Single Shot Rifles

[Clipper]

Between us, my shooting buddy and I have 4 Handi Rifles. All shoot well, but the 3 centerfires have nasty-looking fisures from the rifling broaches. They don't seem to affect accuracy to any real drgree, but they sure look like they would. Anyway, they're great inexpensive rifles, but though there's a pretty good selection of accessory barrels available from H&R, they don't make rimfire barrels for the centerfire frame like Rossi does,

 

[fafnir]

Owlnmole: I'm using a Tru Glo and currently shooting the last of my PMC
+p's with no problem.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The safety on the Rossi is superfolous.

In your opinion. In my opinion, and that of many others, not at all.

While it is actually very easy to decock a H&R/NEF without the safety,

Define "easy". Does "easy" mean it's impossible for it to slip off your thumb?

I can respect why it is comforting- especially for a unfamiliar or begining user.

Yes, and it's *also* comforting to those of us human beings who happen to be fallible, whose thumbs could slip while decocking, or who might accidentally pull the trigger back enough for it to have enough momentum to fire, but not far enough back engage and stay back, while roaming around in the woods, brushing up against sticks & limbs, etc.

For the infallible people out there (*cough*), I guess it is superfluous.

 

[Hesenwine]

fafnir

What's the turn-around time for getting another barrell?

I have an UltraVarmint in .204 Ruger & I'd like to add a .308 barrell?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow you do realize that you can simply OPEN an nef to decock it safely if need be? I've stated my issues with this platform previously in this thread but the EXCELLENT fool proof NEF safety isn't one of em.

You don't have a hardware issue with this platform Tad, you have a software problem. The simple thing is you DO NOT cock the nef till right before you pull the trigger. Discipline yourself in this and you NEVER have to decock one

Now contrast this to all the deathtrap 30-30's in the woods where ANY TIME the firearm is loaded the hammer must be meticulously lowered on a Live and HOT chamber. Ive been called everything but a white man by fellow THR members by pointing out the same issues you are. The only difference is the platform I complain about there is no way around this problem, with the NEF not only is it a non issue but thers several ways around it if there were

 

[fafnir]

Reply to Hesenwine

My turn around was about 5 weeks...H&R has shipping instructions on their
website. New barrels require hand fitting to the receiver that you ship them.
Personally, I haven't had any powder residue on my hands anytime I shot.
They can also do a trigger job and bring it down to 5 1/2 or 6 lbs., if you
put a written request in with the receiver when you ship it. By the way...
I've got 11+ acres in Unicoi County and can't wait to retire to Tn.

Hope this helps.

 

[chevyforlife21]

keep in mind that h and r ,new england, and remington are all the same company. try rossi too they make great single barrels.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've shot 3 H&R Ultra Varminters built for prarie dogs and other such rodents. They need a trigger job to get under 1 inch groups at 100 yards. All three have had them. 2 in .223 and one in .243. I don't shoot the .243 much, never have.

But they are pretty rugged and accurate little rifles. I would caution you about putting too much scope on one, with big optics the little rifles get unwieldy.

 

[BHP FAN]

I've got a nice .223 H&R with a 3x9 scope and ultra light bi pod.Saweeeet!

 

[scythefwd]

Krochus,
I wouldn't call .8 inches without load workup too shabby for a break action. Then again, that load you fed your T/C may have been the exact load it liked and it couldn't get any better. They won't touch a good bench rest rifle, true... but they are accurate enough for the average shooter.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus,
I wouldn't call .8 inches without load workup too shabby for a break action. Then again, that load you fed your T/C may have been the exact load it liked and it couldn't get any better. They won't touch a good bench rest rifle, true... but they are accurate enough for the average shooter.

I'm not sure what you're referring to but I suspect it was the bergara Encore barrel I had and yes it shot OK.....BUT.....Out of a couple dozen barrels on encores, nef's and other break actions it and a .223 ultra rifle were the ONLY ones that could do that with any repeatability.

Since I posted previously on a trade I've ended up with a 30-06 ported ultra rifle that, surprise surprise shot patterns rather than groups at 100yds with factory fodder or handloads

 

[scythefwd]

Krochus,
Yes, I was referring to your Bergara barrel experiences. The problem may be with T/C's barrels, and not the platform itself. I'm not sure if you used any other makers barrels (green mountain, Mike Bellm, etc.) so I can't say for sure. There are break action rifles out there with a MOA guarantee, which when looking at a woods gun is pretty good. I will agree that they aren't bench guns and probably aren't going to win any accuracy competitions that aren't exclusive to break actions. I am not saying they are more accurate than a bolt gun, but they can be accurate enough. I'll expound on this opinion when I get my center fire barrel scoped and to the range. Right now it is impossible to do anything but shotgun groups because it has no sights on it at all.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'll expound on this opinion when I get my center fire barrel scoped and to the range. Right now it is impossible to do anything but shotgun groups because it has no sights on it at all.

BUT

If your experience turns out to be like mine will you still be willing to post about it?

 

[scythefwd]

Of course I will. If it doesn't group, it doesn't group. I own up to all my group sizes. I just don't know when I will be putting a scope on the barrel, got a kid due in Dec, so there goes most of my play money for the next 18 years.

 

[R.W.Dale]

so there goes most of my play money for the next 18 years.

Better figure on 20 and that's only if you stop at one and don't decide to have another in 5 years.

