.30-06 Handi with iron sights?

Status
Not open for further replies.
minutemen1776

minutemen1776

Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2007
Messages
885
Location
Alabama
Someone please tell me if this is doable. I have a lot of .30-06 ammo right now, and I'd like to have an inexpensive single-shot rifle to shoot some of it. Sure, I could just get a cheap bolt gun, but that's not really what I want. H&R makes a Handi-Rifle chambered in .30-06, but it is set up for a scope. That's bad for me, because I want iron sights, not a scope. There is an iron-sighted Handi-Rifle chambered in .30-30, and it has the same twist rate (1:10) as the H&R .30-06 barrels. Soooooo... Is it possible to buy the .30-30 Handi-Rifle and have the chamber reamed to .30-06? Would I need to mess with extractor or any other parts? Would there be any trouble with this idea? Thanks!
​
 
Just a thought. By the time you spend the $$$ on customizing a HandiRifle, how about a CMP Garand for about $500? They even have 'rack grade' rifles for around $400.
 
Handi rifles are not cheap by today's cheap bolt action standards costing upward of $300 in most areas.

The bakial Remington single shots came with sights and are usually cheaper.

An encore has barrels avalible with sights.

But probably your best cheapest bet would be a used ugly older savage 110e, after deer season these can be had for next to nothing they shoot great and many times come with sights.




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about
 
There are some hardcore Handi shooters over at graybeardoutdoors.com that have a ton of experience modding these simplistic rifles. They can mod them to shoot very tight groups. I'm more into the single shots chambered in rimmed cartridges, but there are some on the said forum with Handis chambered in rimless cartridges that will groups that are every bit as good as a nice bolt gun or auto.
 
There are some hardcore Handi-Rifle shooters right here, I have a dozen of em............By the way, you can get any of the Handi-Rifles with Iron Sights.
 
The Williams rear aperture sight will fit your 30-06 Handi rifle in the scope mount holes (the WGRS H&R model) for around $32 but the front sight will be an issue. The best solution would probably be a Marbles ramp sight, affixes with one screw. But you'd have to be fairly confident about drilling and tapping that hole.

As to having the chamber on a 30-30 barrel reamed to 30-06, while this is entirely possible, it would require modification for an entirely different extractor as the 30-30 is for a rimmed cartridge. This route gets you a $400 Handi...

I think having a front sight mounted would be both cheaper and easier than modifying a 30-30 barrel. The Williams rear sight will accommodate either buckhorn sights or an aperture sight.

Having said that, here's your cheapest option:


pix424576413.gif

S&W I-Bolt with Williams factory mounted iron sights (and scope rail) for $299. I just bought one for a wet weather rifle and, given that the sights alone are @ $80, it's a good deal. I prefer it to my H&R Handi in 30-06 which kicked very sharply and was not the most accurate Handi I have owned.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=317477414
 
I had a .243 Win Handi-rifle with Bushnell 3-9x scope and wanted to trade it in on a Tikka T3 Lite and the store would only give me $75 for it. Trade-in value or resale should be considered when buying a rifle. The H&Rs are pretty much throw-aways. Mine didn't reliably eject handloads, but worked okay with factory ammo. (I don't like shooting factory ammo.)

If I were you, I'd buy a Ruger American (under $300) or Weatherby Vanguard S2 for not much more money, but perhaps more accurate, usable and valuable rifles. Also, you might want to consider a red-dot sight instead of iron sights.
 
Thanks to those who have offered some helpful info. However, I said right away that I do not want a bolt gun, so why all the suggestions for bolt guns? :confused:

By the way, you can get any of the Handi-Rifles with Iron Sights.
Click to expand...

303tom, where and how?

http://www.nodakspud.com/ top of the page.
Click to expand...

Andrew Wyatt, I think I like this best of all. :D Thanks! I also like the Nodak peep sight for Ruger 10/22s. Might be a good alternative to Tech Sights.
 
I'd think it would be a lot cheaper just to have the front sight installed on a 30/06 barrel if desired. A lot of the sights, including peeps will install in the holes already there for the scope base.
As a side note if you couldn't get a 30/06 barrel I'd sure start with a 308 barrel rather than 30-30. Lots less to ream and the extractor and such is all the same. Second side note against 30-30 barrels, most of them are on the carbine side of things and would probably kick like a mule chamber in 06. Just my 2cents.
 
Buy a set of iron sights and have them installed on the Handi by any competent gunsmith. Lyman sights are my personal favorite. LOTS cheaper than a rechambering.
 
TNBilly said:
I'd think it would be a lot cheaper just to have the front sight installed on a 30/06 barrel if desired. A lot of the sights, including peeps will install in the holes already there for the scope base.
As a side note if you couldn't get a 30/06 barrel I'd sure start with a 308 barrel rather than 30-30. Lots less to ream and the extractor and such is all the same. Second side note against 30-30 barrels, most of them are on the carbine side of things and would probably kick like a mule chamber in 06. Just my 2cents.
Click to expand...

A 30-06 reamer will not clean up a 308 chamber.

Attempting to do so will leave a doughnut ring around the chamber where the 308 shoulder started




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about
 
minutemen1776 said:
Thanks to those who have offered some helpful info. However, I said right away that I do not want a bolt gun, so why all the suggestions for bolt guns? :confused:



303tom, where and how?



Andrew Wyatt, I think I like this best of all. :D Thanks! I also like the Nodak peep sight for Ruger 10/22s. Might be a good alternative to Tech Sights.
Click to expand...
H&R, just give em a call................
 
R.W.Dale said:
A 30-06 reamer will not clean up a 308 chamber.

Attempting to do so will leave a doughnut ring around the chamber where the 308 shoulder started




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about
Click to expand...
Opps.... you're right that would leave about a 6 thou ring. He'd have to ream it to 30/06 AI or the like right away.
 
I found a hardly used Savage 110 in 30-06 with iron sights already on it for $200 not long ago. I know you said you weren't intrested in a bolt but your Handi Rifle is becoming an over $400 gun.
 
Again, get Handi Rifle with 30-06 barrel. Install Williams WGRS rear sight in existing mounting holes. Use Marbles ramp front sight. Either drill and tap yourself, or have a smith do it. Putting sights on the Handi barrel will likely end up around $80.

You should also check in at GBO, the font of great H&R knowledge, as an older iron sighted Handi may come up in the classifieds or there may be better options for the front sight.
 
Tom, you're not listening. H&R doesn't do that any more. They sell you the sights, but they won't drill and tap. They also don't do trigger jobs any more.
 
That Baikal single shot 30-06 is a great idea and will probably be a hoot. They are sturdy.

I would pass on the Rossi. While some people have had positive experiences, the Rossi break actions that I have handled and the combi (.410/.22lr) that I bought for the kids this past summer was sub Remington H&R quality.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
H&R Handi rifle question
Replies
10
Views
1K
Readyrod
R
E
  • Locked
H&R Handi-rifle iron sights
Replies
2
Views
867
Dave R
D
theboyscout
  • Locked
Best 30-06?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
5K
Newtosavage
N
bluetopper
  • Locked
Sight Recommendation for Handi-Rifle?
Replies
2
Views
325
Abel
A
C
  • Locked
Wild idea: Handi to .30-40 Krag!
Replies
11
Views
3K
Andrew Wyatt
A
Back
Top