custom h&r handi rifles

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jrbaker90

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anybody has any custom h&r handi? I have been thinking about one for awhile and just was wanting to know if anybody else has custom one thanks
 
It is the source of allure for an otherwise rather mundane firearm.

The construction of the Handi Rifle barrels and SB2 receivers allows safe chamber pressures of up to 65,000psi. The Handi is your oyster. Not only can you rechamber an existing barrel at home with a rented reamer (.357 Max being a popular example, my own .454 Stutzen another), rebore and rechamber in a wide variety of options (I have a 35-30/30 project on the burner) but with barrel stubbing (use of a shotgun barrel stub to seat a custom or take-off barrel from virtually any other rifle you can imagine) you can resurrect the 8mm Lebel, wildcat the 6.5x74R, or invent the .50 Annihilator.

Here's my .454 Stutzen. It started life as a Classic Carbine in 45LC, was reamed to .454 and I built a Mannlicher style full stock for it.

001-5.jpg
 
rprny that is what i am talking about i love that stock! I am just thinking about one in 7x57 or 257 roberts or my favorite 6.5 creedmoor just dont know. I have a good gunsmith that's would do the work thanks
 
I am just thinking about one in 7x57 or 257 roberts or my favorite 6.5 creedmoor just dont know
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All great choices. As I said, anything below 65K psi is safe in the SB2. I prefer rebore to stubbing because I like to maintain the barrel contour, but stubbing seems a cheaper option.

If you choose something in the .35 - .38 Cal range, I highly recommend JES Reboring. Jesse has done quite a few Handis and is universally well regarded as well as cost effective. http://www.35caliber.com/
 
D&T Custom Rifles out of Vinita, Ok does some of the nicest customized Handi-Rifles around. They specialize in barrel stubbing.
 
What I am want one for is a light woods gun I have a 30-06 and a 243 abolt action and just needing a good reason to get another. I like the 6.5 caliber also have looked at the 6.5x55 swiss mauser thanks
 
jrbaker90 said:
What I am want one for is a light woods gun I have a 30-06 and a 243 abolt action and just needing a good reason to get another. I like the 6.5 caliber also have looked at the 6.5x55 swiss mauser thanks
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The 6.5x55 is Swede, not Swiss.................The 7.5x55 is the Swiss.
 
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Ive been thinking about building a superultra light handi rifle.

Eithe a 357 or maybe 30-30 cut down to 16"-- maybe even have barrel flutted/ lighten stock a bit. Put on a peep sight, i think i can end up in the mid 4lb range. I have had much more luck with them in rimmed catridges/ definently stay away from anynchambered in 243!
 
I have also thought about 338-06 or the 338 federal. how would a 260 remington? Like I said before I want one for wood and some mountain hunts I will be mosty around here (west tn) but I would like to used in northeast arkansas to. would love to have one with a with a 20 inch barrel thanks
 
Mine wasnt unique in that a cleaning rod was required to knock empties out ~30% of the time!
 
As per above, Handis in 243 have not been particularly loved. For whatever reason, tight chambers, short throats, just not a success. As a single shot breech loader, they tend to do best with rimmed cartridges. 30-30's are renowned for accuracy. The 35 Whelen and 7mm-08 are very well regarded. I had a 30-06 that shot very well.
 
I have a Handi Rifle in .30-06. I shoot 150 grain Remington Corelokt in it. I have fired it nine times at deer ranging from 25 to 125 yards and killed nine deer. I have never had any problem with it ejecting the empty case. I have a buttstock shell carrier on it and can reload almost as fast as with a bolt action.
 
Mine wasnt unique in that a cleaning rod was required to knock empties out ~30% of the time!
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Thanks for reply. I had not heard of that problem. I have had a couple in 223 and my friend has a 243 that hasn't displayed that problem. The extraction of rimless cases do require that special feature built into the extractor and perhaps had something to do with your particular gun . I'm not sure why it would be caliber sensitive however ? Interesting observation at any rate.
 
I recently got me a handi in 223 and love it so far no extraction problems yet. When I did my research the problems removing the spent shells was with the spring ejectors. Some claimed that if the springs got too dirty or too much oil that they would not work properly. I personally have not seen this as I have the extractor type on my rifle.
 
Trigger work?

303tom,do you do your own trigger work on your Handi-rifles?I have a .243 that shoots pretty well,but the trigger is awful on a good day.Would like to do it myself but would consider farming it out.
 
I really like the stock and forearm in the above pic, but I'm not a fan of the Handis.
Mine is in .280 which is my favorite caliber. I bought it and had a very hard time finding ammo that it would group. Finally I found one it liked, Winchester ballistic Silvertips. At thi point I liked the rifle. Then I started hand loading and I've spent a couple hundred bucks trying to find a load it likes. Then I realized another issue. The headspace is awful. Two loadings usually result in complete case head separation.
I'm thinking about selling the damn thing because I've grown to loath it.
Sorry for the rant. I really do like your stock an full length forearm RPRNY.
 
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I had a 223, 243, 308, 30-30, 357, and 44 Mag.

Yes they were ejector rather than extractor models.

I got tired of H&R/NEF telling me I did not clean my chamber, was using out of spec ammo, the ejector was dirty, they had "never heard of this problem", etc, etc, etc. I sent one rifle in for warranty work three times, and it never did work. And NEF made me pay for the shipping.

I have their shotguns in all gauges, too many to count, and I have never had an ejector problem, ever.

Sold all the rifles, and I will never buy a rifle from them again.
 
I had a 223, 243, 308, 30-30, 357, and 44 Mag.

Yes they were ejector rather than extractor models.

I got tired of H&R/NEF telling me I did not clean my chamber, was using out of spec ammo, the ejector was dirty, they had "never heard of this problem", etc, etc, etc. I sent one rifle in for warranty work three times, and it never did work. And NEF made me pay for the shipping.

I have their shotguns in all gauges, too many to count, and I have never had an ejector problem, ever.

Sold all the rifles, and I will never buy a rifle from them again.
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I like Handi rifles. I like H&R Shotguns. Lots of people do. But...I don't think the poster above is unique in his frustration. Handis are not for everyone. If you like tinkering and are inured to post purchase FreedomGroup customer service, or can do some basic basement gunsmithing, then go for it. If you want a no hassle, works as intended out of the box rifle: Winchester (FN), Ruger American, TC Venture, Savage Axis, and several others will more likely make you happy at similar price points.
 
I'll agree that they do best with rimmed cartridges. My older 22" 30-30 .357 .410 bore ejector model is real sweet and very accurate out to 100 yards with my lead handloads in .357 and 30-30, but it is a bit on the heavy side.
Check out Frank Churches mod's.
My newer .45 Colt classic carbine is much lighter and is a real hoot to shoot. Shoots a wide variety of power levels from quiet round balls to some serious thumpers. Quite a few people have reamed these out to .454 Casull. (not me)
HR.jpg
 
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