HR Handi R 45-70

[Dieselhorses]

First I need to know how you know yur frame is a SB2? Did you read it on the barrel? If so, that means nothing. You have to remove the stock to find out which frame you have. If the part of the frame that fits to the stock is hollow, it is a SB2. If it is solid it is a SB1. This is important. Wallace

Interesting. My SN starts with "HX" which indicates it should be a 2 but will remove stock and unveil tang/frame SN.

[Dieselhorses]

This is VERY interesting!

These are the second letter of the serial number. The first letter designates either a H&R (H) model or a NEF (N) model.

K=1996
L=1997
M=1998
N=1999
P=2000
R=2001
S=2002
T=2003
U=2004
V=2005
W=2006
X=2007
Y=2008
Z=2009

HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON SERIALIZATION 1940-1982
Year starting S.N. Prefix
1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1958 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH
1972 AJ
1973 AL
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AX
1982 AY

[JAMESGR]

It would be great if we could still buy an extra barrel or two from the factory.

[Dieselhorses]

It would be great if we could still buy an extra barrel or two from the factory.

Yes it would.


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[Dieselhorses]

First I need to know how you know yur frame is a SB2? Did you read it on the barrel? If so, that means nothing. You have to remove the stock to find out which frame you have. If the part of the frame that fits to the stock is hollow, it is a SB2. If it is solid it is a SB1. This is important. Wallace

I assume this is hollow?



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[John Guedry]

I have about 40 or 50 pieces of 45/70 I'm going to take apart and load lighter. My shoulder has had about all the "fun " it can stand.

[Dieselhorses]

Still have questions. The action locks tight but if I hold a flashlight on opposite side of breach I can see a slither of light. Is this normal? Also, is this caliber supposed to throw spent cases or just extract manually?


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[sukivel]

My 45-70 is an extractor, but I am not sure which are which until you open them. Half of my Handi’s are extractors, and half eject. I prefer extractors, cause my 22 Hornet ejects that little dude behind me into the next county.


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[Dieselhorses]

My 45-70 is an extractor, but I am not sure which are which until you open them. Half of my Handi’s are extractors, and half eject. I prefer extractors, cause my 22 Hornet ejects that little dude behind me into the next county.


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I agree, as much as this brass costs, I don't wanna be plundering around in the grass trying to locate.

[JSnover]

Ya know...
I hate to urinate in the punch bowl but my HR hasn't been out of the safe in close to fifteen years. It's too light for anything more than target loads, for one thing. Fun to shoot, I guess but that's about it.
And I was Not impressed by the way the breech used to pop open when firing - even with light loads - unless I slammed it shut before pulling the trigger. I know, there's a simple fix but a Brand New rifle shouldn't behave that way, the owner shouldn't have to fix it, and The Manufacturer Should Never Let It Leave The Shop In That Condition.
If mine was unique I'd call it a fluke but mine was one of many with that same problem. I'll never own another.
Sorry. Rant Off.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Ya know...
I hate to urinate in the punch bowl but my HR hasn't been out of the safe in close to fifteen years. It's too light for anything more than target loads, for one thing. Fun to shoot, I guess but that's about it.
And I was Not impressed by the way the breech used to pop open when firing - even with light loads - unless I slammed it shut before pulling the trigger. I know, there's a simple fix but a Brand New rifle shouldn't behave that way, the owner shouldn't have to fix it, and The Manufacturer Should Never Let It Leave The Shop In That Condition.
If mine was unique I'd call it a fluke but mine was one of many with that same problem. I'll never own another.
Sorry. Rant Off.

So what you’re saying is you wanna sell it?

[JoseBob]

Guess I'll jump in here with my experience. I have a 45-70 H&R and my load consists of 38 gr of IMR 4198. This is with a 405 cast boolit. There is one problem I have discovered. The Bore on this rifle is bigger than .457 or 458. It is .460 and as such needs a boolit that is about .462 or a smidge bigger. I started out wrapping the boolit with plumbers teflon tape. 3 wraps bumped it up to where it would shoot. I then figured out powder coating. One coat was not enough. 2 coats was much better and 3 coats put the boolit at about .463 and shot very well. Just takes time to shake and bake em. With the 38 gr. of IMR 4198 I am in the 1550 FPS ballpark. It is above trapdoor level, but nowhere near Ruger territory. This load works in my gun, YMMV. Please use this information at your own risk.

