I am planning to buy a 22 cf carbine. I want good accuracy in light weight package. The goal is a 6lbs gun, including light wt scope, and shooting 1/2 moa with some factory load (if I can get lucky)

One option just occurred to me might be the H&R youth Handi Rifle, restocked. I have some friends claim around 1 moa from calibers like 243 (youth) and 7mm08 (ultralight). I don't think any made a serious effort to look for the best load. Although claims of accuracy are often exaggerated. Is it realistic to hope to beat that in a 223 with trying all available factory loads?

How critical is the hold. Does attachment hurt/help accuracy of these guns? I would use a youth plastic forarm. As you know, all the H&R for arm bolt direct to the barrel. The (choate) plastic youth forarms also apply pressure against the frame.

Keep the barrel cool and the Superlights will shoot great 3-shot strings with nothing more than minor forend fitting so it's not too tight and floated or fully bedded. The 223 will be take a bit longer to warm up than the 243 Superlight. I've got a 243 Superlight that shoots the first two rounds almost touching, then the third round opens the group to 1½" with all shooting done in less than a couple minutes. I have another 243 that I had rebored and chambered to 260 Rem, it shoots exceptional 3-shot groups at 100yds with 130gr Berger VLDs, nothing more done than floating the forend. It weighs 6lbs-7oz with Leupold VX-II Ultralight 3-9x33 in lapped extra low Burris Zee rings mounted on a modified Weaver #62 base for an even lower profile, hammer is an old style low spur with a Win M94 hammer extension.

Complete information on accurizing tips for H&R firearms can be found in the FAQs in the H&R Centerfire Rifle forum at GBO.

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/i...php/board,126.0.html

I have owned 3 of them . One of them shot alright, and two shot pretty bad. I had one in 223. The throat was unbelievably long, and therifle shot a 2" or so group at 100 yards. The other two were 17 HMR's. They would do a five shot group of about 1-1/2" at 100 yards. Some groups were better. But when measuring groups you need to average what you are capable of shooting, and you need five shots. Regardless of how fast you fire. If you really want them tight then take a lot of time between shots. But three shots is just not enough.

You are asking a lot for a $200 rifle to shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards. Expect to be disappointed. Cooper offers a 1/2" guarantee and they are a single shot??

Open your expectations up to about an inch group(or slightly larger), and stay away from their 223. Or at least the few that I saw, as I said their throat was verrryyyyy llooonnnngggg. Tom.

In a word, yes, you can get extremely good accuracy from the Handi-Rifles. I have a Hornet converted to a K-Hornet. With 10 grains of the now departed AA2200 Data powder and out of the box Winchester 55s, it shoots to one hole at 100. Play with the rifle, assuming you handload, and get it to shoot for you!

I picked up a youth version .223 a couple months ago. My one time out with it, just shooting cheap wolf ammo was around 2"

I'll work on it a little bit, but I'll be happy with 1 1/2" groups to be honest. Would like to find a decent cheap replacement stock for it.

All I wanted is/was a cheap truck gun

This is what I have used on the ultrlight slug gun. I believe same vendor as used by H&R. They have a matching for arm, but if you got the youth synthetic then you have that same for arm already.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewp...productnumber=791343

Choate, H&R monte carlo (for scope) butt stock at Midway.

I will not be happy with 2" groups and I do want a 223 - so; I now am thinking about a CZ527. I want short, light AND accurate.

Thanks for the heads up on the stock

If you didn't catch it, my reference to a 2" group was with the cheap wolf steel cased FMJ ammo.

My normal length of pull is closer to 14" so the youth stock doesn't help much trying for any group sizes either.

But also as mentioned, I just wanted a cheap truck gun and that's what I have. Shooting a skunk or coon at 20-50 yards I really don't need a 1/2" gun, although I sure wouldn't complain.

I've owned and sold probably two dozen or so of these guns, and still have a couple. Accuracy has varied from outstanding to atrocious. Definitely more good ones than bad ones.

When accuracy testing, the type and placement of your forearm rest seem to be critical. They seem to shoot their best when the forearm is rested very close to the hinge pin. A poor man's free-floating-barrel job, achieved with a rubber washer under the forearm screw, may be helpful. I've had at least a few that could produce sub-3/4MOA accuracy with nothing more than load development...but at least a few that were total dogs.

The Graybeard Outdoors forum has a sub-forum devoted to these guns, and peopled with some VERY devoted H&R fans. Loads of good information, freely dispensed, and well worth checking out if you have a DIY inclination.