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Author Topic: 243 Handi Accuracy  (Read 1838 times)

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Offline vabowhntr

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243 Handi Accuracy
« on: October 11, 2010, 06:53:51 AM »
My 243 Handi is now the most accurate gun I own.:o

I have several guns that will shoot under an inch at 100 most of the time, but after a doing some work on my handi (barrel fit, forend float and trigger), I think it has them beat.  With the sierra 85 gr bthp and a starting load of imr4350, I can now get consistent 5 shot groups of .75" at 125 yards (length of our range).  I never thought this $175 gun would shoot this well.

I think I am getting about 2900 fps out of this one, does anyone have experience with this bullet on deer?

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Offline Old Fart

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2010, 07:12:43 AM »
My brother in law has sold everything he has in centerfire except his 243.
He is officially a big fan of that round.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2010, 12:45:09 PM »
I'm hoping my new 243 Ultra will shoot that well.



Spanky
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Offline manatee1947

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2010, 12:54:22 PM »
The round is minimal on deer so shot placement is crucial. With the accuracy you are talking about, that should not be aproblem if you do your job. Needless to say a well placed 243 is better than a lousy 300 mag shot. A standard lung shot will bring them down, but maybe not DRT. If they run in brush, be sure to conduct a thorough search of the area as there may not be a good blood trail.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2010, 06:43:50 PM »
Uh oh. :-X



Spanky
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2010, 07:35:25 PM »
Congratulatons on the 243 handi accuracy! I have a handi in 243 that I havn't been able to get those results with but I'm still tryin!

As far as 243 on whitetails........you do your part and the 243 will do its part, from my experience anyway! 100 gr soft point and a good book load that maybe aint max is all you need! Now that being said I wouldn't be shooting anything but varmits farther than 300 yards with one for my hunt!
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Offline pruhdlr

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2010, 06:44:02 AM »
....."minimal on deer"...... Not in my opinion. Especially with some of the better bullets to come along in the last 10-15 years.

When guiding in Maine,I had sports take down moose(one,a 775lb cow at 40yds)and black bear(biggest was a 245lb boar at 30yds)with the so-so bullets offered back then. Pre hunt,I would always make sure they could shoot the gun well,and brief them as to shot placement and max range.

With the excellent .244" bullets offered nowadays,I would think that the necked down .308 will handle any white tail very well. Personally,I would take a step up to the 7mm-08 though. ---pruhdlr
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Offline Preacherman

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2010, 03:34:27 PM »
The 243 is an awsome round a 100 gr corelok will drt a whitetail if hit anywhere in the front.Have done dozens much better than my 270. My next choice is a 223.
Preacherman
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2010, 03:39:17 PM »
I've killed a couple deer with a 223 and one with a 22 hornet so the 243 should work alright. just my .02



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Offline mechanic

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2010, 05:30:56 PM »
I shot a large doe with a Cor loct from a Handi 243, which entered just behind the right shoulder angling back and down.  When it exited, you could fit a fist into the hole.  Just about every organ was jelly.  Any more than that and it would have ruined too much meat.........

An 85 to 100 gr. bullet traveling at 243 speeds ain't no slouch.  I wouldn't want to have to shoot a griz. with it, but a deer ain't that hard to kill.
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Offline ihookem

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2010, 04:15:01 PM »
I have another question. I have this .243 super light H&R. It has a very short barrel and wonder if anyone with the superlight barrels have better accuracy with faster burning powders. It dawned on my that with IMR 4350 the powder might not be getting all burned up. Anyone with see better results with fast burning powder with the short barrels?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2010, 04:25:59 PM »
I have a few 20" Superlights, worked with the 260 Rem the most though, H4350 was very accurate, but velocity was poor with 130gr bullets at 2500fps, stepped up to IMR4320 then IMR4064 and velocity improved a lot, got 2900fps with 120gr bullets using a max load of IMR4064, but settled on a mid level load at 2750fps which provided the best accuracy.