But I wouldn't trade em for all the scopes in the world

 

[scythefwd]

Well, IF we're being honest with ourselves... it will probably be 22 years till she's out of college. That is IF she takes after her mom, I wasn't smart enough to apply myself so I couldn't afford to go to college (Uncle Sam got me instead).

 

[AH-1]

I have a encore w/2 barrels.custom shop 7.5X55 swiss and a 357 maximum.both are tack drivers with my handloads.I have had some handi's over the years.25/06,44 mag and a 308 survivor.It took alot of tinkering to get them to shoot good groups out of the box.the most accurate was my 25/06 again with handloads,free floating the forearm and trigger work.I can honestly say the QC on the handi rifles could be better.

 

[rbernie]

Out of a couple dozen barrels on encores, nef's and other break actions it and a .223 ultra rifle were the ONLY ones that could do that with any repeatability.

Interestingly, I have had an Encore with multiple barrels and I currently own a number of H&R/NEF HandiRifles. I think well of the HandiRifle, in large part due to its ergonomics that cater to fast offhand snap-shooting.

On the Encore, I had one barrel that shot like a house afire and the remainder of the barrels that ranged from acceptable to complete crap in accuracy (threw patterns instead of groups). I tried all sorts of forearm tricks and sandbagging tricks to figure out why the bad barrels shot poorly on the same frame setup that shot so well with a different barrel. Nothing really solved the 'worst' barrel's issues. I then took to measuring the differences between the barrels, as best I could.

In the end, I concluded that the difference in the performance of the barrels was related mostly to chamber depth (adjusting the sizing die to not bump the shoulder back helped a lot). The second variance that I noted was the barrel-to-breechface gap. The barrels that shot poorly had a demonstrable wear pattern on the breechface of the barrel. Those that had a .002" or so uniform gap seemed to shoot most accurately. In many cases, especially with the NEF/H&H, the barrel's breech face is not perfectly square. If the barrel's breech makes contact with the receiver's breechface, it will likely not shoot as accurately as it might otherwise.

I still think that the H&R program for new barrels, at $90-$120/barrel plus $30 fitting, is a true bargain.

====

ETA - I will admit that I think very poorly of the Rossi, based solely upon the insanely poor fit of the barrel-to-receiver-hinge. The gun locks up OK, but there is so much slop and play around the hinge pin, even when new, that I simply cannot see them lasting for any amount of real use.

I could be wrong and they may last OK, but I doubt it. I certainly don't wanna shoot something that is so poorly made when I can do better for no more money.

 

[hometheaterman]

I've shot a H&R .243 and honestly, it shot fine at 50 yards which is what we were shooting it at. However, I don't see the point at all for a single shot gun. Especially not if it's going to be your only gun. I guess it teaches you to make the first shot count. However, if you are buying it for a kid, niece, or nephew to start hunting with why not get them a nice bolt action or semi auto? Or better yet talk to them about what they want. Since this gun will hopefully last them a life time shouldn't it be something they like? If a single shot is then what they want I say go for it.

I just know a lot of people tend to start out of single shots and move up later on to bolt actions or semi auto's. So why not just skip the step of the single shot and move on up?

I know I'm going to be the oddball here from thinking this but I just don't care much for a single shot.

 

[rbernie]

A lot of time, the single-shot is relegated to a 'trainer' status. I disagree with that notion.

A hammer-fired single shot is more compact than a repeater, since it needs no receiver section designed to accommodate a bolt or somesuch. It can also be a lot lighter, as a result. It is mechanically dirt-simple, and repairs (when needed) are often easily made using expedient materials. It is inherently easy to make safe when needed (just open the action!) and needs no mechanical safeties. It is easier to clean than most repeaters, and easier to keep operational in the field. (Try cleaning even minor amounts of grit out of the locking recesses in a bolt action with forward locking lugs when in the field, and lemme know how that worked out for ya... ) A single shot is a lot easier to carry in the hand, due to the absence of bolt handles, safeties, and other such protuberances. It certainly is easier to swap barrels (and therefore change chamberings to accomodate different game).

If someone does a lot of hunting from a rest and/or stand or finds that the terrain favors multiple shots to anchor game (as Krochus mentioned, above), then any sort of repeater is a fine choice. Certainly, shooting from a rest/bench negates many of the attributes of the single-shot.

However, if someone does a lot of hunting on foot and finds that one shot is the norm for dropping the target game, or wants to maintain a singular platform to ensure repeatable proficiency under stress, then the single shot can be a true friend.

 

[Hesenwine]

To fafnir

I was afraid of that-5 week turnaround. Gotta get the timing right & wait until the groundhogs hibernate.

OR, I guess I could just buy another one.

You're gonna love retiring here. I took a transfer here in 1995 & retired in 2007 (early retirement, so to speak) when the economy tanked & the place I worked gave me $$$ to go away-so I did.

We love this place.

 

[Hesenwine]

Hey hometheaterman

Your points are well taken. However, for us lefties, singles make perfect sense.

 

[hometheaterman]

Never really thought about that for lefties but now that you point it out they do make a lot of sense. It seems to be fairly hard to find left handed guns. Most people I know that are left handed end up just learning to shoot a right handed gun to the availability.

 

[jem375]

If you really are interested in single shot rifles try this website:
www.sskindustries.com
JD Jones at his best