[Dieselhorses]

Guess I'll jump in here with my experience. I have a 45-70 H&R and my load consists of 38 gr of IMR 4198. This is with a 405 cast boolit. There is one problem I have discovered. The Bore on this rifle is bigger than .457 or 458. It is .460 and as such needs a boolit that is about .462 or a smidge bigger. I started out wrapping the boolit with plumbers teflon tape. 3 wraps bumped it up to where it would shoot. I then figured out powder coating. One coat was not enough. 2 coats was much better and 3 coats put the boolit at about .463 and shot very well. Just takes time to shake and bake em. With the 38 gr. of IMR 4198 I am in the 1550 FPS ballpark. It is above trapdoor level, but nowhere near Ruger territory. This load works in my gun, YMMV. Please use this information at your own risk.

Good work. So, if you can when you get time, see if you can see any light coming through between barrel and breech. Also let me know if you ever had problems with rifle unlocking after a shot? Thx

[farmerjim]

I have shot my 45-70 Handi with a 500 grain rnfp bore rider heavy load.
I will not do it a second time.

[Dieselhorses]

I have shot my 45-70 Handi with a 500 grain rnfp bore rider heavy load.
I will not do it a second time.

As I've mentioned, I got this rifle in return for some ammo that went with the S&W 500 I sold. I've shot the 500 beast for years with no pain, even with handloads of 40 gn of H110. I guess the wrist can take more than the shoulder? I will look into a "Limb saver" nonetheless!

Gee, just noticed you in St. Francisville! Used to work on ferry for DOTD until they shut it down! (2011)

[JSnover]

So what you’re saying is you wanna sell it?

It had other issues; Like shooting 24" to the right at 50 yards, with the rear sight drifted all the way left. Drifted the front sight over to the right and got it back on paper. The barrel does not appear to be bent and the crown looks great; square and concentric.
If I did sell it, it would be at a bargain price, as-is, No Returns.

[farmerjim]

As I've mentioned, I got this rifle in return for some ammo that went with the S&W 500 I sold. I've shot the 500 beast for years with no pain, even with handloads of 40 gn of H110. I guess the wrist can take more than the shoulder? I will look into a "Limb saver" nonetheless!

Gee, just noticed you in St. Francisville! Used to work on ferry for DOTD until they shut it down! (2011)

One of the retired ferry captains lives across the street from me.

[Gtek]

I have a few of these and several in the 45-70, a couple BC's and this little monster. When first received in its nice little black plastic stocked weighs nothing self I put one of the Marlin rounds in it. A nice little stack up of 52 gr of 3031 behind a FPHP, one shot and that round was delegated back to the lever world. Then I found a laminate set with Monte Carlo and that changed the world, it calmed the recoil dramatically either by fit, weight or both but was much more enjoyable to shoot. It has been a while but when staying in the 300-400 zone in the 1800 range it is very manageable. In regard to "light" between barrel and receiver, close weapon and feeler gauge the gap, place a round in chamber and feeler that between base and receiver. That is the headspace.

[Michael J. Spangler]

It had other issues; Like shooting 24" to the right at 50 yards, with the rear sight drifted all the way left. Drifted the front sight over to the right and got it back on paper. The barrel does not appear to be bent and the crown looks great; square and concentric.
If I did sell it, it would be at a bargain price, as-is, No Returns.

Offer it up on S&S
There are some handy guys around here that would either get it running or use it as a donor for some new project

[JSnover]

Offer it up on S&S
There are some handy guys around here that would either get it running or use it as a donor for some new project

That's probably the best idea at this point.
** Note to Mods; this has NOT been a WTS fishing expedition.
To the OP, I do hope you have good luck with your rifle, just had to get a thing or two off my chest.