H&R Handi

[Mr Peabody]

I've had a few of these rifles over the years. I guess my favorite one is a .35 Remington someone recreated to an almost 35 Whelen. I bought one a while back that's a Classic Carbine. 45 Colt chamber in it, What's different with this one is that is has a left hand twist. All the others had a right hand twist. Why would they change up on this one cartridge?

[Mk42gunner]

1911's had left hand twist, maybe they used to make barrels for that and just reused the specs? I don't know, this was just a guess.

Robert

[pietro]

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Wiki says:

H&R built flare guns during World War I and a variety of firearms, including the Reising M50 submachine gun, during World War II.
H&R was granted a contract to produce the M1 rifle during the Korean War, but the first deliveries of the rifles were not made until after the armistice.
H&R manufactured the M14 rifle during that rifle's production cycle (1959–1964).
H&R also manufactured M16A1 rifles during the Vietnam War and is one of only four manufacturers (along with Colt, Fabrique Nationale, & GM Hydramatic Division) to have ever made an official M16 variant for the U.S. Military.


The Reising chambering was .45ACP, but IDK anything about the rifling except that my street smarts tell me it's entirely possible the twist was a LH twist.

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[Mr Peabody]

Interesting ideas. I never thought about them having left handed rifling equipment.

[bedbugbilly]

Hey Mr Peabodyb- Hope you are enjoying that rifle!

A person would think that all Hands Rifles would be the same as far as twist direction but obviously not.

As far as war production goes . . . and this may have nothing to do with why the rifling is left handed on some war production barrels . . . .

During the war, many of the plants converting to war production had the same issues that have plagued any production plant . . . employees pilfering tooling such as drill bits, cutters, etc. to take home and use. As a result, some plants converted some of their machinery to "left hand rotation" - i.e. reversed the motors and tooling was made left handed instead of right handed - drills, utters, etc. I had a machining instructor n college who "knew everything[' - or so he thought. One day, he smarter off about a "left hand drill bit" and I mentioned that I had one. He proclaimed . . . "they never made a left handed drill bit!" I asked him i the would like to put his money where his mouth was and he said . . . "you name the bet!" I said, "No exams and I get an A in the course." The next day, I brought the left handed drill bit with a Morse taper shank in to class and after he started class, he made a big deal about whether or not I could back up my claim. I carried the bit to the fronton the class and put in on his desk right in front of him. The entire class enjoyed watching him have to eat crow . . . and I got my A. The drill bit had been given to me by an old friend of my Dad's who had been a plant manager who had helped with the transition to left handed bits and cutters during the war. After the war, he said they went back to right had bits and cutters. I would't thank that something like that would affect the production of barrels with specialized machines and cutters, but who knows?

[John Taylor]

Most likely H&R bought their barrel from whoever would give them a good price. A lot of pistols use the left hand twist for 45 caliber.

[ARKANSAS PACKRAT]

H&R also made smoothbore 45-70's used by the Navy as line throwing guns. I saw them used many times during underway replenishment operations.

[smithnframe]

I have one in 22 hornet and another in 17 hmr.........both RH twist and good shooters!

[Mr Peabody]

BBB, I'm having a ball with this little jewel. I spent the money for a set of Skinner sights. They are nice to use! I haven't tried to hot rod any of the loads, everything is safe to shoot in a revolver. I shoot it a lot better than a pistol.

[rockrat]

T/C used left hand twist barrels on their Contrnders IIRC

[Good Cheer]

Wonderful piece.
Plinking loads, high powered bore rider designs, muzzleloading like an in-line.
Does it all.

[John Taylor]

H&R also made smoothbore 45-70's used by the Navy as line throwing guns. I saw them used many times during underway replenishment operations.
Someone gifted me a bunch of line throwing blanks many years back. They can be reloaded for 45-70. I also remember unreps while on the Kitty Hawk in 69, still have the back pain.

[NoZombies]

The H&R Reising model 50 barrels I've seen where all RH twist.

[Green Frog]

BBB, I'm having a ball with this little jewel. I spent the money for a set of Skinner sights. They are nice to use! I haven't tried to hot rod any of the loads, everything is safe to shoot in a revolver. I shoot it a lot better than a pistol.

Could I get some more info about those “Skinner sights” please? They sound interesting.

Thanks,
Froggie

[Dapaki]

I have a few Handi's and I do like them all but I really want to find/have made, a barrel chambering the 350 Legend. Do any of you know of someone that can do barrel conversions?

[RoyEllis]

I have a few Handi's and I do like them all but I really want to find/have made, a barrel chambering the 350 Legend. Do any of you know of someone that can do barrel conversions?

JES reboring is now doing 350 legend barrel rebore/rechamber according to his site. Would be a reasonable means to get where you want to go.

[John Boy]

Both NEF and H&R bought their barrels from Green Mountain. If you want details .. call them

[John Taylor]

I have a few Handi's and I do like them all but I really want to find/have made, a barrel chambering the 350 Legend. Do any of you know of someone that can do barrel conversions?

I have done quite a few over the years. We moved back to Idaho and the shop should be up and running in a few months.

[bluejay75]

That is a fantastic gun. I found accurate loads for it from slow to Ruger Only loads.

[nicholst55]

Could I get some more info about those “Skinner sights” please? They sound interesting.

Thanks,
Froggie

http://skinnersights.com/index.html

[Green Frog]

http://skinnersights.com/index.html

Thank you very much! :D

[lar45]

I've got a Handi in 30-06, but the chamber is about .1” too deep. It will only fire if the ejector catches the extractor groove, if not it slips in too far and the firing pin won't reach it. Now extra barrels cost more than the original gun.

[farmerjim]

I've got a Handi in 30-06, but the chamber is about .1” too deep. It will only fire if the ejector catches the extractor groove, if not it slips in too far and the firing pin won't reach it. Now extra barrels cost more than the original gun.

Wouldn't it work fine with neck sized only reloaded shells ? I would think that the case would be fire formed to fit the too long chamber.

[ncmn]

I have a H&R 45-70 with the 22" barrel and sent in for a Buffalo Classic 32" barrel to be fitted to another receiver right before they quit doing it. Was lucky to get it done before they stopped. I enjoy shooting it with Lee 405 grain cast boolits of course. Shot it out to 200 yards with smokeless and original 70 grains of black powder. I put a set of Williams FP-H&R-TK sights on it and was planning shooting out to 300 yards but I lost my place to shoot, so it has been awhile but love the single shots from H&R.

[Dapaki]

I have done quite a few over the years. We moved back to Idaho and the shop should be up and running in a few months.

John, looks like you got a customer when you reopen. Shoot me some contact info if you could.