Ive gotta pick two

[PWalker]

Wife has given the ok for two new barrels this year for the Handi.I hunt in SW Mississippi and hunt deer only.I have several other deer rifles but would like your opinions.My plan is to get a 280 barrel fitted and another deer caliber but that is the one I can't decide about.I have thought that another Short Action would be nice(308,30/30/243....etc).I like the idea of the 308 BULL,would that be a good option or should I go with the 30/30? The receiver will be heading to HR next week.Also if anybody has any good info on ammo for the 280 that would be great.I will be using factory ammo as I dont reload(yet).Thanks in advance guys.

[aulrich]

Two options came to mind for me

45/70, because it is so different from 280

223, not to hunt with but for cheaper shooting practice

[PWalker]

Forgot to mention,the original receiver is from a 45/70 which is my "primitive weapon".

[mcwoodduck]

There isn't anything 308 can not do.
I have two one with Iron sights that shoots 180 grain Remington Soft point round nose and I think it's the ultimate brush rifle.  Have never had to track a deer with it.
The other is a Scoped rifle that shoots 165 grain soft points by federal that will reach out past the 250 yard mark.
Also there are more 308 loadings from 125 grain reduced recoil loads to 180 grain for really big game and every style and make of bullet is loaded.  Every gun store you walk into will have a box of 308 of some kid not to mention Wall Mart and other sporting good chain stores.  I think it's been a few years since I have seen a box of 280 on a shelf.  But that may just be where I live.
Now if you hand load the 308 can go from 45 grain sabots to 220 lion loads.  Since you only want it for deer any of the factory ammo would work.  The 125's in reduced recoil are 30 30+p.  The new Hornady 160 grain 30-30 lever round have promise but why spend the $ on the premium bullet when you don't need anything that will work in a tube mag.

[Moss88hunter]

You won't be disappointed with the .308 bull barrel!

[snuffer#1]

Get the 308. It's a very accurate 30 caliber!

[krod47nw]

My vote is for the 30-30.  Great caliber in a handi, and much different than the 280.

[dumgunny]

If I was in Mississippi, The FIRST barrel I would buy would be a 45/70.....From what I read on the boards, Miss. passed a law allowing the 45/70 to be used during black powder season ( THATS MUZZLE LOADING SEASON) . I'm not sure of the technicalities of the law, but if it based on the fact that the 45/70 was originally a black powder ctg, then the 30/30 should be legal as well for that matter.
my2¢

[quickdtoo]

The season that Mississippi allows H&Rs to be used in is their "primitive weapons season", they don't refer to it as muzzleloader season because some breech loaders are also allowed, it's been discussed on the Centerfire forum here numerous times. It's not based on blackpowder cartridges, it's based on the kind or type of firearm  manufactured before 1900 with an exposed hammer, .38 cal or larger as stated on the MDWFP website. And an FYI, the 30-30 has never been a blackpowder cartridge, that's been discussed before too. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,128740.msg1098470185.html#msg1098470185

Tim

This an approved list that we have for the new public notice on the breechloading sigle shot rifles, kind or type manufactured before 1900 with an exposed hammer, .38 cal or larger.

This list is by no means exclusive. This is just a list comprised of commonly available rifles.

SINGLE SHOT BREECHLOADING RIFLES WHICH ARE PRIMATIVE WEAPONS:

Sharps rifles or replicas
Reminton Rollingblock rifles or replicas
Ballard rifles
Maynard rifles or replicas
Burnside carbines
Frank Wesson rifles
Remington Hepburn rifles
M1873-1888 Springfield (trapdoor) Rifles and Carbines and replicas
Snider (British) rifles or replicas
Wesson & Harrington 1871 Rifles
New England Firearms or Harrington & Richardson Handi Rifles
Winchester M1885 Hi Wall or Lo Wall rifles or replicas (Also Browning B78 or 1885)

SINGLE SHOT BREECHLOADING RIFLES WHICH ARE NOT PRIMATIVE WEAPONS!!!!

Ruger Number 1 and Number 3 (no exposed hammer)
Thompson Center Contender or Encore Carbines (designed after 1900)
Mossberg SSi Single Shot Rifle (no exposed hammer and designed after 1900)

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10913

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,109588.msg1098327332.html#msg1098327332

[indydave]

well i have picked the 500 s&W   308   223  handi  and in a month or two getting  a 44mag and a 357    i say i will have everything covered in north america  along with my savage ml-10-2 and my 500 and 835 mossbergs  my 9mm baby eagle  and model 29 smith(4inch) and several 10/22's an SKS and an AR-15 match   i now want either a mosin-nagant m91/30 or a k-31 swiss   i would     go with a 357 or 44    and a 308   but i am diverse   lol
 

[PWalker]

This particular frame that I am going to add the barrels to is a 45/70.I bought it when Miss passed the new law allowing the Handi as a primitive weapon.Bowie Outfitters,a local sporting goods distributor,had anticipated Louisiana passing the same law and bought hundreds,if not thousands of the Handis in 444 and 45/70.I bought mine for 189.00 when the law didnt pass in La and they got stuck with a truckload and needed to move em.I was very impressed with my first trip to the range with it.i bore sighted it and within 5 or 6 shots I had bullet holes touching each other at 100 yds.Thats the draw for me to the other Handi rifle calibers.I was very impressed with accuracy out of the box and hope I get as lucky with the next two.I appreciate all the feedback and the wealth of knowledge that ya'll provide.Thanks

[Mac11700]

Well...since you got one of the best already...and you want to get 2 more...One of my personal favorites has always been the 25-06...It does excellent with the 26" tube...and can double as a long range varmint rifle too...and would be my choice over the 280...even though the 280 is a fine choice as well...I had excellent luck with mine...If you do pick up a 280...here's a couple different types of ammo to try..





For your other barrel..since you want to stay with deer calibers...and you have other rifles to choose from...would have to be a 30-30...While the 308 Bull barrels are nice..the 30-30 is the other best barrel for the Handi's...

Mac

[burntmuch]

Id say 30-30 or the .357 cheap shooting Then when you Need an excuse to start reloading , max the 357

[njanear]

Id say 30-30 or the .357 cheap shooting Then when you Need an excuse to start reloading , max the 357

I like the way you think, burntmuch.  The .280 is a great distance cartridge and the .45/70 is a superb 'big bore' choice.  Both the .30/30 and the .357 would be perfect 'economical' deer cartridges for the short-to-mid-range opportunities.  Either one of those cartridges can also be found in 99% of the gun stores and the WalMarts that sell ammo (in case you forgot yours at the house).  Around here (middle Georgia), I have NEVER found .280 or .45/70 in more than 1 or 2 Wally Worlds, and many gun stores around here only carry a small selection of them (this I know because I shoot both .280 and .45/70 and am always looking for 'bargain' ammo ).