H&R Shikari.

[rromeo]

I was poking around local pawn shops today, and what I thought was a muzzleloader turned out to be a .44 mag H&R Shikari. I'be been thinking about a Handi Rifle as a companion for my Super Blackhawk, so at $179 this seems like a no-brainer.
Anyway, I have read that I should keep the loads down. Does this mean don't use any rifle load data, or I even need to use light handgun loads?

[Goatwhiskers]

.44Mag you're basically all right at least with factory level loads. I wouldn't get too wild with it, the Shikari has the SB1 or cast iron frame which becomes a frag grenade when it lets go. GW

[nanuk]

most rifle data that i have read is identical to rifle data...

I'm planning getting a .44 rifle also, so am interested in others experiences.

[troyboy]

Book loads are fine. H&R installs 44 and 357 barrels on SB1 frames sent in through the barrel accessory program.

[rromeo]

Thanks for the help.

[cajun shooter]

Your gun is the early model of what is known as the the SB-2 frames of today.
They were brought out in the 70's in 45-70 caliber and you were advised to shoot only trap door loads in them.
The new guns that are sold all over today will take a Ruger #1 load as far as the steel goes but your shoulder may not agree as they are very light. Even the Buffalo Hunter with the 32 inch barrel needs a recoil reducer of some kind. They are just as accurate as guns costing thousands more.

[casca]

GREETINGS,
Go to the graybeard website and register they have a trading and classified section. you should be able to find an SB2 frame for around a $100, deal for what you got in your shikari so far.

I swapped out my 45-70 shikari frame with an SB2 frame NO PROBLEM, Now the SHIKARI barrel lug is not as attached as well as a NEW SB2 GUN. but it will handle more than you.

Good Luck to you
casca

[Goatwhiskers]

Casca, you bring up another good point. The Shikari, 158, and Topper barrels had the lug silver soldered on. Very rare, but they have been known to separate under heavy loads. GW

[leadman]

I tried, just to see if it would work, installing my NEF 223 barrel on my old Shikari frame and it would not even come close to fitting.
An all of the old receivers pre 1987 were cast iron. There was no SB1 and SB2 back then.
I did have a Shikari in 44mag rechambered to 445 SuperMag because the rifling in front of the chamber was pitted, probably from someone firing blackpowder in it.

Gary Reeder in Flagstaff even rechambered one for the 348 Win. !

I've had at least 20 of the old guns (pre NEF) and still have 2 Huntsman 58 caliber muzzleloaders. I bought the first one shortly after leaving the service in 1973.

You will be fine with factory equivilant loads.

[curator]

The H&R/NEF Handi-Rifle barrels chambered for .44 Magnum have a twist rate of 1 in 38" and do not shoot longer bullets very accurately. The are also 12 groove (micro-grove) have been rifled by the Marlin factory so also have slightly over-size bores (.431-.432). Mine will shoot 210 grain boolits with some accuracy if I keep their velocity to under 1000fps. 240 grain slugs are OK at 25 yards or less but shoot shotgun-like patterns at 50 yards with some key holes. Factory condum bullets around 200 grains are actually pretty good but who needs a .44 caliber 200 grain j-bullet at 1400fps when I can get this with a 280 grain cast boolit from my Ruger SBH with rifle-like accuracy? So...as a companion to your Ruger SBH, why bother. As a plinker for light .44 slugs at handgun velocities to train new shooters it may be worth it. Just don't expect too much.

[leadman]

This OPers Shikari was made in the 70s. Just about a completely different gun that what is made now. This was before H&R went bankrupt and the employees started up NEF.
The frame is cast iron,not heat treated steel like the current NEF/H&R rifles. The barrel should also have standard, though slow rifling.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I bought one of these today for not a lot of money. I always fancied a 45/70 in one of these.

My initial thoughts in the shop were that I could re chamber it to a 444 or some ancient black powder rifle calibre. A bit of research scotched that, 1 in 38" twist and cast iron frame. Still should be fun with 44 mags. I will probably load it with light(ish) plinking loads for learners at the range.

An interesting rifle, missing the cleaning rod or whatever it was under the barrel.

I wasin a hurry, so didn't get a chance to take any photos. Woodwork is classic varnished pine packing crate!

[pietro]

Woodwork is classic varnished pine packing crate !




Aaaahhhh ! The classic PW (pallet wood) stock ! :2 drunk buddies:



.

