257 Roberts Handi rebelled again.

[Fred M]

Two weeks ago I missed a very nice WT buck at a bout 300yds.
Packed up the Handi and hauled out the 257R #1.

Toke the Handi to the range and found out that the shot was 7" low instead of 2" high at 100. A total of 9" out of whack. Nothing loose and the lock up tight as it can be. All three shots in a cluster and touching each other. That means 3ft low at 300.

I fired the rest of the ammo I had and had several FT-F's. Some would fire on the second hammer blow. But all went to the same point of impact. On top of that I had two case head separations on the range.

Of course we know about the case head separations are due to the stretching of the action and too many uses. It don't happened to often and for hunting I use new cases.

But the FTF is bad news since the hammer spring has not been used all that much. But I will install a new one. I am using soft Rem 9-1/2
primers in the Handi to help the crappy system.

A complete check out will be done and I will mount a Kahles 3-9 scope on the Handi because I don't trust that Sightron any more.

I suspect there is something wrong with the scope adjustments, it's
coming off and going to the Sightron  factory. This is the second scope of this brand that gave adjustment trouble.

I don't know how much longer I will put up with the Handi. Never did have any luck with any of them. Good thing I own several dependable Rugers #1's. They have never let me down.

[embalmer883]

Fred, if you'll send me the 1/4 bob barrell I think all your troubles will be fixed. It is a well known fact that firearms work better in the Deep South. And since I live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi I think I can get it to work here. Of course I would pay for shipping so you wouldn't be out anything.

[gendoc]

Fred, if you'll send me the 1/4 bob barrell I think all your troubles will be fixed. It is a well known fact that firearms work better in the Deep South. And since I live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi I think I can get it to work here. Of course I would pay for shipping so you wouldn't be out anything.

it's just sumpin bout tha deep south, ain't it !!!!!!!

[Fred M]

Hell it ain't the barrel it shoots one hole groups, its the whole system that sucks. Plus a lousy scope.

[quickdtoo]

Sorry to hear of your headaches Fred, maybe just a new scope is all it needs. 

Tim

[embalmer883]

Ok Fred........... I'll tell my FFL your gonna be shipping a rifle to em.

[Fred M]

Yes Tim, I think you are right. I put the Kahles on next week and a new trigger spring. That should be okay until I take it hunting again
next year. I been putting live in that cantankerous piece several times and hope it will eventual settle down and behave.

It has to be soon because I have only a few years of hunting left?
So god will?

I know it has never fallen down or knocked about, so the 9" is a bit of a mistery. The foam bedding in the fore arm is suspect it could have compressed some, but not that much.

I swore not to shoot it so much but I keep hauling it out because it shoots so well with its match grade barrel.

These guys joking would not even pay for the cost of the barrel let alone the stock work. Besides it is not as yet for sale or to give away. How can you sell a tack driving rifle like the one below. Even when you get mad at it

[trotterlg]

I used to struggle against these things when I was younger, but now it just isn't worth the effort, Life is short, if it doesn't work for you just dump it and move on, you only have a finite number of shots in your life, to waste one with a bad piece of machinery is just sad.  I've started sorting out the working machines from the ones I would like to work, the ones that work I will keep and use and the ones that don't are history.  Let some young guy fight with the fickel stuff and use the things that work.  Larry

[Jimbo47]

No such thing as the perfect rifle!

I had one that I swore by for years, and it never let me down until one day it did!

It's frustrating, but life is full of surprises, and no garantees!

[Fred M]

Okay.
Installed new scope, installed new hammer spring, gave the forearm a bit more uplift. Had to trim the top of the hammer to clear the rear scope bell got 0.008" clearance. It is very cold but when it warms up a bit I sight in the exchanged scope.

The new hammer spring wire is 0.001" bigger at 0.065". The old one looks pretty relaxed. The hammer ignites the hard CCI primers with a good pin dimple. Maybe I am back in business again, also the hunting season is over.

[dpe.ahoy]

Ain't that the way it goes.    That is one sweet looking rifle, Fred.  I've got 2 of the 257's myself, very nice cartridge.  DP

[Badnews Bob]

I think alot of the newer guys here don't know about the work and parts you have in your handie rifles Fred, Espesialy doing it where you live I know I counld'nt afford what you have in those things.

[Fred M]

Badnews Bob.
The fact is I don't have all that much money in the two guns.
Two Ultra Handi's in 223, two rebores and rechambering 2x$250.
All the rest of the work I did myself except the checkering, my eyes can't see good enough anymore for that.

I would not advise anybody to have the work done by a gunsmith it would run well over $1200 pus the Ultra rifle. The Handi system is not worth the expenditure.

I reluctantly took my Kahles scope off my 25 Hunter rifle, but since I use the Handi for most of my deer hunting I can live with that.

[BBF]

Hi Fred: I wonder if the Southern Lads have any idea what sort of paperwork sending the rifle would involve legally if your were even inclined to do so.

[Fred M]

Update.
Today I received a brand new Sightron SII 3-9x42 as a warranty replacement from Sightron. There were no comments about my old scope I send in. The new scope is an improved model.

It looks like the old scope had troubles else they would not have replaced it? Good warrant service and very timely.

The 257 Roberts with the Kahles scope is still in hibernation, too cold to shoot, temp today -28C (-18.4F) plus a strong north wind.
It is not very comfortable outdoors. I be on my way in a couple of weeks to AZ . Can't wait for that warm sun and do away with the big felt boots.