Just a newbie wantin' to say "Howdy"!

[jspartin]

Just wanted to drop in and say hello to everyone here. I've been browsing through the H@R part of the forum for the better part of two weeks now reading everyone's advice and opinions on the H&R rifles. Actually went out and bought me a .223 with a 24" heavy barrel today. Been wanting a .223 for some time now and since I have a bolt gun in .22 magnum I wanted something different. Saw the Handi Rifles at a local gun shop a couple of weeks ago and really liked the feel of the .223. Just felt right on my shoulder. So, I dug into my mad money and ticked the wife off and went and bought it today. Took it out and fired about 20 rounds of cheap ammo just to help break in the barrel. That stuff was giving me fits trying to sight my scope in at 50 yards. 20 yards was no problem. Shot the ten spot completely out of the target within 7 rounds. But 50 yds is giving me a challenge with the new barrel and cheap ammo. Anyway, just wanted to say howdy and say that I'm glad I found this site. Absolutely invaluable information on here covering just about any questions I might've had!


Shawn

[LaDano]

Welcome, I'm new also. These guns sure are addictive!!! So far everyone here has been outstanding, tons of knowledge with this group. Glad I found it also.

[jspartin]

Thanks, LaDano! Yeah, I've noticed there are a lot of folks on here that I could probably spend a lifetime learning from. Reading hundreds of posts over the past couple of weeks is what finally convinced me to go with the H&R.

[LaOtto222]

Welcome   Get yourself some good quality ammo and give it another try. If you are still not satisfied look at the FAQ section at the top of this forum for tips on getting more accuracy your Handi, doing a trigger job and many other ideas. Even if you do not need to make it more accurate (is that possible? ), it is an interesting read.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[ironglow]

  Welcome jspartin. You now have a start in Handiholicism...as Laotto says, now you can tune your Handi according to the tips in the FAQ section.  You may want to start with the O-ring on the forearm stud..doesn't cost much, installed in a couple minutes.. and may help a lot.

[jspartin]

Thanks guys. I plan on picking up some good ammo some time this week. Couldn't resist the tulammo walmart cheepos at $4.95 a box. I've read through the FAQ about getting better accuracy out these rifles. A boat load of great information in there. May even try floating the forearm yet, will be my first time. As for the trigger, I don't have a way to measure it, but it has a very nice feel to it. Nice and easy and very crisp. It's got an easier pull on it than the little Henry .22 I bought last week. Will definitely be doing some more reading here, starting to get the itch to reload my own with the .223. Plus I have a handgun in .40 S&W that I'd like to try and cook up a good formula for.

[elkslayer4x5]

Thanks guys. I plan on picking up some good ammo some time this week. Couldn't resist the tulammo walmart cheepos at $4.95 a box. I've read through the FAQ about getting better accuracy out these rifles. A boat load of great information in there. May even try floating the forearm yet, will be my first time. As for the trigger, I don't have a way to measure it, but it has a very nice feel to it. Nice and easy and very crisp. It's got an easier pull on it than the little Henry .22 I bought last week. Will definitely be doing some more reading here, starting to get the itch to reload my own with the .223. Plus I have a handgun in .40 S&W that I'd like to try and cook up a good formula for.

Carefull! Reloading is an addiction all on it's own, possibily worse than the Handi addiction! 

[tacklebury]

Welcome..
 
Yep and Yep.  I love reloading and have gone from 3 calibers at the start to 14 now.    It's definitely an addicting hobby for me.
I posted recently my results with my new scope mounted on my .223 here: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,262177.msg1099555989.html#msg1099555989
 
.31 center to center and that was kneeling supported on a burning barrel with my gun case for a cushion.  hehe  Hoping to get it out again soon, so trying to talk my buddy into letting me take a couple skunks on his property.  He has a big one that's living over 400 yards from his house, so will be a good test of the Mil dot. 

[cwlongshot]

Hey there, WELCOME to your new addiction! 

 CW

[jspartin]

@ Tacklebury, believe it or not, I had already read that entire thread. Like I said, I've spent the better part of two weeks reading through this forum and have already learned some things that I would never have thought of that would affect the accuracy of any rifle.  Gonna take the advice of a lot of folks on here and try some Winchester 45 grains once I get the barrel polished with JB.


I'm getting really interested in some of the higher caliber barrel options for these Handis. Gonna have to wait though. Got a bum shoulder, had surgery back in December and will be getting cut on again to have about half an inch of my collar bone removed here in a couple weeks. Shot my buddy's Marlin 336  the other day and felt like someone hit me in the shoulder with a damn baseball bat! So, the .223 will be about as powerful as I go for a few months anyway.