Handi-Rifle in .35 Whelen

[Marlin Junky]

I've always wanted a fine single-shot in .35 Whelen and this rifle is nothing like a fine single-shot... but, should I ignore esthetics and buy one anyway because it is dirt cheap and might shoot the Whelen well? Does anyone know if it has a 14" twist? I can't hardly believe this thing is chambered for the .35 Whelen, much less the .500 S&W!

MJ

[bruce drake]

Just bought one. She does kick a WEE BIT in factory loads. Only change I would have would be to have the express sights like the 45-70 barrel vice the scope mount.

Bruce

[Marlin Junky]

Bruce,

Please measure the twist/barrel length and post results. I'd also be interested in what the throat looks like in terms of length and angle.

Thanks,
MJ

[dk17hmr]

NEF's are great rifles. I have one frame with 3 barrels.
24" 243 Win 4-12x44 scope mounted on it. Shoots Federal 100gr Power Shocks (j-bullets) into 1" at 100 yards easy enough.

32" 45-70 with a 3-10x40 scope mounted on it, this one shoots a clover leaf at 50 yards with 500gr Lee RNFP gas checked with a full case of Trail boss, loose clover leaf at 100 yards.

24"? 50 caliber muzzy barrel shoots clover leafs at 50 yards with a 4x scope, 100gr of 777 and a Power belt, a touch bigger with Lee cast 360gr bullets.

For the money you cant go wrong, I did a trigger job on mine and it breaks at about 2.5 pounds.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/NEFGroup.jpg

Boyds, I think, makes fancy walnut stocks for them to. Check out GreyBeards they have a NEF section and there is alot of info on there about them. Alot of people seem to be happy over there with thier Whelens.

[Marlin Junky]

dk17hmr,

Thanks for the pictures. Why is the stock at the wrist bigger around than the rear of the action? Is that simply a manufacturing short-cut or a design constraint? In other words, can the stock be reshaped to fit the action better? I can see from the photo that the trigger guard is not steel but I can live with that considering the $200 price tag.

MJ

[dk17hmr]

In other words, can the stock be reshaped to fit the action better?

I dont want to sound like a ******* but its wood, of course it can. I have never given it any thought, it doesnt bother me at all, I bought the handi as a 223 but that barrel is long gone, reason I bought it was the price was right and I always wanted something like this, TC were out of the question because out $$$. Different stocks are around also, like I said before I think Boyds makes a fancy walnut stock.

This is a pic from one of the guys on Greybeard its a 45-70 with the 32" barrel, stocks from Gunstocks Inc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/PhilHarris/RestockedBC.jpg

All depends on what your want to do with it and how you want it to look, heck there are even 6 position AR style butt stocks for these critters.

[Marlin Junky]

I can see I'm not making myself perfectly clear. It appears to me that the action is inletted into the wrist of the stock because the wrist is fatter than the action at the wood/metal interface. Since I don't know how the Handi-Rifle's butt stock is physically attached to the action, I'm wondering why the wood is larger in circumference than the action. If the wood is taken down to the same circumference as the action (at the wood/metal interface), would the butt-stock rotate about the action? After all, this gun has no tang.

MJ

[357maximum]

MJ

I cannot see why you cannot reshape it..The design would prevent stock spinning, it is a rounded pyramid/chevron like male/female fit held together with a through bolt. My old 158 topper in 30/30,, has a "slim" buttstock and My newer handi rifles have the fatter stock and just like you I like the slim grip better. I just have not set down and whittled my stocks as of yet...

[rockrat]

If you have the bucks, you could shell out the funds for a Ruger #1 in 35 Whelen. Stainless with walnut stocks.

[Marlin Junky]

.357,

Thanks for the input... that's exactly what I wanted to hear.

BTW, I received my replacement SAECO #352 in the mail today. Hopefully by the end of next week I'll be able to let you know how it casts.

MJ

[Marlin Junky]

rockrat,

I would have purchased a #1 in .35 Whelen if they came with standard weight 26" barrels. Based on what I've read so far about the H-R's though, they just might out shoot the $900.00 Ruger #1.

MJ

[dk17hmr]

Yea what 357 said. They are male/female triangle shaped with a 9/16 bolt holding them together.

Sorry my girlfriend always says I dont pay good enough attention.

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

To add some more clarification onto any confusion????:wink:

The receiver/stock interface is a ball and socket type of junction. The through bolt is (like dk17hmr said) a 9/16 fine thread bolt, and this set up will even hold together a severly cracked buttstock while going through 100 rounds of 45/70 for a shoot.

The wood is now thicker on all models, but I haven't found this to be objectional in the "feel" department. And I am not one to care too much about the fit of a weapon this reasonable. Working is much more important to me. "chrome won't get you home" comes to mind...

[bruce drake]

Looked at my Handi last night. It's a 1-16" twist barrel and the throat on mine is cut short by the looks. I didn't see any engraving on the bullet on a home cast 158gr RN load

Hope that helps everyone.

Bruce

[No_1]

I have a Handi in 20 GA. that I purchased from an estate some time ago. Kinda forgot about it to be honest. From what I have read, it appears I can have many barrels for it? Can some one point me in the right direction as far as POC or a website?

Thanks,

Robert

[MtJerry]

I have a Handi in 20 GA. that I purchased from an estate some time ago. Kinda forgot about it to be honest. From what I have read, it appears I can have many barrels for it? Can some one point me in the right direction as far as POC or a website?

Thanks,

Robert

Only shotgun barrels ... the SB1 receivers cannot be fitted with rifle barrels.

Look here: H&R1871.com

go to the "barrel accessory program" and you will see alisted of what barrels can be fitted.

[Marlin Junky]

Will the 16" twist stabilize Lyman 358009 to about 300 yards? How long is the barrel?... there are no .35W spec's on NEF's website.

MJ

[bruce drake]

My rifle has a 22" barrel.

I don't know what it would do with a 288gr Lead bullet but the 250gr J-words shot fine at 100 yards.

Bruce

[Marlin Junky]

I decided to buy a H-R in .35W and just got back from Wally World... which doesn't sell guns in CA anymore.

MJ

[dk17hmr]

That is the growing trend with Wally World. They dont sell guns anymore in the city were I go to college.

Watch gunbroker or gunsamerica.

[bruce drake]

Go to a local gunshop. Pay the transfer fee and have him bring one in for you. I prefer to support the local shops over Wal-Mart Corporation. Arkansas doesn't need my money, the local gunshop does.

Bruce

[madcaster]

A friend put a Pope style triggerguard and buttplate omn his,along with a set of double triggers off a muzzleloader,looked great.