500 S&W, Handi Rifle troubles

ahlsy

ahlsy

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A little east of the rockies
Went out to the range today with the new Handi rifle to try out some handloads. Started off with 440gr FNGC (Lee mould) in front of 7.0gr to 10.0gr of Trailboss.

About half of the rounds didn't fire on the first try. Very light firing pin strikes. All but one fired on the second try. Still showing a very light firing pin indent. I'm pretty sure the 500 headspaces off the rim, so, do I have a firing pin problem?

Second batch of handloads were the same bullet ahead of H-110. First shot with those was quite a bit snapier than the Trailboss loads but not more than expected.

What wasn't expected was the rifle opening up when the shot went off. My hand was nowhere near the release, so I didn't accidentally open it. The rifle seems unharmed, and this was a starting load (34gr of H-110), but with no one else at the range, I called it for the day (since there was no one to drive me to the hospital if it blew up on the next shot), but I was wondering if this has happened to others with Handi rifles.

Cheers
ahlsy
 
Did you close it with authority, i.e. are you sure it was securely and completely closed?

As for opening upon firing, some are known to do that sometimes under heavy recoil. It's not dangerous, but not something you want to tolerate. Quite a bit is said about that and its remedy on Grey Beards Forums for NEF/H&R Centerfires:

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/
 
I had a nef 17 that would have light strikes almost half the time. It wasn't defective it was just something to do with the transfer bar system. You need to pull the trigger farther back after it breaks. After I started following through with my trigger finger, my light strikes went away. Maybe it was just the gun though I'm not sure. As far as opening on its own, I have no clue. It should be sent back for waranty though.
 
From what I've gathered these problems are kinda common for that rifle, but I've also heard that they can be very accurate. Reduced loads in such a large case doesn't always have a happy ending, but to do it, I'd try Trailboss powder, in small amounts.
 
I don't see how it could be the reloads causing the problems, as the 500 headspaces on the rim. It shouldn't move forward to cushion the strike??

As for the rifle opening on firing, there was another post concerning oil on the lock up mechanism allowing the action to open. I'll look into that and try it again. The load I tried when it opened was pretty snappy (still just the starting load with H-110), but it seems to lock up tight. I can't open it by forcing it over my knee.

The first loads with Trailboss didn't cause it to open, so I'm thinking a good cleaning, and then try it again. This time with somebody else there. I'll be checking out that link to see if they have any advice as well.
 
ahlsy said:
I don't see how it could be the reloads causing the problems, as the 500 headspaces on the rim. It shouldn't move forward to cushion the strike??

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Click to expand...

I should have been more clear. What I was getting at was primer seating.....I've done that a time or two:p where the primer wasn't fully seated, and the first time the firing pin hits it, it has a light strike but doesn't go off. They always fire the next time (this was in a handgun, not a rifle).
 
Bought a used Handi in .22 Hornet once. Took a while to figure out why it shot 12 inch patterns at 50 yards with the bullets key holing. 24 cal bbls chambered for .22 Hornet don't work that well apparently.....
 
I have that exact rifle. I have experienced the light strikes, I can just about make it happen at will by slowly squeezing the trigger, if I pull it crisply it never happens. Never had the opening problem happen and I shoot full power loads all the time.
 
Had her out again on saturday. Same deal. A couple light strikes where I had to #### the rifle again and fire. And it opened up after almost every shot. These were starting loads using H-110 and the Lee 440gr FPGC cast. I have no reason to doubt the reloads, as each charge was carefully weighed. Primers are firmly seated about 5 thou below flush.
Carefully cleaned the mating surfaces on the latch to make sure they were free of oil. Closed the action firmly every time. This is starting to get frustrating.
I would take it back, but I'm the second owner, having bought it unfired, from the original owner. How is the warranty service in canada?
 
What brass are you using? You may be required to use large rifle primers as the primer pockes are to deep, causing your large pistol primers to seat to deep.

Just an idea and common problem with some 500 S&W brass.

Good luck
 
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