New to me Handi Rifle at the range today

[WebMonkey]

ok, some backstory
my wife had a raccoon tear up her quail and chickens so she wanted something to dispatch it with.
something other than her snub nosed 38spl that is.

I let her use my old stevens 94C .410 with a cree light clamped to the barrel.
after a few test shots and learning how to eject the shell where she wanted them to go, she was happy.
the raccoons were not. (I slept just fine though)


fast forward.
now we are planning to move out to the rec property for good and she wants something for coyotes that might mess with her goats.
already comfortable with the old single shot .410 so what do I do you ask?

I find this handi rifle in .223 sitting at the pawn shop.
just about the same size and 'feel'.
sweet!
it doesn't even have the heavy or bull barrel to weigh it down!
it came with this simmons scope with red lettering on it.
I don't know anything about simmons scopes but it fit better than the scope I had at the house (bsa sweet .223 clunker).

range time.

can't say enough about the range I use.
it is taken care of by the Missouri conservation department and is a dandy.




the above were taken previously.
I like to ride out and pick up brass every now and then.


shooting tulammo 55grn fmj just to see what's what.
plastic coffee can for a rest (also what I put recovered brass in)

the above is sighting adjustments at 25yds

above is the first 100yd 3 round group

above is the last 100yd 3 round group.
sweet.

anyway, the rifle shoots better than I do.
I was very pleasantly surprised with the trigger pull.
it is light. I had read many people doing/getting trigger jobs but this trigger is really not bad at all.

no failure to fire, no stuck cases, just a real nice time with the little handi.
it is a NEF model with serial starting with NW

coyotes beware, the wife has some range now!

'monkey

[gpidaho]

WebMonkey: That is one NICE range! Nice find on the 223 Handi, should be just the ticket for your wife. I love my Handi's, I have them in eight different calibers and would have bought a couple more if they hadn't stopped making them. Cabela's mail flyer has some CVA single shots of interest, 460 S&W is the next purchase for me in single shots I believe as I already have all the dies and moulds for 454 Cassul. Have fun at that range. Gp

[runfiverun]

umm about the single projectile sign..
does that mean you can't change bullet brands during the day's visit?

[WebMonkey]

1.
http://mdc7.mdc.mo.gov/applications/...on=&txtDoveMap=
there are 4 'stations' out there.
25,50,100,200
each setup the same.
no fees or sign up/in etc.

yes, I got the single shot bug too late to 'collect' with any thrift. though this .223 was cheaper than I expected.
I'd take a cva rifle in .357 if they decide to put one out. they have the pistol but not the rifle.

2.
single projectile
made me laugh.
unfortunately, even with the signs clearly posted, I see a few wads on the ground and tore up target holder 2x4s every now and then.
hope they don't ruin everything just to shoot some shotgun shells.

I've got plenty of room just down the road at the rec property but NOTHING setup for an easy day of range shooting.
I'm very thankful that our conservation department sponsors this range.

'monkey

[GhostHawk]

Now you just need to do some load development to see what that girl really likes.

Mostly I am using mine as centerfire .22lr replacement, 55 grain bator boolit, no gas check, 4.5 grains of Red Dot.
Sounds about like a .22 but better at range and cheaper to shoot.

[Texas by God]

Neat! Keep the chamber brushed clean and it will be- handy. I wish I'd picked up a .22 Hornet and a 45-70 when they were reasonable. My sister in law has a 30-30 Topper with a mannlicher forend and it's a shooter. Get a donkey for 24/7 goat protection. Best, Thomas.

[JavelinaBlanco]

umm about the single projectile sign..
does that mean you can't change bullet brands during the day's visit?

I think it means you have to retrieve your projectile, melt, recast, and reload in order to fire more than once. Remember to mark it with a sharpie in order to identify it.

[Walks]

I have a similar setup, usually keeps 3 rds in about an inch & half. But stay away from that cheap, dirty, nasty russian ammo. Don't use it for any reason. No matter how cheap it is. I've seen 5 guns blown up in as many years at the 2 ranges I visit here in SoCal.

[Redleg11b]

Those H&R/NEFs are great guns for the money. I have a .357, a 30-30 (currently trying to swap for a more varmint friendly caliber), and two 20 gauges. The rifles will both shoot sub MOA when I am having a good day, and the 20s are a hoot to shoot. I also have a youth model 22LR that goes along on camping trips because it breaks down and is accurate.

[WebMonkey]

I have a similar setup, usually keeps 3 rds in about an inch & half. But stay away from that cheap, dirty, nasty russian ammo. Don't use it for any reason. No matter how cheap it is. I've seen 5 guns blown up in as many years at the 2 ranges I visit here in SoCal.

sorry to hear you've had such bad performance from the Russian stuff.
that's pretty harsh.

I've been shooting combloc steel cased stuff for almost two decades without anything like that.
'monkey

[northmn]

Bought one recently in 243 as it was very inexpensive. They had a floor model and brought out a box. I asked to look at the rifle as I have heard some bad things about new rifles. The first one in the box would not open and close properly. The clerk, a very experienced shooter, tried to oil it, and gave me another one which works well. The rifle is a very fun rifle to shoot. I found it to be accurate with the 100 grain bullets and may even try to shoot a deer with it. Something kind of fun about these single shots. Needs more work if I try to shoot varmint bullets in it. Bought it for a tractor/4 wheeler gun.

DP