H&R Handi-rifle .44 Magnum

[USAF_Vet]

I'm looking at picking up an H&R Handi in .44 magnum, that is until I read this

Note: The frame of the 44 Mag. (SB1-S44) and the 357 Mag. (SB1-S35) cannot be fit with any other centerfire rifle barrel. They are capable of being fit with accessory shotgun barrels, but their rifle capability is limited to the specific 44 or 357 Mag. barrel that it is shipped on the gun.

The whole purpose of the Handi rifle is the quick and easy caliber change. I'm assuming that if the .44 magnum frame won't accept other center fire rifle barrels, then other center fire frames won't accept the .44 magnum barrel.

I really wanted a single shot .44 or .357 magnum rifle, and pair it up with a Blackhawk. Now I'm reconsidering this because I'd still want to shoot other calibers with the rifle.

Bummer.

However, the Rossi Wizard is also available in .44 mag, and does not appear to have the caveat of limited frame/ barrel options, other than the fact that its only available in .243 and .223. The Wizard also has iron sights that the Handi-rifle lacks.

I'm familiar with H&R single shots, through their shotguns but I've never handled a Rossi. How do the two compare?

 

[John C]

You're incorrect about the other frames not accepting the .44 or .357 magnum barrels. They will fit fine.

Basically, H&R has two frames, the SB1 and the SB2. The SB1 is the original frame for their line of shotguns. It's made of softer material, and can only stand shotgun or pistol cartridge level pressures.

Later, H&R came out with the Handi-Rifle, and they beefed up the frame, and made it out of better quality steel. It can handle high pressure rifle rounds. It will also mount the shotgun and pistol barrels.

Then there are rimfire and 10 gauge shotgun frames, but those truly are different.

In order to keep guys from buying a .30-06 barrel and mounting it on an old shotgun frame, H&R requires you to send your frame back to them for inspection and to have the new barrel fitted. Apparently tolerances varied over the years, to be expected with a budget firearm. T/C Contenders and Encores kept tighter tolerances, but at a much higher price point.

To get what you want, get a centerfire rifle on an SB2 frame. Alternately, buy an SB2 frame without a barrel off of gunbroker for $65, and send it to the factory and have the barrels you want fitted. You can get any barrel you want (except rimfire and some 10 gauge). A little bit of a runaround, but the result is worth it.

Good luck!

-John

 

[USAF_Vet]

Thanks for the info. I'll hunt around for the SB2 frame.

 

[Curator]

You might consider getting a Handi-rifle with the SB-2 frame in the rifle caliber you want then having a .44Mag and .357Mag barrel fitted to that. The Rossi is "OK" but made in Brazil. Quality can be erratic. You don;t want one made the week after Carnival. The Handi on the other hand is made in the USA with parts and service readily available. Check out the GBO website for all things Handi: http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/hr-centerfire-rifles/

One other issue about the Handi .44Mag barrel is the 1 in 38: rifling twist and .431 bore diameter make it difficult to get good accuracy with heavy cast bullets.

 

[HOOfan_1]

My dad bought a Handi-Rifle in .223 and then got .22 Hornet and .357 magnum barrels fitted.

Seems like they ought to just discontinue the weaker receiver

 

[Legionnaire]

You're incorrect about the other frames not accepting the .44 or .357 magnum barrels. They will fit fine.

Basically, H&R has two frames, the SB1 and the SB2. The SB1 is the original frame for their line of shotguns. It's made of softer material, and can only stand shotgun or pistol cartridge level pressures ...

This is why I like THR so much. This is excellent information that directly addresses the OP's question. I'm not even interested in a Handi-Rifle (I'm an Encore guy), but I appreciate informed answers to questions. Learned something. Thanks.

 

[ldlfh7]

I have the 44 mag from H&R. Originally had the 20 gauge shotgun so my choices were limited on barrels but the 44 has worked out pretty good. Lots of fun to shoot with virtually no recoil whatsoever.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have a H&R .357 that I bought on whim and it proved to be a very fun rifle. My son loves it and it is very fun to shoot. I would follow others advice and fit a .44 barrel. You will have a fun and practical little rifle.

 

[Jack R]

I bought an H&R handi in 44mag from Dicks special order book about a year ago. Dont remember exact price,around $240 with NJ tax and NICS..I think..cheaper than Buds with paying a FFL dealer, at the time. Checked mine last night, its marked SB2 on the barrel...not reciever..black composite stock,no sights..put a $30 red dot on it...so far unfired

 

[Sweden]

Originally posted by John C:
You're incorrect about the other frames not accepting the .44 or .357 magnum barrels. They will fit fine.

100% accurate response. I have a couple of Handi's. I made the mistake of buying my first in 357 Mag on SB1 frame. I've since acquired rifle calibers on SB2 frames. At some point I sent them all to H&R to have other barrels fitted. They inspected and fit barrels in 44 Mag, 12GA and 20GA. (i.e. the 44 Mag barrel will fit any of my recievers, SB1 or SB2)

 

[Sweden]

Forgot to add, I suppressed the 357 Mag. Super quiet with 158/180 Gr 38SPL's or 230 gr 357 Mag.

 

[115grfmj]

Handi's are awesome.....being an owner I highly recommend them. They are capable of surprising accuracy ( my 243 standard contour barrel 1" groups 100yards with plain old 100gr corelockts). Much to the chagrin of the guys with really expensive rifles

Here's the deal with the barrels: if the frame is an sb1, pistol, or shotgun barrels are the only thing that can be fit to them.......sb2 (or rifle) frames can have rifle pistol or SG barrels fit to them.
My advice would be to pick a rifle chambering that you like, order than rifle, then send your rifle back to H&R for the 44 barrel or any other barrel you want.