Handi-Rifle or Ultra Varmint?

[alemonkey]

I think I have rifle ADD. I've been wanting a .223 and a few weeks ago I had settled on a Saiga. But, then I started looking at Handi Rifles and really got interested in the possibility of shooting several calibers out of the same rifle. The local gun shop has a heavy barrel Handi Rifle in .223 for $229, but they also have the Ultra Varmint with a laminated thumbhole stock and bull barrel for $379. Is there really any difference between the two, other than the wood and barrel?

I do have to say the Handi Rifle has probably the ugliest stock I've ever seen, but for less than the difference between the two I can get a replacement stock & forend and make it look like this:

http://www.gunstocksinc.com/web_pages/Plate-Pic's/NEF-stocks/NEFf-rollover-discrip.htm

I need to make up my mind and buy something before I change it again!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The Handi-Rifle barrels are not "stress relieved" (a byproduct of the way they are rifled)...some of them are not very accurate at all because of this.

 

[alemonkey]

I've heard that too, and that it can (rarely) affect accuracy. I'm guessing both the Handi Rifle and Ultra fall into this category?

 

[dagger dog]

You have to order the Handi with the switch barrel, or send it back to the factory to have them fit the new barrel conversion. They do not switch out like a TC Encore.
The Ultra Varmint weighs 7# the lighter one saves you 1/4#

 

[dracphelan]

I have a handi-rifle with a bull barrel. I recommend the bull barrel because of the fact that you can shoot a longer string of shots before you have to let the barrel cool. I have shot sub-MOA groups with cheap glass at 100 yards with everything from cheap 53 grain remington ammo to 55 grain hand load to Wolf 62 grain loads to Black Hills 70 grain ammo. Here are couple of my reviews of my rifle:
http://www.timcov.com/blog/?p=74
http://www.timcov.com/blog/?p=84

 

[Dave R]

Silly me. I thought the heavy barrel only came on the Ultra Varmit. I have a UV and it shoots very well.

I think the UV has a longer barrel, too. 24" vs. 22". The extra 2" helps .223 velocities noticeably.

 

[alemonkey]

Well, I went ahead and got the Handi instead of the Ultra. The bull barrel would have been nice, but after looking at the Ultra some more I just really didn't like the way the stock felt. It looked nice, but was really uncomfortable and I think with a scope I wouldn't be able to get a good cheek weld.

The barrel is still pretty heavy on the Handi Rifle, if not as heavy as the Ultra.