New to the Handi and new to the Forum

[cjclemens]

Last year I was given a hand me down Handi in .223, but ive just now gotten around to fooling with it.  Before finding this forum, I started out by trying some 55gr winchester white box with no luck.  Next I found some 45gr remington hollow points.  The results were even worse.  After looking around for some answers I found this site.  Since then, I've loaded up some 45 grain sierra varminters with 22 grains of IMR 4198, and things are looking promising.  I imagine I'll know more once I get a chance to shoot this thing from a bench rest.  After years of hunting coyotes with an AR, I didnt think an old single shot would be quite so much fun to shoot.

[Datil]

 Hello cj, Welcome to the wonderful world of Handi's. and GBO ;s forums.
 Come back often Stay Late, Fnjoy.
 Best of Luck  Marv.

[petemi]

Hi and welcome.  Once you find what that rifle likes to eat, you'll love it.

[stimpylu32]

The 223s can be a bit picky about what they like , some do real well with the 45g and under bullets while mine does best with the 55g V-max , try a few different ones to find the sweet spot .

Once it finds a load it likes your going to love that little rifle . 

stimpy

[LONGTOM]

I will also add that once you find a load that works go out and buy all you can get of it before some unknown reason they change it or do away with it like the WINCHESTER SUPREAM 52gr HPs in 22-250 or the WINCHESTER POWER POINT PLUS!!!


LONGTOM

[Troyboy]

Welcome aboard.

                                                Troy

[cjclemens]

So I had my first chance to sit down and do some serious shooting with the Handi.  With the load I listed above, Im getting groups right at 1" at 100yds.  Not bad for a 1st attempt.  Im guessing mine has the 1:10 twist rifling in it since it handles the 45 grainers so well.  Now that I think about it, the reason it didnt do much with the factory 45 grain loads is probably because they were remington UMC's.  I may try tweaking the load some to see if I can do better, but for now I think its time to find a coyote!

[cwlongshot]

So I had my first chance to sit down and do some serious shooting with the Handi.  With the load I listed above, Im getting groups right at 1" at 100yds.  Not bad for a 1st attempt.  Im guessing mine has the 1:10 twist rifling in it since it handles the 45 grainers so well.  Now that I think about it, the reason it didnt do much with the factory 45 grain loads is probably because they were remington UMC's.  I may try tweaking the load some to see if I can do better, but for now I think its time to find a coyote!

 Well done!!!

Thats part of the alure of the Handi. You get to "tinker" and make it into a GREAT shooter!!!

 Enjoy and WELCOME!!

 CW

[cjclemens]

I had time to shoot my .223 more today.  The more I shoot it the more I am disappointed in my Ruger Mini-14.  Between the Handi and my AR, Im not sure I have much use for it anymore.  Anyway, I've notice that my ejector doesnt seem to work hardly at all.  The cases arent even stuck - they fall right out if I upend the rifle and give it a shake.  Does that mean the ejector needs replaced or is it telling me I just need to clean the chamber thoroughly?  Other than that, this thing seems to work flawlessly.  Its acutally fun having a reason to put light bullets on a 223.

These are my official results for the weekend:



I know I can do better, but I think this is good enough for now!

[quickdtoo]

Nice shooting! There's ejector help in the FAQs, it's easliy fixed.... unless it's an extractor which they have to be picked out of the chamber by hand after it lifts the case out about ¼", there's no automatic removal as there is with a properly functioning ejector which should throw a spent case over your shoulder. 

Tim

[LONGTOM]

If it's an ejector sounds like either a dirty chamber or a weak ejector spring, either is easy to fix.


LONGTOM