Most reliably accurate caliber in a handi....

[DavOh]

This is going to be a strange question and difficult to pose.....

It's my understanding that certain calibers tend to be better in handi's out of the box ( with little to no "tricks") than others. 

Which caliber has the best reputation for accuracy from the handi?

Ballistically I lean to certain calibers over others as everyone does, but this is less about suitable ballistics, and more about plain accuracy, mainly out of the box.

[Mac11700]

223...25-06...30-30...280 Rem...45-70...and most of the new 17cals..

Mac

[mt3030]

Of course this is just going to be from my personal experience. You mileage may vary!
Accuracy, out of the box: Ultra 25-06, 45-70 and 30-30s, with the rimmed cases taking the edge for reliability.

[jbtazgrabber]

i would never hunt with a rimless case....murphy law.....i would take a 30/30 and go to town.....got new ammo with pointed bullets,got the old round or better flat noses....i relly woud like to see a 3040 krag offering from factory but a rechamber job put this to a really great 200 yard deer gun....i had one for a few years that was great.....it was no looser in a 30/30........a good scope some good ammo.150 yard deer gun all day...i cant even see 150 yards any more...just my 2 cents........i have not tried any of the extractor  barrels yet...but i wont own another ejector to hunt with....jb

[shaner]

me personnally i had good luck with hornets , 30/30  45 /70. also rimfire all of them have shot good for me , well had a 243 that did well, truthfully ive never had a handi  that didnt shootwell ,or as well as i do , i couldnt cut clovers  with any rifle out 100 yds, just me an  my eyes

[dw06]

I have a 22hornet and 223 in handi and both will shoot under half inch at 100 yards.Can't ask for more than that.

[lik2hunt]

Let's not forget the .243 bull barrel in the 24" length. Bullet weight is finicky but just about anything under 90 grains does well.

[quickdtoo]

John, that's kinda baffling cuz my .243 UV and several others here shoot 95gr-100gr very well, it's been the topic of many discussions, but I have yet to find a light bullet that it shoots well with several different factory loads and handloads as well. Even Howard NZ's superlight shoots 95gr SSTs very well.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,69409.msg424720.html#msg424720

And Mitchell's shoots both big and small very well.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,102600.msg1098280176.html#msg1098280176

That's why I thought there may be something to the recent post on a slightly slower twist rate on some .243s.

For the most part, with any H&R caliber, pick the right bullet/load and it will shoot very well, the only caliber that I can specifically say is accurate with just about any load is the .45-70, very few, if any complaints about it, for any reason, mechanical or otherwise.

Tim

[billy_56081]

   My 22" 45-70 will shoot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yerds if I can stand it off the bench.

[quickdtoo]

   My 22" 45-70 will shoot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yerds if I can stand it off the bench.

Many will do that at 100yds!!

Tim

[Swampman]

.45-70s usually shoot very well.  I like any of the rimmed cartridges.

[safetysheriff]

because of the two-piece stock design, and the manner in which the barrel is locked-up to the standing breach, and because of peoples' reactions to recoil.......i'd expect a heavy-barrel'd Handi' in a lightly-recoiling caliber to generally offer the greatest potential for accuracy to distances of maybe 300 yards or a little more.   beyond that it could become a factor of the wind drifting a bullet, etc.etc.etc.    then i'd expect something a little heavier in a projectile to take over.   


i'd think that the .223 and the .204 would probably offer the ultimate in a Handi' at relatively short ranges.   

ss'