Author Topic: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)  (Read 1181 times)

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Offline ronp

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new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« on: October 17, 2008, 09:14:42 AM »
Hi all.  I am new here and this is my first post.  Except for a .22, I have never owned a rifle until now,  though I have hunted on and off for 30 years. I now have a NEF .243 stainless steel rifle.  It's a pretty cool little rifle.  What about the scope mount?  I have a low power scope that I used on a black powder gun that doesn't fit this .243. It sits too low and I cannot cock the hammer. What do I need?  And can any one recommend what cartridges I should start with?  And can I just shoot it or do I need to break in the barrel?  I am in no hurry and again, I am clueless about this rifle, or any rifle, so any advice is appreciated.  Now I am gonna grab my longbow and go sit under a tree.  Oh, I got a nice doe this morning with my muzzleloader, so I treated myself to this new rifle.  Make sense?  Didn't to the better half either...so I will be asking for advice later on how to get on out of the dog house!
ronp.

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2008, 10:00:37 AM »
just get a higher/taller set of scope rings and your scope should fit just fine. It sounds as if you may have the low lings on it now. Most scopes will fit on Handirifles with medium rings, if you have to go to high/tall rings no problem. Cheap and easy....<><....:)
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2008, 10:15:30 AM »
Welcome aboard Ron!   What MSP said, and if you spend a little time reading in the FAQs and Help sticky, you'll find that question answered and a whole lot more answers that help you get the most out of the new 243. For ammo, start with the least expensive you can find, right now both Remington and Federal have rebates which helps a lot, the 80gr Rem Core-lokts shoot real good in one of my 243 H&Rs, another likes the 100gr Power-shoks and the 95gr Fusion. You may have to shoot several different loads to find what it likes, and following the break-in info in the FAQs may speed that process up and save you some ammo $$ and range time.  ;)

Hope this helps,

Tim
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Offline petemi

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2008, 10:48:27 AM »
What the others said is totally correct, but I wouldn't use a low power scope on a .223.  It can shoot a long way and you need to see the same distance.  I'd put the low power power on the shelf to save for later use and get a 3-9 or better for that rifle with medium rings, or possibly high rings for a 50 mm objective lense.  Just MHO.  Why don't you just go out and buy a pistol caliber barrel to add to that rifle to "use up" that scope. ;) ;) Welcome, Pete
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The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
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Offline lostarrow

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2008, 11:32:32 AM »
As far as a scope & mount try a weaver type base & medium rings with a 2X7 32mm or a 3X9  40mm. Although I don't buy cheep scopes their is a point of diminishing returns on spending on scopes. I like the bushnell elite 3200 series as a great mid priced scope. There is a hammer extender that allows you easier cock your scoped handi

Offline LaOtto222

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2008, 11:33:32 AM »
Yep; get higher rings. The Handi takes some tall ones, especially if the end of the scope falls over the hammer. Save your money and get the best scope you can afford. After you decide on what scope you are going to use, then you will get a better idea of how high the rings will have to be. Many folks buy the high, or extra high, but again it is scope dependent. If you are going to use it for both hunting an varmints, a good 3X - 9X as Petemi has suggested is a good scope as far as power. If you are going to use it strictly for varmints you may want a variable up to 14X or 16X. Your 243 should kick considerably less that your smoke pole. Follow Quickdtoo's advice on ammo, it is good. There are many ways people break in their rifles. Some just take it out and start shooting. Some shoot - clean - shoot - clean for 5 rounds, then do the same thing for 5, five shoot strings cleaning between strings. You can sight in your scope while doing this to save some ammo. If I do not have a hand lapped barrel (Handi rifles are not), I like to polish the bore for a break in, but that is just my preference. Before I forget it, make sure you take the rifle apart and give it a good cleaning and re-lube with a light coating of quality oil. Read the FAQ all the way through, every tip. You will find tips such as keeping the latch/lug area free of oil and pulling the trigger all the way back when you pull it, among many others. It will take some time to do this, but it is very good reading. And welcome to GBO - some of the finest folks you could meet hang out here. Good Luck and Good Shooting
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Offline PigBoy Crabshaw

