Handi Rifle Opinions

[wtfooptimax200]

What does everyone think of the Handi Rifle (specifically the Ultra Varmint)? Last night, while drooling over various gun ideas with my brother, we decided that a single shot 223 would be fun. It could be downloaded to very low levels with cast or shot at higher pressures for more long range use. I also love the idea of having a rifle that would be virtually identical to my Ultra Slug without the $2-3 ammo cost for sabots. My main concern is that I'm always leery of inexpensive items and $350 seems too good to be true for an accurate rifle. What type of accuracy are you seeing out of these (for both higher velocity jacketed and low velocity cast)?

Thanks for any opinions!

Brnaden

[Good Cheer]

Love the 45Colt.
Would really love one in .41 mag (dream on!).
If I had the time I'd like to try one of the 26" barrels rebored to a larger diameter 06 based cast friendly cartridge.

[6pt-sika]

I've fooled with several Handi Rifles over the years .

The first was in 280 REM I worked up a load for a friend so he could deer hunt and the thing was easily 3 shots in 3/4" at 100 yards shooting the Nosler 140 BT . Later that friend sold it to another friend and they both were impressed with the gun although it was a tad heavy . This one had a very decent trigger I might add .

Later I messed with an H&R Ultra Hunter in 25-06 belonging to another different friend . I got this one to shoot with handloaded Nosler 115 BT's as well as the previouse 280 however the trigger on this one could have been better .

Couple years later I got a Handi Rifle for myself in og all things the 444 Marlin . This one had a very decent trigger and it liked jacketed and cast bullet handloads . It was nothing to keep 3 shots at 100 yards with this one inside an inch . All the loads I tried were full tilt I might add .

While not exactly a Handi Rifle per say I had a pair of the H&R Ultra Slug Hunter DeLuze guns in 20 gauge . These are the laminated stock jobs . One was with the stadard 3" 20 gauge chamber and the other was one of the Hastings guns that had been run out to take the Hastings 3 1/2" 20 gauge slug loads they sell . The standard gun shot the 20 gauge 2 3/4" Winchester Partition Gold slugs in virtually one hole groups at 100 yards for 3 shots and the gun had one of the better H&R triggers I had ever tried . The Hastings H&R gun shot the Winchester Partition Golds as well as the other gun and came very close with the Hastings 3 1/2" ammo although the pounding from the 3 1/2" was ALOT worse . Trigger on the Hastings gun was very decent also .

I am actually as we speak contemplating a H&R Handi in 45-70 . Want one of these to thread the end of the barrel and suppress and shoot sub sonic 550 grain cast bullets . This would be a set up for deer/bear damage control hunting in july/august :wink:

[kenyerian]

Have one in 22 Hornet that I really like.

[curator]

Handis can be really good or somewhat less than good. I have an original SB2 rifle and several barrels. The .45-70 beat the He!!out of me and would not group until I fire-lapped it 30+ lapping-rounds. The .223 barrel shot 1/2" 5 shot groups right out of the box with no tweaking. The .30-30WCF barrel is not bad with .311 cast GC boolits and 2000fps. The .44Rem Mag barrel is worthless with boolits over 210 grains unless you like key-holes in your target. The 1 in 38" twist will not stabelize anything over 220 grains.

[bstarling]

I have one of the Ultra Varmints in 223 and like it quite well. It shoots nicely.
Bill

[161]

I have a ULTRA 308 with a 25-06 barrel both shoot half MOA at 100 yards. I've been fighting with the 308 paper patching for a couple months now. But it shoots j word and cast gas check fine. I have a SB1 in 22 hornet and a 45-70 Buffalo Classic both are good shooters. A buddy of mine has the same rifle you are looking at. Don't think he shot it since we sighted it in 10 years ago but it's a shooter also.

[6pt-sika]

The .44Rem Mag barrel is worthless with boolits over 210 grains unless you like key-holes in your target. The 1 in 38" twist will not stabelize anything over 220 grains.

Mighty strange is all I can say !

I have a circa 1967 Marlin 336-44 with a 1-38 twist . It does very nicely on paper with bullets up to 325 grains !

