Should I buy this Handi rifle?

Sounds good to me, but I only have one, an H&R Ultra Varmint in .223. I plan on getting more barrels soon.

Check out the Graybeards Outdoor NEF/H&R HandiRifle forums at http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html for the real experts.

I like mine, still working on warm/hot barrel accuracy, but it is a lot of fun to shoot.

that is a good price, and also, i would not worry about the pressure it can handle, I have seen them handle some pretty stout 45's, and do so with good accuracy.

They are great rifles. They go for about $200-$250 new, but each barrel goes for about $100. So $300 is a good price.

have to agree that its a good value

Yes, of course I stopped reading after "Should I buy"

Grab it. You're gonna love shooting the .22 Hornet. I love those little buggers.

The .45-70 will shoot hotter loads than you'll be able to tolerate out of the gun. Just don't get frustrated about the accuracy of the rifle. One day you'll go to the range and it will only print sub MOA groups. The next day it may shoot shotgun patterns. Handi rifles are like that. If all you're going to do is plink or hunt you won't notice though.

45-70

load to marlin levels. I have had one for years. one of the most accurate handi's I ever had.


steve

with that you would be loaded for bear ,woodchucks, deer etc.!

Don't dilly-dally. Buy it. Simple as that.

As Anteater1717 said, [copy&paste] "They are great rifles. They go for about $200-$250 new, but each barrel goes for about $100. So $300 is a good price." [/copy&paste] Basically, by that math, you're only really paying for the three barrels and they're giving you the reciever, stock, and forearm.

You're gonna love shooting the .22 Hornet. I love those little buggers.

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Agreed -- but it can be frustrating to develop an accurate load. Starting with a single shot may put you ahead, since you don't have to worry about keeping OAL short enough to feed through the magazine.

as far as the .45-70 I believe it will handle 1,2 or 3 loads. The only guy I know with one told me it's OK with level 1 (BP equiv/factory stuff) but it's a bear with the marlin/TC only level II's and that the really hot stuff will flat out hurt you (just too light a gun for it) and he's a longtime shooter/reloader I'd say stick to level I loads and stop shy of marlin/TC level loads. I had a .450 Marlin lever gun and really liked it but it was honestly a bit much unless you are some kind of serious bear hunter or timber elk/moose stalker. At the end of the day I decided if I handloaded it would be to turn it down to more moderate .45-70 type loads. So at the end of the day I just traded it off and plan to replace it with a .45-70 carbine at some point.

I would take the same money and get it in .223 and .308 in the survival model, then you have your 2 basic NATO rounds covered.

It just an OK deal - not great. The calibers are not mainstream so would be less desirable. The handi is plenty strong enough for the 45-70. The Hornet is fun and cheap to shoot. 30 - 30 - humm.

i think any 45.70 should be alright because they make a 45.70 in 500mag

IMO, it's not that .22Hornet, .30-30, and .45-70 aren't "mainstream" so much as some people who don't shoot those rounds have an impossible dream of seeing them die out. These are three good older cartridges we need to keep around.

.22Hornet is quieter than .223Rem/5.56mm and, from what I understand, good to 200yds while using the same bullets as .223. My understanding is it's economical to handload and got a lot of folks started handloading back in the day.

.30-30 is a great round with round-nose softpoint bullets. Load spitzer SP's special for that single shot and you can stretch the resonable effective range another 100yds. Best deer cartridge of all time IMO.

.45-70... what needs sayin'? You can custom load for this one easily too. Load you up some 405gr LFP's over 12grs of Unique or 18grs of 2400 and go for it. Be sure and use a piece of tissue paper over the 2400 though... according to some of my range buddies, 2400's a bit more position sensitive and needs to stay back on the primer for uniformity of pressures.

No, I think this is a great deal and if I were looking at it, it probably wouldn't take me more than about 5 minutes to make up my mind. BTW, some might say an individual's age has something to do with it... I'm 33 and I seem to disagree on this stuff with a lot of guys my age.

TargetTerror, You got one scope and three barrels. Which barrel are you mounting that scope to?

IMNSHO, .30-30 and .45-70 were just made to be shot with iron sights. .22Hornet could go either way, but then, I shoot everything I can with irons anyway.

.22Hornet could go either way, but then, I shoot everything I can with irons anyway.

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In my opinion, the modern .22 Hornet needs a scope -- my handloads drive a 35 grain Hornady V-Max to about 3000 fps, and shots at crows at 200 yards are not uncommon. That's a very difficult target with irons.

So I'd put the scope on the Hornet barrel.

I have a .357 handi and had a 30-30... I too was lulled by the so so not a popular cartridge club and I have been kiking myelf ever since. I gave 200.00 for two seperate handy's with scopes and sold the 30-30 before I shot it for 125.00 thinking the 75.00 I had in the 357 was just great. That was years back though and before the net and realizing how good the 30-30 is in that gun. I think that gun is a great truck gun. Varmits or deer midrange. The .357 is fun and cheap to shoot. I want a 45-70 one of these days and a .223...

Enjoy that gun and have fun with it.

You have probably already found this out, but if the barrels don't have the last 3 digits of the receiver serial number electro penciled on the left side of the barrel lug, then they are NOT factory fitted. That being said, as long as they lock up tight with a minimum of side to side play, they are perfectly safe to shoot . If you have doubts I strongly suggest you check out the Handi Rifle forums over at graybeardoutdoors.com They have TONS of info there on how to fit barrels that don't lock up right as well as several other mods for accurizing your handi and a very good HOW TO for making that 4# trigger a super slick 2½#. Btw I think you did GREAT the barrels will bring around $100 each and those are probably 3 of the top 5 most sought after calibers. As for the 30/30, in my opinion its the best one you got, and if you don't like it, I assure you you will have no trouble finding a buyer for it (or a swap) over there as well.
I have one currently that a have 3 barrels for (.22LR,.308,and 12ga) that are all cut and fit into a standard briefcase with a spare stock and a 3X9 scope. I made it up for a SHTF type gun.
Also, for what its worth, all three of your barrels are chambered for rimmed ctgs, which are definitely more "break top" action friendly. NEF recently discontinued their handi's chambered in .35 Whelen due to light primer strike with some factory ammo.
Heres a pic O' mine minus the shotty barrel (it's hiding under the foam) the rifles bbls are 16½"



and heres the addy to GB's forums enjoy!

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

Sounds like you are set for a bunch of fun.
I wouldn't push the 45/70 loads , The gun will take a bit to hurt but you will be beating the stuffing out of yourself. Even the mild trap door loads will be wonderfull hunting rounds with loads of penatration.

Everyone always forgets that the 30-30 makes a wonderfull cast bullet gun, being a single shot gets you more use yet!