Handi-holic--getting in deeper

[McLernon]

I have been following the thread on the new 45 caliber NEF Handi carbine. It looks great but the one I really like is Quick's 45-70 carbine(22") with BC stock but with a recoil pad. He just PM'ed me with the specifics--------------------------------------------------so I remembered WHERE I think I can actually get a new BC to modify. I discussed it with the 'finance minister' and it's a go!!!! This will be number four if it's still where I think it is. This does sound like 'Ground-hog Day'.


McLernon

[quickdtoo]

I hope it's still there for ya, they can be hard to find when ya want one, even here!! You fellas north of the border need a Sportsmans Warehouse, I checked at the new store here in Vancouver on Monday, they normally have a BC or a Target and a bunch of Handis and Ultras, no BC or Target, but they had at least a dozen others from 204 thru 30-06, a few duplicates, but no .45-70 Handi and I have yet to see a .500 there!

If 'n you need anything that I can supply....besides money ....let me know, Fred's recovering from knee surgery, so he might be outa action for a bit, hopefully he'll be checking in soon.

Tim

[McLernon]

Well I did manage to find that BC but they wanted $600.00 plus 14% tax. By the time I pay a gunsmith for the metal and wood work plus a set of iron sights it'll be well over $800.00(CDN). For that I can buy a new stainless steel Marlin lever action in 45-70( and they are very nice). I'll have to re-think this project.

McLernon

[quickdtoo]

That's too bad, really throws a monkey wrench in the works!!

Tim

[lik2hunt]

Plenty of 'em to be had out there. Cheaper than you were going to pay for sure.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62480272

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62879539

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62885987

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976536683.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976451369.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976746869.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976799053.htm

http://www.thegunsource.com/shopping_search.aspx?manbp=1&idcategory=5&strsearch=buffalo%20classic

[quickdtoo]

Firearms can't be shipped to Canada without an export license tho.

Tim

[lik2hunt]

Canada  ......oh, my mistake.

[Coffeeman]

Why don't you order one from Russel sports, they are $429.00, I think its in Calgary.

[quickdtoo]

Russel is in Calgary, maybe Fred will have to come to the rescue again!!

Tim

http://www.russellsports.com/

[McLernon]

I think the project could be back on!!!!!!! I don't know how close Fred is to Russells so I don't know if he would be able or willing to help out again. One can wear out ones welcome. I'll have to wait to see if he can help. I like the idea of 'designing' my own rifle and a custom 45-70 would be a nice addition to my gun cabinet. I will check with Russells tomorrow to see if they have one in stock. The whole discussion might be entirely hypothetical if they don't have one!! One question: can I load it down to a load that would still be good for deer at 75 yards without having the thing kick harder than say a .308??

Thanks for all the help folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

McLernon

[quickdtoo]

Sure you could, 28gr of 2400 and the 350gr Hornady RN shoots real easy and is very accurate, velocity is about 1100-1200 fps as near as we can figure, I haven't actually chrono'd it tho, but several fellas here shoot that load. Any of the factory trapdoor loads aren't that bad in recoil, but handloading for it, you can taylor the load to your comfort and accuracy level!!

Check out the low velocity cast bullet data below.

Tim

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

[McLernon]

Thanks Quick for the info!! What about using black powder FFG for example. Is there any advantage?
McLernon

[quickdtoo]

That depends what you would call an advantage!! I know Fred would say there is definately no advantage, but it would be fun, although clean up after shooting black powder isn't an advantage!! But Junior Doughty really enjoys his BP Handi!!

Tim

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/1871.htm

[McLernon]

I am still thinking about this project gun but I cannot help comparing it to the new Marlin lever gun in 45-70 all stainless with grey laminate stock. In the end it's a toss-up. I wonder how Mac likes his 45-70 lever gun?? This is a tough one.

Any thoughts??

Thanks

McLernon

[Mac11700]

I absolutely love my new XLR...it shoots as good as it looks too I think everyone should at least try one...Marlin out did themselves with them...and made them better all around...This one isn't for shooting the "Black" and a-lot of the "purest" hate the modern looks...That's ok...If I ever get to hunt for the big bears..it will be loaded up to do it..and I won't hesitate to go after them with it...It really is one of the best balancing Lever guns I have ever held...It balances as well as a 300 Savage take down Model #99 my dad used to have..and I rank that one as the best...

