« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Handi-Rifle in .243  (Read 985 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Old Grizz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
  • Gender: Male
Handi-Rifle in .243
« on: January 29, 2008, 12:11:06 PM »
I have a chance to buy a new Handi-Rifle in .243 for 150.00. Any pro's or con's concerning this rifle. I will probably use it for "yotes" but could double for deer. And no, I don't have a choice in calibers. Thanks for your help.
Logged
Marlin 1895G Rules
45-70
Member Team Hornady
Life Member NRA
Member NAHC

Offline AZHoosier

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
  • An unloaded gun is just a CLUB!!
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2008, 12:25:09 PM »
I have a 243 that I'm currently working on which was a youth rifle which sports a 20" barrel. I have shot a three shot group at 100 yards at just a little over an inch using the hood of my Jeep as a rest. When I shot that group it had the original plastic for stocks. I now have put on a Gunstocks Inc thumb hole stock and expect great things from it. I have previously owned .243's and they are substantial for deer out to 200 yards and do a number on coyotes here in Arizona. At the price, I think your getting a super deal..... Good shooting.
Bill
Logged
I shoot first, and don't ask questions.

Offline Jal5

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (13)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1252
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2008, 12:37:16 PM »
That is a great price! I use mine for yotes and will try it on hogs for the first time this year. Ammo is readily available in stores almost everywhere and with a little work I understand for reloaders it is easy to load. You cannot go wrong for the purpose you intend with this round. Have fun.
Logged
S. G. G. = Sons of the Greatest Generation. Too old to run, too proud to hide; we will stand our ground and take as many as we can with us

Offline Trapper-Jack

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 195
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2008, 12:54:34 PM »
I have one and it is a great little rifle.  I've gotten deer with the .243 Winchester, just not with this rifle, but I have dumped several coyotes with my .243 handi and it will certainly do the job.  Loading with the heavier bullets I have gotten great results with powders like IMR 4350.  For that kind of money I don't think you can go wrong.
Logged
Thanks,
Trapper Jack

Offline Old Grizz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2008, 01:00:01 PM »
I have heard these are great rifles for the price. I have started to have a big problems with "yotes" this last year and the smallest caliber I have to use is a 30-30 with most of the shots at 200 yds +. I have taken some with the 30-30, but not an ideal caliber for these guys. I own losts of Marlins, but this will be my first H&R. I have a varmit scope I can put on it when I hunt those critters. Thanks for both of your replies. Maybe someday I can return the favor.
Fred
Logged
Marlin 1895G Rules
45-70
Member Team Hornady
Life Member NRA
Member NAHC

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2008, 02:07:07 PM »
Welcome aboard Fred! ;) If it's the 20" barreled Superlight, it can be very finicky to find great accuracy, they heat up fast opening the group up quickly. But the standard contour and bull barrels can be very accurate with the right load. I have two of the 24" bull barrel Ultras, one shoots Federal Power-shok 100gr well under an inch at 100yds, the other is new and only seems to like lighter bullets, 80gr Rem factory shoots acceptable 1¼"-1½" groups, haven't found a handload that shoots as good yet. I also have a 20" 243 Superlight, with handloaded 100gr Speers and H4895, it shoots the first 2 rounds almost touching, then the third opens the group up to 1½"-2", that's 3 round fired in 2 minutes at 100yds.

If the used 243 you're looking at is an ejector barrel, it may need a chamber polishing to eliminate sticking rounds, the 243 is bad for that, if it's a later model with an extractor, not an issue.

Please check out the FAQs and Help sticky, lots of great info in there that you'll want to read. ;D

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline tgschu18

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2008, 02:34:36 PM »
I have a 243 and just love it.  I need to lighten the trigger up a little bit but it shoots great with 58 grain v-max bullets groupings are about 1 inch.  Good Luck
Logged

Offline MSP Ret

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (173)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8940
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2008, 02:47:19 PM »
I am not a fan of the .243 caliber although I did recently buy a .243 barrel to try on one of my Handi's. However for that price I would snap it up as a gift for a hunting buddy. I think it is a great price. I say buy it....<><....:)
Logged
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline Willie496

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2008, 03:19:25 PM »
That seems to be a great price.. I was looking in Cabela's today and they have a .243 handi on clearance used for $250.00
Logged

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2008, 03:25:31 PM »
Quote from: Willie496 on January 29, 2008, 03:19:25 PM
That seems to be a great price.. I was looking in Cabela's today and they have a .243 handi on clearance used for $250.00


You can get a new one with shipping and FFL fee for $260!

Tim

http://rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=GSB2343
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline AZHoosier

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
  • An unloaded gun is just a CLUB!!
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2008, 05:29:05 PM »
Quote from: Old Grizz on January 29, 2008, 12:11:06 PM
I have a chance to buy a new Handi-Rifle in .243 for 150.00.

If it really is a NEW gun, you better get it and run. Maybe even have it checked for stolen. $150 is certainly a steal!!!! I would have bought it yesterday if it were me...
Logged
I shoot first, and don't ask questions.

