads is the heaviest I have tried and they group around 4-6". Guys, I know I have been negative about my Handi but it has been kind of disappointing. I have the bull barrel, crown looks good, have tried two different scopes, o-ring, clean/cool barrel, dirty/cool barrel, front bag rest right in front of the trigger guard, pull through on the trigger (has a nice trigger out of the box) read about all the possible fixes and things to check. Bought a Savage bolt in .243 and it shoots light or heavy under an inch, no problem. I am tempted to sell the Handi to one of you guys to see what you could do with it.
GuzziJohn