Why does my Handi in .223 jump so bad?

[fr3db3ar]

Is it just the nature of the handi?  I've watched videos of people shooting regular repeating rifles IE bolt action in as high as .338 and it seems to barely move.  My Handi in .223 jumps like a fish out of water when I shoot it.  Is it just because it's so light??

[Badnews Bob]

Light rifle and a high velocity round is what makes them jump.  Thats why a lot of varmit shooter muzzle brake .223s, not for recoil but to counter muzzle flip. This is so they can see thier hits in the scope. Also gets you back on target a little faster,

[Spanky]

If you think your .223 jumps you should shoot my 12 gauge shorty with a 3" magnum load of buckshot.



Spanky

[dk17hmr]

Care to try my 450 Marlin? With 325gr hard cast at 2100fps.


Or my 500 S&W with 700gr hard cast at 1500FPS?



You can always fill the buttstock with lead shot to help out a bit.

[rickt300]

My 223 superlite barrel doesn't jump noticably but I have wood stocks and a nice recoil pad along with an older steel tube Weaver scope on it.  My 30-06 barrel however is a bit lively.

[watkibe]

My 223 Superlight still has the synthetic stock, and it doesn't jump at all...compared to my 45-70 or my 338 Win Mag !

[PHATINJUN]

The 223 has just enough kick to keep you from seeing the hit in the scope I tried a lot of stuff to get it to stay put and could not. I did not have a muzzle brake added though but think you would have to do something like that to make it work. Or get a 204 Ruger I love that round shooting PD as you can see the XXplosive hit in the scope even at long yardage very accurate Handi. Kurt

[Sourdough]

It's the stock design.  Look at the line of where the stock rest on the shoulder.  Then draw a line through the metal part of the rifle to see where it intersects the shoulder.  Notice it is above the stock, hence the jump.  You can see that on the pictures shown by .17HMR right here in this thread. 

I changed the stock on my .35 Whelen to a thumb hole design that lowers the alignment of the rifle down to the middle of the shoulder.  I get no jump what so ever.  It does make getting behind the scope a little harder, have to flatten my cheek a bit. 

[Oldshooter]

My little 223"rabbit" has very little jump(that i have noticed) it is a real pleasure to shoot! Now my 270 barrel on that same frame will jump and bump!

[Coastwatcher]

If you are talking about Muzzle Jump when using a sandbag or rest, it can be caused by placing the rifle with the rest under the front of the forearm.   The nature of a break action is that they tend to flex a bit when fired.  This causes a springing effect that lifts the muzzle.   Shoot your rifle with the rest under either the hinge point, or as far back under the forearm as you can, instead of the front of the forearm.   If your rifle does not have a good lockup, it magnifies the tendency.  Good Luck.