[rockrat]

Factory level loads should be fine in your Shikari. Good rifle and a good price for one, especially in 44mag.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Aaaahhhh ! The classic PW (pallet wood) stock ! :2 drunk buddies: .
Yes, PW (pallet Wood) Stock, the 70's equivalent to the stock on the Remington SPS which is fondly referred to in the trade here in Australia as the sorry Plastic Stock. Both ugly, both cheap, but both more than up to the job.

[roverboy]

Does anybody know if a .357 barrel will fit a Huntsman frame? I've had a .58 Huntsman for a while and just wondered.

[Janoosh]

Firing pin kinda large on that huntsman. Gonna need to change it for at least a shotgun pin. I have a 58 huntsman also and the firing pin is slanted for caps.

[roverboy]

Firing pin kinda large on that huntsman. Gonna need to change it for at least a shotgun pin. I have a 58 huntsman also and the firing pin is slanted for caps.

Thanks. I kind of thought the pin looked huge. Being slanted might be a problem too.

[belton.deer.hunter]

I have a shirkari in 45-70 I am waiting on some 370 grain cast spite point bullets for. Anyone know the twist on the 45-70?

[Fieldmaster]

Hello casca
How did you.swap out the receiver for a SB2 and where did you get it from

[Four Fingers of Death]

The SPS rifle stocks aren't referred to as the sorry plastic stock, use your imagination and substitute the word for that stuff that sticks to shoes. Kindergarten level censors at work again.

[Fieldmaster]

Hello Belton.deer.hunter
I do beleave it's 1-20

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

H&R won't put a 357 or 44 barrel on a huntsman

I tried

called gave them my serial number 2003 model , they said sure

they got it and said no rifle or shotgun barrels on a muzzle loader

I asked why

I got some BS about how they removed material from the muzzle loader frames to make the muzzle loader barrel fit

funny if they had to remove material to make a muzzle loader barrel fit why is it they will fit a muzzle loader barrel to a sb1 or sb2 frame

mine is a SB1 frame

[olafhardt]

Perhaps the muzzle loaders were sold without federal paperwork and there is a legal hitch to converting them to cartridge firing guns.

[twilkin458]

I have a Shikari (45/70) bought NIB for $50.00 in 1972 that still gets out to the range from time to time. I refinished the stock to bring out the figure in the fine blond pallet wood stock :) plugged and re-profiled the fore end. I bought a cheap rear tang and front globe sight and it will shoot one hole groups at 50 yards with Remington 405 JSP's and reduced loads. Fun gun in this configuration!

[Four Fingers of Death]

I bought one of these today for not a lot of money. I always fancied a 45/70 in one of these.

My initial thoughts in the shop were that I could re chamber it to a 444 or some ancient black powder rifle calibre. A bit of research scotched that, 1 in 38" twist and cast iron frame. Still should be fun with 44 mags. I will probably load it with light(ish) plinking loads for learners at the range.

An interesting rifle, missing the cleaning rod or whatever it was under the barrel.

I wasin a hurry, so didn't get a chance to take any photos. Woodwork is classic varnished pine packing crate!


I've had a bit of fun with this rifle and a young guy at the range had a shot (or ten, lol) out of it and fell in love with it. He wanted to swap a 1976 built Win94 with Williams peep sight and a Norinco 22Mag lever action rifle for it. I am not one to take afvantage of a young guy and told him the correct value of the guns. I ended up swapping the H&R for the 94 and I threw in a half gallon ice cream bucket half full of reloads and agreed to reload them once for him. He is over the moon and I'm pretty happy as well.

[condorjohn]

I found this 44 mag a few weeks ago at a gun show. It has handling dings but looks unfired, or at least very well taken care of. Back in the day my first muzzleloader was an H&R 58 cal. It shot very good. Hope this one shoots as good.168421168420

[Four Fingers of Death]

I had no complaints about the rifle, but the 94 was a more suitable rifle for me.

[geezer56]

I have a Shikari in 45-70. I have killed about a dozen deer with it. It is great handling and shooting gun. Trapdoor level loads are the limit due to the silver soldered lug. But it isn't bad to shoot at that level. With 340 or 405 gr cast it is a hoot.

[Four Fingers of Death]

The Gould Mould would be a natural. It is a 45/70 that I always fancied, but I now have a H&R Trapdoor so that get me my single shot BP Punkin roller stuff done in style.