Handi 243

[siamese4570]

Been thinking about a 243 barrel for my handi.  Have heard how finicky the 243 handis are.  Is that true for the bull barrel as well?

Siamese 4570

[ndindy]

Can't really comment other than to make sure you get a newer one.  Seems like most of the problems are with the older ejector style.  I've got one of the latter, and haven't gotten it set well enough that I trust it unfortunately.  Still too quirky.

I've got a newer 45/70 with a .223 barrel on it though, love that thing.

[billy_56081]

I think the only finicky handi 243 is the super light. Haven't heard much complaining on either the standard or the ultra barrels. My ultra shoot .5" 3 shot groups.

[gomerdog]

You take your chances with any new barrel, regardless of caliber. I have one of the older ejector superlite barrels and it was and is a bit finicky because of some funky headspace issues. But once I purchased a RCBS Precision Mic, I was able to produce much more accurate handloads. With those loads, I trust it completely. It's accurate and a pleasure to carry.

Jeff

[poncaguy]

My light 243 shoots better than my bull barrel 243, which I'm trading off this week.

[guzzijohn]

I have an ejector 22" bull in .243. 3-4 inch groups with preferred loads, up to eight inches with other loads.
GuzziJohn

[quickdtoo]

That needs to go back to H&R for repair if forend work won't help, their standard is 2" or better 3-shot 100yd groups with factory ammo.

Tim

[guzzijohn]

Quick,
What is the warranty period and can I expect them to pay shipping both ways? The way it is I guess you can say it is minute of deer. I just don't want to spend much money on shipping and/or have it gone for several months. If that is the case I would just as soon sell or trade it. Do you know what ammo the factory uses to declare that it shoots 2" or less? I have tried about a dozen combinations of factory brands and bullet weights and several reload combinations. Ironically the two best shooting loads have been Winchester 55gr. and Federal Fusion 90 gr (apparently bullet weights are not the answer). Since I do not care much for tinkering on my guns a Handi may just not be for me. Thanks for you assistance.
GuzziJohn

[quickdtoo]

Their warranty period is only 2yrs, but they've always been good about fixing older rifles, even the current owner, one member sent a second hand barrel in to be fitted earlier this year which they did, all he had to pay was shipping which I would expect they would want you to cover since it's an ejector which makes it a few years old. Have you read the Handi Basics 101, made sure the latch/shelf are clean and dry? Shot it without the forend? Those two things probably account for 90% of the problems and are easily fixed.

I have four H&R 243s, two Superlights and two Ultra bull barrels, they either like 90gr and lighter or 95gr and heavier, 95gr Fusions and 100gr Powershoks shoot good in one of the Ultras, the other liked 80gr Rems before I rechambered it to 6mmAI which shoots 87gr Vmax handloaded well under 1". The Superlights like 100gr Speers handloaded with H4895, 80gr Rem ammo shoots fair also, <2" as long as you don't shoot when the barrel is hot.  If you haven't done anything to the forend, I suspect it's too tight which is easy to fix on a wood stock, a little harder on the syn, but there are remedies for both in the FAQs that don't take much time, effort or skill.  I'd shoot it without the forend with the best shooting ammo, if it shoots good, the forend needs work, it shouldn't fit tight, just tight enough to stay on without the screw is where I start on a new rifle, usually that's all I need to do, usually a  pressure point added to the forend tip helps too. 

Tim

[guzzijohn]

I am aware of the need for a clean and dry latch and mine is that way. I have an o-ring in the forearm and have experimented a bit with tightness of the screw. I have not tried firing without the forearm, will do that. The rifle is good otherwise, ejects well and really does have a decent trigger. The next thing I need to try is to shoot it once at one target, let cool, clean as usual, do again to determine if I have a consistent first shot placement which is what really counts 90% of the time. At least now that I am reloading it does not cost near as much to screw around with it.
GuzziJohn

[quickdtoo]

That's the way I feel about it for a deer rifle, I only need one shot, possibly two at the most, the Superlights shoot the first two shots almost touching, but with barrel heat, the third shot is always away from the group, this is very common on H&Rs, more so on the lighter barrel contours. Good forend bedding and fit will cure it, but I've yet to feel the need to do a full bedding/pillar or anything extensive. Making sure the forend screw is tightened the same each time helps too, using a set screw loctited in the stud as a stop with help insure  the screw is tightened the same each time on a syn forend, not so much on a wood forend tho because it doesn't account for humidity affects on the wood.

Tim