7X64 Handi

[bowtech302]

Hi guys, I have been hanging around the forum for a while and have gotten a tremendous amount of info from you all. A great bunch. I am a budding Handi-holic with a 22 Hornet, 243, 38-55, 45 colt, and 12 gauge ush deluxe. Well, I have a new toy too.....

I picked up a very lightly used 7x64 Handi the other day for $240 (I think I got a darn good deal). So, what are your expereinces with this rifle? I know they are a fairly rare Handi but I know it is a common caliber in Europe. As a non-reloader (hoping that changes soon) ammo can be hard to come by: Sellier and Bellot, Prvi Partizan, and Norma appear to be the only current manufacturers. I have also seen that at one time or another Federal, Remington, Hornady, and PMC have loaded it.

So any advice for the gun? Will probably pick up some S&B ammo but I can get it in 139 or 173 grain versions. Does the twist rate in this gun prefer lighter or heavier bullets? Any other ammo I absolutely have to try? Prefer to stay away from the $$$ Norma stuff but I know it is good quality.
Thanks,
Joel

[quickdtoo]

Congrats! It has a 1:10" twist, my loves the 160gr partition Federal ammo if you can still find it, I think it's discontinued, and handloaded 140gr Nosler BT w/N160, well under 1" at 100yds. There was a source of ammo listed in the FAQs, dunno if it's still available, I have two boxes of the 173gr S&B ammo, but have never shot it, too many others to shoot!! 

Tim

[wreckhog]

My local shop carries Remington

[bowtech302]

I checked Remington's website and they no longer catalog 7x64. I also work part time at a gun shop and have checked the catalogs top to bottom and cannot find an American manufacturer currently producing it. I've seen some Remington and PMC stuff on Gunbroker and Hornady at Graf's but I believe its new old stock. Frustrating....

What's the recoil like? I have a Rem 700 .280 and I'm presuming it'll be similar. And Tim, supreme guru of all that is Handi, why does this gun have a 24" barrel rather than the 22" or 26" that seem to be standard?

Thanks,

Joel

[quickdtoo]

The 7x64 and 280 Rem are virtually ballistic twins, so recoil will be the same. All of H&R's 24" barrels are either heavy contour or bull barrels, the 7x57 also has a 24" barrel that's ~.720" at the muzzle compared to /~.650" for standard contour.

Graf's also has Prvi as well as Norma and Hornady, Reed's and Conley both list it too, see the FAQs.  

Tim