Superlight barrel?

[Roy D]

Hi guys, have a question I am hoping you can give me an answer to. My son has a Handi-Rifle in .243 that just won't group to my satisfaction. It has synthetic stocks and a 20" barrel. I have read that there was a problem with the accuracy of the superlight barrels they turned out. My question is, makes me feel kinda dumb, how do I tell if I have one?

I have another Handi in the same caliber with a 22" barrel and they are totally different. The barrel in question tapers dramaticaly after the chamber, but it is no different in diameter than my sporter weight ruger barrel.

I have changed the rings and lowered the scope as far as I can. It has a Simmons 8-point scope on it. We got two of them that day. One of them went on a gun I have that I knew the capabilities of. That one has since been thrown in the woods and replaced. I do not have any confidence in this scope and plan to replace it soon and try it out again. Replacing the scope and barrel is about all I haven't done. I've tried every trick you guys have posted in this forum and nothing has helped.

It's really bugging me because this is an otherwise perfect gun, just trying to figure out what barrel is on it. Just for reference, it will hardly keep  shots on a 8x11 shet of paper at 100yds. I know it's not me.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[coop2564]

I have same gun and same problem. I've sent it in to them twice they send it back with a nice shrunk down pic of a clover leaf group. When I shoot it 4 to 6" I gave up! Good luck!

[Hunternz]

Hi, I have the superlight .243 and sounds like you do, 20" long tapers quite quickly, reloads with hornady 95gr sst bullets  and ADI ar2213sc and I have  3shot groups of 1" to 1.5" at 100yds, Only modifications to the rfle is a lightened trigger and epoxyed the forend for tight fit to the barrel stud. It took some time and a heap of load testing to come up with a sucessful load,
regards Howard.     

[LaOtto222]

You definitely have a Superlight barrel - they are 20" long and taper down very quickly just beyond the chamber...as you described. They can be picky about what they like. I do not have one - but there are several members that have reported on theirs. Try some lighter bullets - under 90 grains. For some reason 243 Handis do not seem to like heavier bullets. The plastic fore end can be hard to get dialed in too. Remove the fore end and shoot it rested under the frame. If the problem goes away, there is a good chance the fore end needs work. The plastic fore ends are a little harder to make adjustments to. Once you find the right combination, it can shoot in the 1" - 2" range at 100 yards. I would; #1 replace the scope with a known reliable one or purchase a scope of the best quality you can afford. Then; #2 find a load that is in the 80 - 85 grain range. If it going to be used for deer, get a heavily constructed bullet for deer. If it going to be used for varmints, get an even lighter bullet. If you find the gun still does not shoot, try removing the fore end. If it shoots better, then I would try to find out what is causing the fore end to effect your shot. You might try to bed the fore end to the stud as Hunternz has done. Some times the fore end will be tight on one side and have a gap on the other side. More than likely with a Superlight barrel you are going to have a large gap on both sides, my 22 Hornet Superlight does. If so, then that will not be a problem, but maybe if you put up pressure at the fore end tip, would be helpful. I know doing this on a plastic fore end is going to take some doing, but it might help. Do not forget to examine the crown. Some times the crown can be bad, even if it looks OK. Mine came from the factory with a large scratch right across the crown. There is a do it yourself crown job described in the FAQ. A trigger job is easy to do and is described in the FAQ. With the groups you are getting, I do not think a trigger job is going to be much help unless it is very bad. Trigger jobs can shrink groups, say from 2" down to 1.5" or so - on those lines, but no down from 8" to 1". Good Luck and Good Shooting

[rickt300]

I had the same scope you have and it cost me around $60. in ammo before I figured it out and tossed, worst new scope I have owned.

[Roy D]

Thanks for all the info guys. I found out what I needed to know.

I reckon I'm just gonna have to put a new scope on it and see what happens. If that doesn't fix it, I'll just have to get another barrel I guess. I have floated the front end, it was touching on one side all the way down the length of it. I've cleaned everything I could as best I could. The trigger is good and crisp with about 3 1/2 pounds of pull, fine for a 12 year old.

I am suspecting the major culprit is the scope. The one I had didn't even make it through one box of shells befpre it started flingin shots everywhere. I have never been more disappointed in a scope. I know that you get what you pay for, but I paid for a little more than what I got.

He has never missed a deer with it, but all of his shots have been 25 yards and under. He is going to hunt on his own this year and needs I want his equipment to be in order.

Thanks for all the info.

[JonnyC]

Try waiting until the barrel really cools between shots. They heat up fast and throw patterns.

[geezer56]

I have one that I have fooled with a bit.  Same deal with the stud, bedded it with Devcon.  Made sure the rest of the forearm was floated the rest of the way.  It has a Sightron scope mounted.  With my loads in full length sized cases, 100 gr Rem. corelok bullets, Win primers, it will do about 1.5-2 in. groups at 100 yds.  IF and ONLY IF you give it 4 or 5 min between shots.  Just loading and shooting, the first 2 almost touch, the third walks up and right.  For a hunter, it's fine.  Lighter to carry, easier to swing and move around, accurate enough to deer or coyote hunt for sure.  I think it would be beyond frustrating in a PD town though.  It doesn't like heat in the barrel at all.  It is accurate as all get out from a cold barrel though.  I wouldn't hesitate at all on a LW barrel if it is for a deer gun.

[quickdtoo]

I have two 243 Superlights, one hasn't been shot yet, the first one shot so good I bought another so both my grandsons will have one when they're old enough. The other will put the first two 100gr Speers next to each other and the third hits high and opens the group up to 1½" at 100yds, all shot within about 2 minutes. This is with Stimpy's 31gr H4895 load, the forend has been floated with a nylon pillar as described in SYNTHETIC FOREND FLOATING in the FAQs.

Tim

[Roy D]

Try waiting until the barrel really cools between shots. They heat up fast and throw patterns.

Waited about 10 minutes between shots. It was as close to a stone cold barrel as it could be. There was never any gaurantee where the first shot would go. It was completely random as to where it would put a bullet.

[Roy D]

I picked up a cheap Tasco last night and put it on. Tokk it out today and shot it, with good results.

The first two were about 3/4 inch apart. I adjusted the reticle and let the barrel cool. Fired a three shot group real quick and it grouped right at 1 1/2 inches at 100 yds.

I guess the scope was the culprit all along. Thanks for the advice.

[quickdtoo]

 

[stimpylu32]

Roy D

Now if you want to turn it into a nice light VARMINT rifle for him , here you go . Use a 58 grain Hornady V-max over 42 grains of IMR 4895 , this load gives me just under 3/4" at 100 yards in my Superlite barrel .

stimpy