With it as my main stay for the 45-70..I really like the idea of tricking out a Buff Classic...I really like the way Quicks looks with the trimmed down BC stock & recoil pad..and I want to cut the barrel of it back to 28" ..and then replace the front site with the correct height one...and add a spirit level too it..with a better peep site on the rear...or a Smith Ladder up front..I'd make it into a 45-90 along the way...and have the barrel re-blued or even the whole thing period colored browned...Before having all of that done..I'd like to have a 30-30 fitted to it as well...and then redo it into 30-40 Krag...These would be my open site guns...Somewhere in time...I'd have a 9.3 x 62 barrel made..with express sites for the same frame...Then I'd have all of the  continents bases covered with my Handi's...on 1 frame...with some real cool period cartridges...

Mac

[McLernon]

Hello Mac:

Sounds like I should go for the XLR. I held one at a gunshop in Toronto, great!!. The ultimate north country bush gun, deer, bear, moose, elk and sasquatch  just about anything.

Cutting down a BC somehow doesn't seem right anyway(maybe even a crime). For sure if I bought the BC I'd have a hard time deciding to cut it down. I would likely end up leaving it as is. But if I did get it modified it would end up still costing more that the XLR and a lot more than the blued 22 inch version.

Decisions, decisions??

Thanks for your comments!!

McLernon

[Mac11700]

I can say now go for either one...both would work...and both are excellent rifles...I wouldn't worry too much on cutting back a BC...They are nice..but just for me..the 32" barrel looks out of place with the forearm as short as it is...To me..the forearm should be shaped as it is..but at least 6" longer to cover more of the metal...That's just from a personal viewpoint mind ya.. If I had to choose one over the other...it would be much harder...I know...I had to do the same thing for my past Birthday...and I had all of the XLR's lined up in a row...and had to pick just one...or buy a BC...The BC is a great rifle...and will work 99% of what I would use it for..but having the XLR gives me this luxury...because it will be my primary brush hunting gun...I like show pieces as too...and tricking out a BC has always been on my mind...The wood is usually quite good...and the Handi's lines are very pleasing to the eye and it's function and accuracy is top notch...You have to understand...I don't load the "Black"...and use modern high pressure loads with it...but..seeing that it can be loaded up with it...I would like to at least try some... for nostalgias sake...Who knows...it may take me down another avenue with the Handi's I haven't traveled before..and I may wind up becoming hooked to that type shooting...Anything is possible...It's hard not to pimp one of my favorites as the way to go...Lord knows I like both types of rifles...but...from a purely hunting aspect...I would go for the XLR first...This will give you time to make the Buff you'll end up buying into anything you want...be it like Quicks 45-120...or what I want into a 45-90...or just keep it as is and enjoy it.....You have to make the decision of what you want...a stainless repeater...or a damn nice single shot...and weigh what you want in the caliber...If you want to go longer case...it will cost a fortune to convert the Marlin...not so with the Buff...Also...if you plan on shooting a-lot of BP out of it...It's much easier to clean a Handi than it is a Marlin...Just my perception on your situation

Mac

[McLernon]

'Both' sounds good but the 'finance minister' would have to be consulted again. I'll need to think of a reason for having two 45-70's. I'll need to think really hard on that one because it's going to have to be a very compelling story. It's not as though we live in Churchill Manitoba where polar bears often come into town this time of year. And we don't even have black bears around here( there was one sighting in town last summer though). Aggressive coyotes we do have but gee wouldn't my .223 look after them? uhmm??? And I can't use it for deer in southern Ontario either. I think I'll probably have to settle for one.

McLernon

[Mac11700]

I'll need to think of a reason for having two 45-70's. I'll need to think really hard on that one because it's going to have to be a very compelling story.

I'd try...." Honey...one will be for me to hunt in all weather conditions...and the other is going to be a matched set...and will be for "both" of us..."...always worked for me

Mac