The Decline of the Handi Rifle

[Boo-Radley]

It seems like the H&R Handi Rife is steadily gaining popularity. I'm not sure about numbers sold, but I see them everywhere.

Some people seem to think the Handi Rifle is relatively new to the market place. It is not. Only the name is new. Back before Harrington & Richardson closed their factory, and reorganized, they marketed the Handi Rifle under the name Harrington & Richardson Topper Model 158.

The older Topper Model was only available chambered for 30-30 Winchester, and you could choose a 20 gauge or .410 shotgun barrel if you wanted one.

I literally watched the disintigration of the quality of this rifle. We purchased our first one around 1970, and it was a beautiful rifle. It was also a tack driver that would perform well with just about any load we tried. We ended up pushing a Speer 150 grain JFP with 35.5 grains of IMR 4895 at around 2300 fps MV. No black tail or mule deer ever required a 2nd shot, and I took the head off more than one grouse.

We purchased the 2nd rifle around 1973. If you tried a 170 grain bullet you may as well be throwing rocks. We had to back the 150 grain bullet down a full grain or the cartridge cases would not eject. The tolerences on the chamber were to sloppy, and that allowed the case to swell and stick. The finish on the stock was clearly inferior as well as the wood work.

We purchased a 3rd rifle a few years later, because hey, at around $89.00 they were still a great buy. This 3rd rifle had a straight stock instead of a pistol grip, and the machine tolorances weren't any better than the 1973 rifle. In addition, after a relatively low number of hours in a scabbard on a motorcycle the finish on both metal and wood started showing signs of wear.

At present, I am still a fan of the Handi Rifle. I am seriously considering buying one chamber for .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester. Those seem like the optimum cartridges for that rifle. However, having seen the decline in the 1970's I would like to hear from folks who currently own, and hunt with, an H&R Handi Rifle.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I went through my handi rifle and later encore phase.

To make a long story short after dozens of bbls on several frames a break action single shot will never again be welcome inside of my safe. I call them lightning rifles as they have the most annoying propensity to never strike in the same place twice.

Sure like any platform you have your group/forum of hardcore fanbos willing to overlook the most absymal performance. But the fact of the matter is there are just as many of us out there who are grossly dissatisfied.

With the latest generation of entry level bolt actions there's no reason for an inaccurate poorly made $280 single shot to exist

 

[Boo-Radley]

I went through my handi rifle and later encore phase.

To make a long story short after dozens of bbls on several frames a break action single shot will never again be welcome inside of my safe. I call them lightning rifles as they have the most annoying propensity to never strike in the same place twice.

Sure like any platform you have your group/forum of hardcore fanbos willing to overlook the most absymal performance. But the fact of the matter is there are just as many of us out there who are grossly dissatisfied.

With the latest generation of entry level bolt actions there's no reason for an inaccurate poorly made $280 single shot to exist

Where did you see one for $280.00? The local Walmart price is $319.00. That's 20 bucks more than the least expensive Remington and Savage, but I HATE those synthetic stocks.

 

[wingman]

With the latest generation of entry level bolt actions there's no reason for an inaccurate poorly made $280 single shot to exist

Agree with that:

 

[newfalguy101]

I would urge you to AVOID the Handi in .243.

For whatever reason, they tend to NOT extract the fired case more often than not.

.243 is the only caliber I have heard of that has that particular issue.

One of these days, I will likely have one in .308.

 

[Boo-Radley]

The inexpensive Savage bolt action has a PLASTIC clip! I could never tolerate that!

My problem is that I need a new hunting rifle, or I can hunt with my 44 mag revolver, but I am not much of a pistoleer.

I just changed professions from nursing to insurance, and it takes awhile to build a good income in insurance sales. I will be on a LOW-L-O-W budget for sometime.

Maybe I'll just pick out a good Mosin-Nagant and sporterize it. You can do that for around $350.00 including buying the Mosin.

 

[R.W.Dale]

If you've used p-mags you'd realize that making magazines from plastic is the best thing since they became detachable

I agree if you must go handi avoid 243. Mine like most others just kinda vomited the bullets in the general direction of the target

Another caliber to avoid is 44mag as many of these left the factory w grossly oversized bores


LOL I've not priced handis in awhile I do know I bought a Stevens 200 from academy two years ago on sale NEW for $240

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Elkins45]

I gave my Dad a .223 some years ago and thought it would be nice to put a scope on it and sight it in for him. Imagine my surprise when I discovered its handy time saving 'auto eject' feature: upon firing the action would snap open and the empty case would go flying over my shoulder at dangerous speeds!

Needless to say that particular specimen made a trip back to the factory.

 

[420Stainless]

Here in MS you are allowed to use them during the primative weapons season in certain calibers, so they are still quite popular here. For some reason you can't use the same calibers in lever or bolt actions - must be a breech loading single shot to qualify. I have one of recent vintage in 45-70 and think quite highly of it for what it is. Seems plenty accurate to me, but then again I don't really care about benchrest level performance. The overall groups aren't particularly tight at around 3" @ 100 yards, but they all cluster around the same point without stringing.

 

[jmstevens2]

Any clue if the new barrels will fit my decades old 20ga?

