First Post, Need Help!! Update Day 2

[mikemarler]

Hello guys, first post here.  Just joined a couple of weeks ago when I purchased my first ever new SS Handi rifle .243 calibur.  I mounted a Bushnell 3200 elite scope that has been a wonderful scope on several other guns to it.  Today I took it to the range and the first 10 shots or so it was shooting high right.  Made several adjustments on the scope and it was making very little change.  Finally I got it in at the 30 yard range.  Moved to the 100 yard line and could not hit paper.  I finally got it close one time only to find the next couple of shots were way off.  What could I be doing wrong?  I have sighted in several new guns before and never had this much trouble with a gun.  I went through 2 boxs of Hornady V Max 58 gr. bullets and still have not got this gun under control.  I'm wanting to make this little gun my primary coyote gun.  Any suggestions??   Thanks, Mike

[gendoc]

welcome, read the faq's  lottsa gud stuff there 

[mikemarler]

WOW there was alot of info there!!!  I did not do any of the cleaning prior to shooting the gun like the faq section was talking about so maybe that could have been the problem.  I did clean it tonight after I got back and will see how it shoots.  I was also thinking it might be the small 58 gr. bullets that the rifle does not like.  Think I will also try some 95 or 100 gr bullets also and see what happens.

[gendoc]

also, let the barrel cool down after a few shots... and thats a wise idea to use some heavier
bullets.  try the remington 90gr cor-lokts.  they seem to do well for factory loads

[Lon371]

 Welcome to the board. Lots of good and smart guys here. If you can do it to a gun, they have
 
 When you clean your gun, make sure your latch shelf is completely dry. It is the piece on receiver that locks the barrel down. With pattern like you describe, I would recheck your scope base and rings. Also next time shooting, remove your forend and prop the gun close to the receiver(eliminates problems of the forend)

 Also read the post here   http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,192808.0.html  you may get a few tips. If you have your targets post up some Pict's. Will help diagnosis the problem sometimes. Good luck

Lonny

[Spanky]

Shoot heavier bullets.



Spanky

[mechanic]

Don't trust the scope rail that came on the rifle without tightening it first...don't ask me how I know........

[jjas]

Don't trust the scope rail that came on the rifle without tightening it first...don't ask me how I know........

I learned that lesson the hard way myself......

[wreckhog]

New handis are filthy with metal chips. I'd flush it and run some patches through.

[murphdog]

I second the suggestion to check your scope rail.  Had one that seemed tight initially, but it shot loose after a few shots.  I reattached it using loc-tite, and its OK now.
I wasn't sure what you meant by "can't hit the paper".  Do you mean it produces a very large pattern (inconsistent shooting)?  Or that it consistently places the bullets so far to the right (or whereever) so that you can't adjust the scope enough to get the shots on paper (misaligned scope rail).  I've also had that problem.  Solved it with Burris rings that have the offset plastic inserts. 
Duane

[mikemarler]

Last night I cleaned the gun real well and made sure the scope mounts were nice and tight.  Rechecked all my scope rings, etc.. Today I used Winchester 100 gr. sp with the rifle.  Got it shooting very nice as long as I gave cool down shots, a string of 3 without letting it cool and you could tell a difference by about 2 -3".  I had one bullet left and set a orange clay target on post at the 100 yard mark, took my time and put the round right through the center of the target!!!  Did not shatter the clay target like I thought it would have just a nice hole right through it.  If I can hit a clay target at 100 yards with it, think its going to make me a very fine coyote gun!!!  Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys.  Mike

[snapcrackpop]

Now you just need 3.2 more handis to be average!
Welcome to the addiction.

[briannmilewis]

In my short experience I had that happen to clay targets when my boys were shooting the 22 Hornet. If you can put it clean thru the center at 100 yards, that is great shooting in anybody's book, now, don't clean the barrel until your accuracy starts to go south, as many Handis like a dirty barrel best. We all know that is counter intuitive and hard to resist. Welcome and have fun.

[bobg]

   Are people really finding a lot of crud in their Handis?  I have or had one rifle and four shotguns. Nothing in any of them. The rifle looks like it was never fired. People are correct. Lots of good info in the FACs. New owners have to check that out.
     bobg

[petemi]

My new .45LC also came in clean as a whistle.........it aint no mo

Pete