6.5 x 55 Handi Rifle

[Selfdfenz]

Howdy,
Don't hit this area on THR too often.

I have a couple of NEF Handi Rifle and some extra barrels.
Incase you don't know the Handi Rifle is a single shot rifle that breaks open and loads like many ss shotguns.

I've been thinking for some time about having a barrel chambered in 6.5 x 55.
H&R 1871 does not offer this caliber, and will not make one.

If I bought an extra 22 Hornet or 223 Rem or maybe 243 I could/or could I send it to a gunsmith and have it re-chambered and re-rifled in this caliber and have the ejector remodeled to handle this caliber. Should end up as a
really neat little one-of-a-kind rifle.

Does this sound feasible?
What do you think it might cost?
Should I stick with the twist rate used in the Swedish Mausers?
Where could I get this done?

 

[Badger Arms]

I don't think it's economically feasible. You'd spend lots of money making a mediocre rifle into a custom mediocre rifle. IIRC, you can buy a T/C Encore in that caliber. You'd end up with a truly interchangeable rifle with much greater versatility. You wouldn't have to wait as long and worry about the quality of the rebore job (these are often marginal performers). Just a thought. You could probably end up with an entire 6.5mm setup with a new Encore frame for around the same money.


http://www.tcarms.com/encrifle/index.html
http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/customshop/customencore/encorerifle/encorebblcal.htm

 

[Selfdfenz]

Thanks Badger
All that you say makes a great deal of sense.

I believe I'll look into the Thompsons.Don't have a Contender in the collection right now but I have in the past. Great products.

One comment I can make from personal knowledge about the H&R is that even with the poor triggers they come with (a correctable issue) they are marginal in many ways but accuracy is not one of them.


Thanks,
S-

 

[Badger Arms]

For the money, I agree wholeheartedly. If I didn't already have pretty much everything I needed in repeating rifles, I would probably consider the Handi Rifle. I've owned a few of their shotguns. I ended up chopping one off to the legal limit for a cheap boat/bear gun. It's super-handy and dirt-cheap that way.

 

[JA]

The most cost effective 6.5x55mm single shot rifle option is one of these.
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/sidebyside/izh18mh308t.shtml

 

[Sunray]

That'd be a major job costing far more than your rifle is worth. It'd involve drilling out the barrel to a nominal diameter then reaming it to the 6.5 bore diameter, completely re-chambering it and rifling it.

 

[Selfdfenz]

BTW
I looked up the EAA SS rifles and the stats are fairly decent on these rifles.
At 199 they certainly would be worth a look-see.

Could not find one listed anywhere on the net so I E-mailed EAA.

This rifle is not yet imported as they said

"paperwork hold-up
not our fault
sorry"

I may wait and see if they can pull it off.
S-

 

[Badger Arms]

Well, heck, for that price you can get a fairly decent Sweedish Mauser!

 

[JA]

Notice the price is SRP=suggested retail price.
The Saiga 7.62x39mm rifles and Saiga 410 shotguns have a SRP of $239 on the EAA website but checking ads in Shotgun News the wholesale price is $159.
Judging by this the wholesale price on the single shot rifles should be around $140.

 

[Clark]

I know a gunsmith, Randy Ketchum at Lynwood Guns, who is always doing strange things per customer request.
He takes shot out .223 barrels for contenders and bores them out and puts other caliber barrels in them.
He cuts rifle barrels into the shape of a 12 ga bore and puts them in the shotgun.
Etc.