Offline Old Grizz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2008, 10:45:40 AM »
Yes it is a new gun, box and all and never fired. A friend of mine got it for CHRISTmas and doesn't like single shot rifles, so being the good friend I am I offered him 150.00 and he said yes. Tim, thanks for the welcome. This is a great website and I plan to spend some time on here. I am a levergun nut and the levergun section is my cup of tea. The ejector is a new style manual type. I understand they did away with the self ejector. I think this rifle has a 20" barrel and it's not a bull barrel. I guess it be a standard contour barrel but I won't see it untill this Sunday. Thanks for all your comments and help.
Fred
Logged
Marlin 1895G Rules
45-70
Member Team Hornady
Life Member NRA
Member NAHC

Offline njanear

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 207
  • Gender: Male
    • www.geocities.com/njanear13
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2008, 11:52:18 AM »
Quote from: Old Grizz on January 30, 2008, 10:45:40 AM
Yes it is a new gun, box and all and never fired. A friend of mine got it for CHRISTmas and doesn't like single shot rifles, so being the good friend I am I offered him 150.00 and he said yes. Tim, thanks for the welcome. This is a great website and I plan to spend some time on here. I am a levergun nut and the levergun section is my cup of tea. The ejector is a new style manual type. I understand they did away with the self ejector. I think this rifle has a 20" barrel and it's not a bull barrel. I guess it be a standard contour barrel but I won't see it untill this Sunday. Thanks for all your comments and help.
Fred

Sounds like you got a great deal, even for an 'extractor' model  ;)

Welcome to the board - and great taste in leverguns too (my M1895G is my favorite thumper  8)).
Logged
Njanear 
    12B/21B - Combat Engineer, the way to B           1985 - 1996 GaARNG
Atlanta, GA

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2008, 12:08:23 PM »
The 20" barrel would be the Superlight, standard contour or bull is 22", be patient and it will come around with the right load. ;D

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline tvc15

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 185
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2008, 12:25:03 PM »
Stick with the lighter bullets and you will have a great time, Mine loved the V-max.   TVC15
Logged

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2008, 12:43:17 PM »
You'll have to find you own best load, I'd recommend the 95gr-100gr first, far more 243 H&Rs have been reported to shoot them better than the lighter bullets, I have three 243s, a Superlight that shoots 100gr Speer handloads(Stimpy's H4895 load) very well for the first couple shots, almost touching at 100yds, the 3rd opens the group up to 1½-2" if shot quickly. The other two are 24" Ultras, they also like heavy bullets, the 95gr Fusion and 100gr Power-shoks both shoot 1" or less, and those two factory rounds are probably the most popular factory 243 loads, along with the Win Supreme 95gr Ballistic Silvertips. Mitchell's 243 Ultra shoots handloaded 55gr and 95gr Ballistic Silvertips under ½", same for the factory 95gr Win ammo.

Some have been happy with the 85gr Federal Permium ammo and 80gr Rem Core-lokts, the 80gr Rems shoot fair in one of my Ultras, but are poor in the other and the Superlight.

Howard NZ shoots handloaded 100gr SSTs in his Superlight, he's killed a bunch of deer sized game with it in New Zealand.  :)

So be sure to be open minded when you're looking for a load, specially for the Superlight. ;)

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline jamers

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Gender: Male
  • Still Crazy But No Longer Breathless!
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2008, 06:15:33 PM »
   Guess I'm a goner! Just love that .243 with it's 24 power optics!! Just sent the action back to NEF for a FREE trigger job .They will only take it down to 3.5 lbs but that will be better than the 1997 factory setting of 6 lbs.

               I was lucky enough to find a Weatherby Deluxe Mark V  30-06 with Weatherby optics for $550.00.This gun cost close to  2 Grand new!
                It sure looked lonely on the shelf so I gave it it a new home as it told me it wasn't happy in its past life! .It will be my Wallowa County  Imnaha canyon country Elk Whistle! Should be awsome on those Side Hill Salmon.


                            He Who Hesitates Is Lost!
                           The best to all my Handi-holic friends!!   Still crazy but no longer BREATHLESS ....jamers
Logged
Let us reflect on what is truly of value in life,what gives meaning to our lives,and set our priorities on the basis of that.

Offline Willie496

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2008, 05:28:48 AM »
Will the factory do a free trigger job on any of there rifles? I am not sure what the H&R ultra varmint trigger is set at from the factory. I am sure it is not 3.5
That would really make a difference in my .243 ultra v.
Logged

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi-Rifle in .243
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2008, 05:41:02 AM »
Yes, they will if it's not already too light, they've been known to charge for it too when it's under 5lbs. But unless you're sending a frame in for accessory barrels at the same time, it's better to just do it yourself, it's very easy to do if you just take your time, please see the trigger honing info in the FAQs and Help sticky, many, many first timers have done it and have been extremely happy with the results. ;)

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »