Since there's been so little written about these rifles I thought I'd share my experience after using one for two years now.
First off...they ain't pretty...but I was in the market for a new truck gun and they looked like a fair replacement for the Handi that broke....again.Local sports store had the scoped combo on sale in .223 .243 and 7mm-08.I chose .223 for several reasons maybe better suited for another thread.
Same day limited for time ... took it out for a quick shooting session.In the sunshine,looking through the scope it came with, was even worse than it looking through it in the store.I mean....where'd the glass come from?Recycled bottles?No biggie, I'd already planned to replace it.The fore end is a bit skinny east-west but it's well balanced and points well.Next big plus was it has an extractor rather than an ejector.
Set up a target at 25 yards just to see if it was going to hit paper and took the first shot....... Oh my,...the trigger is a dream compared to a Handi trigger.Made a slight scope correction and moved the target out to 50 yards.Fired 3 shots with 2 different factory loads and had two groups with holes near touching themselves.I was now really excited about my new purchase but was out of time.
Forward a couple weeks and I'm armed with a new scope and ready to start working up handloads.After a morning shooting and cleaning I'm ready to retry a couple promising loads but no groups were quite as nice as those first two the day I got it...even the factory loads that shot them.I continue to try to find a load the rifle REALLY likes but around six months ago I just gave up.
Not bashing the rifle at all ... I'm actually quite pleased with it.There are some loads that just don't group well but by far most will hit at around 2 inches at 100 yards.Perfectly adequate for a truck gun.Now with even more experience with 4 different Handi Rifles, I'd say this is at least a good substitute.Despite what I've heard and read..... I have NEVER seen a "tack driving" Handi.Never handled one the heavy barreled models ... maybe they will ... but the ones I've messed with generally can be expected to give 2" groups at 100 yards at best.
The rifle has rode in the truck 2 years now and works well.It's short so is quick into action.Even with all the banging around the scope has held zero except for the one time it took a extra heavy lick right on the scope so not unexpected.One could grouch that there are no iron sights but at my age I can't see them well enough to use them.
Over all I'm pleased with it and keep having to talk myself out of buying another one chambered in .44mag.For cast bullets don't you know...