 

[Boo-Radley]

Here in MS you are allowed to use them during the primative weapons season in certain calibers, so they are still quite popular here. For some reason you can't use the same calibers in lever or bolt actions - must be a breech loading single shot to qualify. I have one of recent vintage in 45-70 and think quite highly of it for what it is. Seems plenty accurate to me, but then again I don't really care about benchrest level performance. The overall groups aren't particularly tight at around 3" @ 100 yards, but they all cluster around the same point without stringing.

3" groups at 100 yards would be fine with me. Doesn't that 45-70 thump a little hard in a Handi Rifle?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Any clue if the new barrels will fit my decades old 20ga?

Only sb2 or newer rifle recievers can be fitted with other bbls. Assuming Remington still supports the bbl accy program

I have to say the op would indeed be much better served w a $140 mosin

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[420Stainless]

Doesn't that 45-70 thump a little hard in a Handi Rifle?

It is quite a hammer. The barrel is pretty heavy, but it still hits quite hard. I don't run more than a few rounds through it at a time. I'll be hunting with it in a couple of weeks and can't wait to take a deer with one. Mine is the only one I've ever shot, so I don't know if it is typical for accuracy or not.

 

[Boo-Radley]

By the way, the ejection spring is designed to throw the cartridge case over your right shoulder, so you do not have to fool with the empty in situations that require rapid fire. It's not a problem. Just put your hand over the reciever and catch the case when you're not trying to shoot fast.

i use to be able to fire my old Topper Model as fast as most guys can fire a bolt action, and hit what I was shooting at. However, that was limited to 3 rounds: one in the chamber and two between the fingers of my left hand.

 

[R.W.Dale]

By the way, the ejection spring is designed to throw the cartridge case over your right shoulder, so you do not have to fool with the empty in situations that require rapid fire. It's not a problem. Just put your hand over the reciever and catch the case when you're not trying to shoot fast.

i use to be able to fire my old Topper Model as fast as most guys can fire a bolt action, and hit what I was shooting at. However, that was limited to 3 rounds: one in the chamber and two between the fingers of my left hand.

You're a little behind the times because several years back the rifles went to an extraction only system replacing the old brass in your face ejectors

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[wingman]

The inexpensive Savage bolt action has a PLASTIC clip! I could never tolerate that!

Wow, a plastic "magazine" freaks you out and yet considering a Handi-rifle.

 

[sixgunner455]

Shotgun receivers should not be fitted with rifle barrels. They are not heat treated to take the punishment, and H&R will not do it.

A Mosin-Nagant will take any ruminant in North America just fine.

You can get a Savage 11/111 for under 4 bills, with a functional scope mounted on it. They have your choice of internal blind magazine, hinged floorplate, or detachable box magazine (made of steel).

 

[Boo-Radley]

You're a little behind the times because several years back the rifles went to an extraction only system replacing the old brass in your face ejectors

posted via tapatalk using android.

Handi Rifles did? i actually liked the old way. Just tilt the rifle a bit, and let it fly. There's something about rapid firing a single shot that is just plain fun. The technic is a challenge.

We did get into a situation once where my father fired, now get this, 13 rounds at a running bull elk! He hit it 3 times and took it down. He was moving through the brush at the same time he was firing, trying to keep the bull in site, and those cases flew EVERYWHERE. Being the hardcore hand loaders that we were we salvaged nine of the 13 cases!

 

[Boo-Radley]

Wow, a plastic "magazine" freaks you out and yet considering a Handi-rifle.

Plastic on a hunting rifle equals broken sooner or later, and it is a sure sign of low quality.

 

[greyling22]

savage, marlin, heck, you might be able to find a TC icon for under 4 bills at cdnn. or find an old marlin 30/30. There are lots of hunting rifle options for under 400 that aren't a handi.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Plastic on a hunting rifle equals broken sooner or later, and it is a sure sign of low quality.

The forend spacer on a handi. A part that's critical for function is made from GASP! plastic

Is a tikka t3 in your opinion a cheap rifle?

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Boo-Radley]

savage, marlin, heck, you might be able to find a TC icon for under 4 bills at cdnn. or find an old marlin 30/30. There are lots of hunting rifle options for under 400 that aren't a handi.

I really like Marlin lever guns. I had a 444 and my dad had a 45-70 years ago, but they're getting up there in price.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I really like Marlin lever guns. I had a 444 and my dad had a 45-70 years ago, but they're getting up there in price.

If you can't find a used 336 in 30/30 for under $275 you're officially the worlds worst gun shopper

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Googleplex]

I bought a 7mm-08 Handi-Rifle back when they were marketed as New England Firearms. It's not a bad rifle, but it wasn't outstanding out of the box. I improved a bit when the barrel was foated by installing an O-ring around the forearm screw. Handloads also help. A family member bought a heavy barrel model in .204, and that gun has never had problems. It really just depends on the rifle you get as to whether or not it'll need some work. My 7mm seems a little finichy in ammo choice, but with the right ammo it'll shoot nearly 1 MOA. Not spectacular, but I bought it for $205. The .204 will shoot sub-MOA groups every time with factory ammo. It all just kinda depends - relativity, you know? I will say I'm not overly pleased with the way the pistol grip on the stock feels.

 

[click clack]

Ive been drooling over one in .500S&W...