Handi 223 shorty

[Flynmoose]

I have a 223 Handi, bought it about six years ago. It never liked factory ammo much, did OK with my handloads that the T/Cs love. I had the barrel lopped off at 16 1/2 inches by a machinist friend for ease of storage. I only got to shoot it once before I moved a year ago, did OK with the handloads, like before. I took it out today and shot it with a new handload and some UMC 55gr FMJ that it did not like before. I was impressed with the results using the factory loads and the new handloads shoot better than I can. I can understand that a custom load may show an improvement, but wonder why the factory ammo is now better. If a shorter barrel is more accurate, I may need to get busy with the hacksaw.
FM

[petemi]

We have 4 shorites.  Two are 16.5 inches and two are 18.  I can't say they shoot better after being cut.  The fact is, I can see no difference at all.  I have heard others here say they thought accuracy improved after being cut; especially the .357 family.  A shorty will loose some velocity, but hand loaded ammo can usually bring that back to at least factory speed.  Sometimes, considerably more.  In our case, the shorties are just lighter and Handier and perform as well as 22 inchers.  I think my .445SM is next in line for a nose job to 18 inches, perhaps followed by my .45-70.

Pete

[gendoc]

moose, you prolly hada faulty crown to begin with and when it was hacked, it
went away..........

[redleg11b]

I gave my 223 an 18" nose job yesterday.  Balance is much better for sure.  I'll try to get to the range this week to shoot it again.  As long as it hasn't gotten worse I'll be happy.  If it shoots better, I'll be thrilled.  I'm going to try some Black Hills 50gr V-Max that I didn't have on my last range trip, and shoot the 55gr TAP that will be my control group.

[cwlongshot]

A bad or poor crown is a strong possibility, so is the simple physics that a shorter tube is a stiffer tube. Stiffer is less barrel whip when shooting equaling better accuracy.

On my Maxi I did not knotice better accuracy. It certainly did not get worse, but not better. Just a bunch handier!

Many of us have experienced this too. You go to range and get ok accuracy or excellent accuracy only to return another day, not change anything and find the opposite has happened.

A couple common accuracy problems associated are oil/powder residue on the latch. Keep the latch shiny clean for better and more consistant accuracy. If stored butt down, oil can seep to the latch.

Another common trait, as much as I hate to admit it, many find better accuracy shooting dirty. It will get to a point where accuracy will drop off that's a given. But the so so quality of H&R barrels seem to do better with a couple hundred rounds threw them....

Good luck,
CW

[mechanic]

Yep, you had a bad crown.  I was given an old 22 with a "shot out barrel".  The crown looked like someone had taken a rat tail file to it.  I cut it back 1/4 inch, retaining the sight dovetail, and reworked the crown.  It will one hole now.
 
Clean 'em careful, as a metal cleaning rod on that crown can mess us a good gun.
 
Ben

[quickdtoo]

Yupper, bad crown, I got a good buy on a scoped 17hmr Sportster cuz the owner said it wasn't accurate, I cleaned up the crown with the ball bearing trick and it shot excellent! But it's always nice to hear a happy ending!

Tim

[Flynmoose]

Thanks for the replies! I had checked the crown with a Q-tip and it wasn't rough. I had my machinist friend cut a target crown after the bob job, he did a smooth job.I was wondering if anyone else had experienced improved accuracy after shortening a barrel. This Handi now has a permanent home. Thanks again for the replies from a great bunch!
FM