Erratic 243 New England Handy Rifle

[david wynns]

I need help with a 243 cal. single shot handy rifle w/ lite barrell (20" barrell). The gun shoots very erratic. I have changed out the scope and still shoots erratic. So it is not a scope issue. Any suggestions on this problem would be greatly appreciated????

[Duffy]

Funny, I have experienced similar issues. I'll be interested to see what others say, too.

[skeet]

It is probably a forend issue. The heavier bbl rifles usually shoot fairly well but the light bbls are affected by the forend lockup and fit. Fixing the problem is usually, I regret to say, hard and time consuming.

[Rocky Raab]

Welcome aboard Hunt Chat, David.

Can you help us with symptoms? Is it a group-size issue? If so, describe. How are you shooting these groups? Bags, rest or what? Were you using factory or handloaded ammo?

I'm certain somebody here can help you.

[david wynns]

ok, so is this a problem that is correctable? What about reducing velocity? I would really like suggestion on how to rectify this erratic shooting on this 243.... is there an easy way to shim the stock of barrell? What about recrowning???????

[bigkevmorgan]

hey dave go bellm's tc check out the section on headspacing in break action guns! might find some answers there !they're a great group & will help in any way .....will double check the web and post it here in a few... yes its bellm's tc .com alot of good info & reading there

[Baylian]

Dave,

I had this problem with my .270 last summer. Go to the Field and Stream web site. Look up the article called Group Therapy. The author goes through several different scenarios and identifies what the problem is. A lot of guys here gave me different advice. It all boiled down to not holding the foreend and it bouncing too hard off the foreward sandbag. You could also look at the posts in Groupings? HELP! in the rifle group.

Waidmannsheil, TJ

[jmarriott]

Try without the wood forstock.

In tc contenders thats the first place i check. Match grade barrels normally have added hangerbar systems to sort of free float the barrel. Since this is not a t/c product check the manual to see if you can shoot without the forstock.

Check for positive lockup on the barrel and frame, Loose or real tight are both bad.

Handi rifles are famous for bad triggers but they can adjust them if you send it back to them for free.

I hear they are responsive on accuracy issues also so if you can't get it to work out call them.

The only other quick item might be to buy a box of remmington core lok 100 grains. I know a fellow range shoooter who gets about 1 1/2 inch groups out of his handi- rifle with them. I think that the accuracy average for a 243 handi- rifle. Put 85 grain bullets in it and the groups open up large.

[david wynns]

thanks for the suggestions. does anyone have a hand load for a 243 handi rifle with a lite barrell, youth model????? this might give me some insight to my erratic shooting problem. does downloading help when you have accuracy problems??? what is the twist? is it 1" - 12"?

[L. Cooper]

Only contribution I can make is to say that downloading does not necessarily improve anything. My son's .243 shoots better as loads get hotter. I don't know what the gun will do (it's a bolt action) because we got pressure signs that forced us to stop experimenting and back off. But *hot*loads shoot best in his.

Another .243 I load for does not seem to like low pressure, but group size with a couple of loads is smallest just below published maximums.

I don't think there is any rule. Hot, mild, medium may all shoot, or may not. Experimentation is the only way to know.

Just as encouragement, I have found very few rifles that couldn't shoot SOMETHING well. It was just a matter of finding that load.

[Jack]

A very simple trick that often helps group size when shooting from the bench with any 2 piece stocked rifle- move the rest back until it is under the action. That way, the rest isn't putting any pressure on the forend.
Doesn't always work, but it can sometimes give major improvements in group size from the bench.
IMO, the very LAST thing to worry about in a factory barrel is twist rate- factory barrels are designed to shoot any factory load out there, and will have a twist rate appropriate to do so.

[moneychanger]

take off the foreend and place an o-ring around the housing the screw drives into. not sure this will do it ,if not call nef.
by the way what size bullet you shooting?

i'm about to start reloaading for this caliber & i'll probably go with imr4350.

good luck, dan.