[cephas53]

Have one in 45/70 I dedicated to cast. After some initial tweaking it's earned a place on the rack. Am only shooting high trapdoor or low midrange loads with it. Very enjoyable. Got allot of info off the faq's & basics here: http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

[NickSS]

I have several handy's and like them a lot My first one was an ultra hunter in 223 and i mounted a cheap 3X9 variable scope on it. I bought it for my son to use when we went on a planed prairie dog hunt in Montana. I really was not expecting fine accuracy out of it but it was cheap and my son was only 13 at the time and not a very good shot. Well to make a long story short the thing out shot my CZ 453 in 223 which I thought was a tack driver. With my hunting loads it consistently gets sub moa groups. I added a 308 barrel to the Ultra hunter since then. It shoots good but not as good as the 223.

[725]

They are great. Sub M.O.A. groups are the rule and not the exception. Just because they are cheap doesn't mean they are shabby. I've got some fine rifles, but I grab a H&R most of the time. You'll love the .223. Add a GOOD scope and mount it as low as you can (I grind the hammer spur to lower it and add a hammer spur). Add a bipod and you'll be whacking woodchucks way out there.

[Texantothecore]

Handi Rifles are well known as accurate and cheap. You probably will end up with several as they are very pleasant to shoot. They are also good lookin'.

HR has been producing these since before God invented dirt and they really know how to do them well.

And yes, sub moa groups are the norm not the exception.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Handi rifles are a good buy for the money, however the TC Encore is worth the extra money IMHO.

[casca]

I have almost every major caliber, missing the really rare ones.

Bought my first handi after going to a gun show and purchased some handloaded 223 for my ar for plinking. Well got skunked -the ammo was not hot enough to cycle the AR.

I was not into the reloading as of yet, so what was I gonna do with all this 223 ammo. Bought a brand new H&R at a gunshow for $200 and fell in love , My wife likes to shoot it The 10 yr old has a hornet he likes & I have a whelen that is not only fun to shoot. and that is not mentioning the 500 S&W , That I let people who have pissed me off shoot

http://graybeardoutdoors.com
Handi rifle section

good luck
casca1

[Lead Fred]

My 45/70 Handi, is one of my fav rifles.
I feed it only cast, and it is a blast to shoot

[oldsgm]

I got a package deal on a camo handi in 308 with a scope. I have on hand a LOT of 7.62 x 51 brass and loaded rounds courtesy of my uncle, and after selling my M1A and DMPS sportical, I wanted a something to be able to shoot all the ammo I had on hand.

I had a couple of 180 grain molds and built a load with them. Accurate and easy on the shoulder for about $350. Nice guns for the money.

[tacklebury]

I love mine. Have a 6 barrel switch rig with .223 Rem, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45-70 gov., 12 ga w/ screw in choke and am building a .58 Cal huntsman that I'm converting to a .625" (aka 20 ga) muzzle loading smoothbore with removable choke. This will allow me to use .610 Round Balls or shot with a choke. ;)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bJCl6ucjHxs/T4Nfo0wsdzI/AAAAAAAAA7s/3I2ZWXIWpZw/s800/Switchbarrel_2012.jpg

This is my .223 Setup before it became part of the switchbarrel rig. It'll put 5 into .375" if I do my part with my reloads. 8)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B8OKPxFvZlY/Tsx3sQEuz6I/AAAAAAAAAhw/uSX7Z3Yj3ws/s800/223REM_w_Leapers_4x32_Mildot_03.jpg

This is the Shorty setup for my wife's .357 Magnum 16.25" barrel with youth stock:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zlnWpftj7Co/T2uls5JkvyI/AAAAAAAAA6E/CSSZC_U82QQ/s800/357_Mag_Baby_Carbine.jpg

[leadman]

I bought one of the laminated stock heavy barrel 223 Rem. a few years back. While accuracy was decent you needed to have a cleaning rod along to push the empties out of the chamber. This was with factory brass cased American ammo. Looked like it was chambered with a drill bit! Factory said it was fine. I polished it up with a drill, a rod, and emery paper. It was ok then with reduced handloads.
Finally sold it and bought a heavy rifle barrel for my contender. Very accurate and cases never stick.