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2008, 03:59:01 PM »
Welcome Ronp. I've been lurking and posting here for about a year and was so impressed by what a lot for these fine folks know and the information shared that I went out and bought a Handi... At last! I'm very impressed with quality of folks here, unlike a a lot of other sites I've been on.  I still about one week away from getting ahold of it. Good groups to you. -gary
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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2008, 03:49:47 AM »
We need a section on the FAQ's on how to sell the gun to the wife.  THat seems to be a major oversight.  Mine can't tell one single shot from another. She still thinks my BC is my 12 gauge pardner that I had before we got married.  I just store the two in seperate locations. (believe it or not this works)
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Offline Tunaman

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2008, 04:48:25 AM »
We need a section on the FAQ's on how to sell the gun to the wife.  THat seems to be a major oversight.  Mine can't tell one single shot from another. She still thinks my BC is my 12 gauge pardner that I had before we got married.  I just store the two in seperate locations. (believe it or not this works)

I have three locations, Myself. I keep some at home, some ath the fishing camp and some at the hunting camp. I generaly prefer synthetic/stainless rifles but I have several that are not. I keep a few of each at home so that she gets used to seeing both styles. She cant tell the difference between a Lazzeroni and a Savage, so I am ok there. I bought a new rifle the other day and it has some great wood on it, which she noticed as soon as i walked in the door with it. She was even impressed with the wood. I sold this one to her as a great light kicking round for our daughter (257 BOB.) She made the comment that our daughter has quite a collection of Rifles at age 9, and went off to buy a new pair of shoes.

Offline Sourdough

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2008, 06:56:59 AM »
Took the wife to a gun show with me yesterday.  Found a gun I had been wanting for a while, so I broused along toward the gold dealers table, and let her look around.  Did not take her long to find a necklace she wanted.  She bought it.  I then steered her over to the table where the Savage gun I wanted was.  Soon as I picked up the gun, she pulled out the check book.  As she wrote the check she commented we need to stop at Gottschacks on the way home she needs another pair of shoes.

Tunaman:  For right now, get a set of rings and mount the shotgun scope.  Yes this gun has potential to shoot long ways, but not until you get to know it and are more comfortable with it.  To start out, for 100 yards and less the shotgun scope will do just fine.  Then after you get comfortable with the gun, save and get the best scope you can for this gun.  With a good quality scope, this gun can be a fine 300 to 500 yard shooter.  Most people never learn to shoot well enough to get the full potential out of a good set up like that.  It takes practice, practice, practice, and more practice, to reach that potential. 
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2008, 08:04:55 AM »
Sourdough has it right.  The most expensive scope in the world won't help if you don't spend alot of trigger time.  I think my wife has it backwards, she buys the shoes before I start looking at guns. :D  Either way, we both have more than we need, but not as many as we want. ;D  DP
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Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline ronp

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2008, 03:23:22 AM »
I'm going to see if I can post a photo of my Handi:


I mounted my lower power scope (1.5 - 4.5) after 5 trips to Gander Mt. for the correct high rings.  I guess the fifth time is the charm with them!  I will use this scope for a while while I get used to shooting this gun. I'm glad I took the rail off and brought it along because it wasn't tight.  Does anyone use anti sieze compound on the mounting screws to prevent them from freezing up, or should I use some thread locking stuff, or nothing?  I am going to try taking the rifle apart for an initial cleaning, as recommended.  I am a little hesitant as to how far I should take it apart.  I have never done it before.  Then maybe I will try to polish the bore a little.  Here is another pic.



Thanks everyone for the help.  This site seems to be a great source of information.
Ron

Offline petemi

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Re: new and afraid to shoot the thing!-)
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2008, 04:21:50 AM »
I use blue Lok-Tite on mine...............Hope I never need to take 'em off :D :D
Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.msg1098959491.html#msg1098959491