Handi rifles

M

MrDontPlay

New member
I'm thinking about getting a handi rifle. I'm going to be getting a S&W 500 and I'd like a rifle chambered in the same caliber. Anyone have any experience with these? I don't think they make them any more but I've seen a few on GB.
 
I have had a couple of them. One in 223 and one in 243. Not much to be said about them. They were simple and as reliable as the ammo. Not the greatest for accuracy, but not terrible either. 100 yrd deer gun. Not too heavy. Not that purty. Didn't worry about scratching it in the woods. And real cheap. I dont think I had 50 bucks in both.
 
Yeah, they still make them. I've got four that I've picked up over the years. They're common in pawn shops in this area and fairly easy to find new in the big box stores. They're currently owned by Remington and made in the Ilion, NY plant. Marlin bought them several years ago and when Remington bought Marlin, they picked up the H&R line as well.

They're solid little guns, and fairly accurate with a little tinkering. All of mine are capable of 2.0 MOA or better, and some guys do much better than that.

The go-to forum for H&R rifles is at the Graybeard's Outdoor forum.

I did a review of them at my website. I've heard that the .500 SW Handis are fine little rifles and make good companion pieces to the revolvers.
 
I had a .243 that wouldn't hit paper after the first shot. The barrel had to cool for almost an hour before it came back on target. Very hard to zero that way. I didn't keep it long. Low price only advantage, IMHO.
 
I have a .223 Ultra Varmint with a slow twist, it shoot great with 55 grain and below ammunition. I've killed several prairie dogs at 300 yards and beyond with it. It will not eject 100% of the time but that is about my only complaint with that rifle.

I have a newer .204 Ultra Varmint as well, and it has been a real PITA to get it to shoot well. 1.5" at 100 is about the best I can get that rifle to do. I think I'll float the forearm and try some of the other tricks found over in the FAQ on the Handi Rifle Forum at Graybeard Outdoors. That really is the best place to learn all things Handi.

IIRC the .500 S&W can be hard on the frame. That cartridge is about at the limit of what a Handi can safely operate at. I think that is why they have dropped it, I think it is fine with standard factory loads, but some of the hopped up reloads and specialty ammunition is where you get into trouble with it.
 
Handloading helps in the accuracy department. My h&r 45-70 (just the regular handi rifle, not the buffalo classic) was shooting 6-7 inch groups with factory Winchester ammo, but with hand loads is hovering right around 1moa.

I've heard the smaller calibers are better with factory ammo, but not sure to what degree.
 
The main factor in accuracy for the Handi (there are others) is that the latch shelf and latch must be DRY. This is also a factor in guns popping open upon firing. By the way, just so you'll know ahead of time, the Handi is rather light and by all reports the .500 will kick the snot out of you. Other than that most owners seem to really like them. One guy claims to have shot thru a 4" sapling and killed the doe behind it.;) Goatwhiskers
 
I hunted with a .308 handi rifle for 10 years. Never missed a deer. That said I never could shoot a very good group on paper.

Why aren't these guns more accurate?
 
Why aren't these guns more accurate?
Click to expand...

Two piece stock, break open action........ Terrible combination for accuracy. Each time you open the action point of impact can change, how you hold gun or place on front rest will change point of impact. Yes, some of it applies to bolts but not to the extend with the break open, I've owned two would not buy any more, good for truck gun for ranchers/farmers thats about it.

Many companies now produce some low cost bolts that are much better in terms of accuracy why waste money?
 
Accuracy is more consistent when rested, at or just back of the hinge. If my .243 Win is rested out on the forend, it strings shots vertically. It also prefers a soft front rest, opposed to a block of wood, or hard sandbag.

Rested back at the hinge, it will shoot 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards with handloads. My grandson loves it!
 
Two piece stock, break open action........ Terrible combination for accuracy.
Click to expand...

Tell that to all the guys shooting sub MOA Encore and Contender pistols and rifles. Of course if H&R would step up the quality to the same as T/C you would have a single shot rifle that rivals the cost of most M70 and M700 bolt action rifles just like T/C. The Handi's most time shoot respectable enough to make a decent hunting rifle or first time purchase.
 
They are inexpensive enough to try without killing the wallet. 15 minutes at Graybeard will tell you all you want to know. The tips and tricks are simple and also inexpensive. Some shoot well from the git go. Some need something as simple as a 12 cent "O" ring. Triggers are easily tweeked if necessary. I've had five of them over the years. Only one of them needed the trigger worked for me. On the other hand, if I worked the triggers on the other ones, they would just be that much better. But do visit Graybeard. Those guys have these things figured out.
 
The Handi's most time shoot respectable enough to make a decent hunting rifle or first time purchase.
Click to expand...

Correct many would not care but if your looking for out of the box accuracy it is rare in this type gun, but as another poster suggested Greybeard site has a lot of answers. If you enjoy tinkering it is the gun for you, sort of like trying to straighten a bent golf club.;)
 
You pays your money and takes your chances. My .308 Handi rifle is the most accurate center fire rifle in the house using 180 gr Remington Corelokt. If I can't shoot 3 shots touching at 100 yards it's my fault not the gun.

For those who aren't shooting good groups what loads are you using, I find heavier bullets better, I also rest the gun on my hand just in front of the trigger, I don't know if it makes a difference but I am out-shooting my Springfield's, Ruger's, Winchester, Stevens and Weatherby with that gun. I shoot it in Hunting class competition and had it challenged as being a match grade target rifle but it isn't. Those guys challenging me had more money in just their scope than I did scope and rifle combined.

Only thing I question is shooting S&W 50 in a Handi-rifle. I have seen a video of a gun opening up after each shot with that round. On the other hand my H&R 10 gauge has no problem and I shoot it a lot just because it's so much fun it should be illegal. I haven't compared recoil between the 10 gauge and the 50 but I suspect the 50 might be a little stouter and could be a problem.
 
My handi-rifle in .243 with burris ff2 scope will shoot moa and sometimes just under with remington 100gr ammo. Great rifle for the money. Mine is anyway.
 
handi rifles are so much fun! My brother has one in .280, and I have one in .308, they both shoot very well for what we spent on them. Definitely exceeding their expected ROI. We reload for them, which helps quite a bit. We can use a longer OAL to lay directly onto the lands instead of needing the rounds to cycle reliably in any sort of action.

Go for it, you'll love it
 
I own five Handi's, including one with a .500 Mag barrel. All of mine (as well as the extra barrels I purchased for them) have given me impressive accuracy. My experience with the .500 is limited because I have only fired 50 rnds or so. Mainly because it KICKS LIKE HELL! And I'm shooting relatively light handloads. In my experience they are simple, inexpensive, reliable and accurate. The 'Huntsman' inline ML barrels are supreme both in simplicity and performance. I will now give my nod to Greybeard and say this: Buy a .45-70.
 
my dad has a 223 handi with the heavy bull barrel and it will shoot 1/4'' at a hundred yards all day long. great little rifle.
Click to expand...
Me, too! Most accurate rifle I own. Many a varmit has been dispatched by that rifle.

I don't think they make the .500 S&W in a bull barrel, but if they did, that would cut down recoil a lot. Might improve accuracy, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top