I am part owner in a gunshop in Indiana. I sell many H&R rifles, especially the pistol calibers that can be used for deer hunting. Indiana allows the use of a pistol caliber rifle, with certain restrictions, to hunt deer. The H&Rs are popular due to the low cost, and accuracy. I have had some problems related to these rifles. One issue was with a 500 S&W chambered rifle that locked up when it was fired during sighting in a scope. The rifle was replaced. In the last week I have had two 204 ruger chambered rifles brought back where accuracy has decline. One rifle is 3 months old and in the beginning it was very accurate. Now, it "sprays" bullets all around a target even when attached to a sled.
The second 204ruger is all over the target too. In fact, the target shows signs of bullets tumbling. The bullet that finally hit the target indicate they entered sideways. This rifle was attached to a sled to see if there was a problem.
I verified the customers had maitained their respective rifles, cleaning, lubing, and etc. I installed new scopes, ones that were known to be good, and the problems still existed. I have yet to contact H&R, because I wanted to exhaust all variables. Has anyone had similar experiences?
Indy
I have a Handi-Rifle chambered in 22-250 that my gunshop reamed the chamber out to a Ackly Improved, its a Groundhog killer!!! Sounds like a problem within the last few years, meaning that those two chamberings .500, and the .204 are recent chamberings. I was wondering Indy, where is your shop? I get to Indianapolis 5-6 times a year and I'm always looking for a good place to look for guns, I'm close to Ft. Wayne.
__________________ Alcohol Tobacco Firearms
Should be a convenience store, not a government agency!
You don't mention the weight of the bullet,whether they are handloads or factory,and at what range they keyholed.Handloads are usually not near as fast as their factory loads using special powder that is unavailable to us. I have heard of the .204 keyholing with "SOME" rifles when using 40gr or heavier bullets.I have also heard of 40gr and heavier that shot great at say 200/300yds but started keyholing at longer ranges when they lost velocity.At one time the only weights you could get were 32 and 40gr.I have a bolt action and a AR,both with custom 26" barrels with 1:12"twist and use 40gr bullets out to 500yds with no problems.I found one article that mentioned the 40gr bullets not stabilising.I have never tried heavier bullets but would assume there might be problems.I would check with the bullet co,s and see at what fps they stabilise and then see what velocity they are getting.I found one article that mentions stability problems.I put it on. ,,,sam. ,,,,.204 Overview
The guys who own the rifles do not reload, so it's only factory ammunition. Both use 32gr Hornady. The first man had great accuracy in the beginning...a coyote killer. The other is a grandfather who really purchased the rifle to teach his grandson how to shoot. He too uses 32gr Hornadys.
I have not shot the first rifle, and have asked to owner to clean the barrel with some strong copper solvent to eliminate any chance of a different answer. I shot the second rifle at 65yds with 32gr. Hornady ammunition, in a Cauldwell heavy sled. The 8 shot group was an extreme 8" to 9". The projectiles hit randomly all over the target, and it looks as though they went through the target sideways.
It troubles me that I keep hearing 40 and 45 grain projectiles have issues. I can't imagine a new cartridge having problems...did they fire any of these before they put the ammunition in production? Surely H&R tried a few.
My gunshop is in Mt. Vernon, IN. It's in the SouthWest corner of the state...pretty far from FT. Wayne. I wish you could stop in...always welcome.
Indy
Indy
I wanted to update this thread...I called H&R customer service. The lady was absolutely great and gave an address to ship the rifles. I will pass on information on the actions to come.
Indy
Here's a quote from a guy on another forum with accuracy problems in the .204. I hope it might help.
Pete
ok first off the lite bullets are the worst out of the .204 ultra varmint
45 gr soft points are the only bullet that the gun likes.
i bought it new at a gun shop feb. 04 2010
the first bullets thru it were 32 gr v-max boat tails used to try to sight it in
it dont seem to me it would make a difference in what gr bullet the gun would like or dis like by what is the first bullet out of it.even with the fore arm is off it makes no diff.
i was told to stick with the 34 or36 gr the 40 dont do well these do not even fly,even to say poorly would be a under statement. i would need a couple of 4x8 sheets of ply wood just to say i can hit the target at 50 yrds
but i put the 45 gr back in and presto i can hit pop caps at 100 yrds it seems to be backwards from what i am told by everyone who shoots one. it would not be so bad if the 45 gr hornady were not back ordered sense feb of this year as i like (ok love) to hunt and shoot. what to do? send it back what do i tell them? it only likes 1 bullet and it is back ordered.any help or advise would be greatly apreshated
the barrel is 24 in. heavy fluted blued if that matters ser, hx 35xxxx
Send it back and tell them about your accuracy problem.Heavy/long bullets don't stabilise in a slow twist but lighter/shorter bullets should stabilise in a faster twist.Both of my .204,s.Both have Douglas Supreme varmint class barrels,one is bolt action and the other is on a Bushey AR.Both have had only 40gr vmax through them and have about 400/500rds apiece through them and shoot excelently to 500yds+.Have only been around a few H&R,s and they shot very good. ,,,sam.