Tim
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Offline ihookem

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2010, 03:45:01 PM »
I got a 1" 3 shot  group @ 50 yds today. The best yet. Do you all think the barrel might be settling in some after 100 rounds?  I went 5 min. between shots and that helped some. Later.
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Offline lonewolf5348

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2010, 11:39:30 AM »
I will say my 243 cal. will shoot excellent as long as I do not clean the barrel.
I am shooting the noslers BT 95 gr. shoot outstanding using IMR 4350
I am going to try the Remington 100 Gr.  Cor lock next spring,I find the handi shoot the best on the low end around 2800 FPS
I shot the Hornady they also shoot well
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Offline Datil

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2010, 12:25:51 PM »

 My 243 will only shoot the Sierra 85 gr HPBT good with ample dose IMR 4320.
 one shot deer DRT. Datil
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Offline ihookem

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #15 on: October 22, 2010, 05:44:28 PM »
Thanks everyone, I shot my sons gun today and  found my first shot hit a quarter size bulls eye at 100 yds. I think I can get 1-2" groups at 100 yds. but have to wait 10 minutes between shots.
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Offline ihookem

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Re: Best and Worst????
« Reply #16 on: October 23, 2010, 04:16:56 PM »
Well, I thought I had my .243 super light shooting good till today. Five inches to the left for no reason at all. I'm about to give up on it and throw the barrel away. It is way too unpredictable for hunting past 50 yds. I hear some unbelievable stories about Handi's accuracy but have been sadly disapointed. The only thing different between yesterday and today is it was raining today and 5" off. I can't figure this gun out. I can't get another barrel cause it's too close to gun season and H&R has no barrels anyway.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #17 on: October 23, 2010, 04:38:40 PM »
Read the Handi Basics 101 sticky, assuming there's no problem with the barrel fit, it's got to be something you're doing or not doing.  ;) Ignorance of Handis is no excuse here, the FAQs has all the answers, little things like cleaning and oiling will change how it shoots, the latch and shelf must be dry and oil free, and the barrel must be fouled for consistent accuracy. If that doesn't work, it may need to be repaired.  ;)

Tim
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Offline BBF

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #18 on: October 23, 2010, 07:25:12 PM »
Quote from: ihookem on October 14, 2010, 04:15:01 PM
I have another question. I have this .243 super light H&R. It has a very short barrel and wonder if anyone with the superlight barrels have better accuracy with faster burning powders. It dawned on my that with IMR 4350 the powder might not be getting all burned up. Anyone with see better results with fast burning powder with the short barrels?

That powder should be gone within 12 to 16 inch of the barrel.
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Offline ihookem

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #19 on: October 24, 2010, 03:38:56 AM »
Thanks guys, I will look into it more.
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Offline Duckbill

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Re: Best and Worst????
« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2010, 03:18:26 PM »
Quote from: ihookem on October 23, 2010, 04:16:56 PM
Well, I thought I had my .243 super light shooting good till today. Five inches to the left for no reason at all. I'm about to give up on it and throw the barrel away. It is way too unpredictable for hunting past 50 yds. I hear some unbelievable stories about Handi's accuracy but have been sadly disapointed. The only thing different between yesterday and today is it was raining today and 5" off. I can't figure this gun out. I can't get another barrel cause it's too close to gun season and H&R has no barrels anyway.

hookem,
What scope do you have on that rifle?  The only reason I ask is if you have a scope with a 50 or 75 yds parallax, this could happen. 
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Offline APEX PREDATOR

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2010, 05:48:20 PM »
As long as you hit the heart or lungs the deer will not go far I have killed 4 and my dad 5 deer with it. My dad preferrs it over all his other bigger rifles
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Offline ihookem

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #22 on: October 26, 2010, 10:13:31 AM »
Duckbill, I have a Redfield scope on it, a 2x7. I took off the Leopold 1x4 shotgun scope because it covered a 2" circle at 50 yds.
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Offline ironglow

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Re: 243 Handi Accuracy
« Reply #23 on: October 27, 2010, 04:56:37 PM »
  I have just finished working up a couple loads for my .243 SL barrel with a vintage Unertl 4X post & crosshair scope.

   A) 85 gr Speer BTSP, 37 gr Varget..  Chart says should it hit about 3000 fps (my chronograph says 2940 fps)

  B) 85 gr Speer BTSP, 40 gr IMR4895..Chart says about 3100..I didn't chrony it..but it sure seems snappier than the first load,
   plus it came in with better accuracy than I hoped for...so it is a toss-up if I start big game season with the .243 or my Marlin 30/30.

   I will settle there for speed, because I don't want to outrun my bullet's integrity.
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