New Handi-Rifle - Help!

[workinwifdakids]

Well, this may be akin to polling the residents of Tokyo about whether to visit Japan or Korea on vacation, but here goes.  The long and the short of it is, I need to make a decision!

HISTORY: I own an NEF Pardner (Break-Action) in 12 gauge, and absolutely love it.  Nobody else will touch it because the recoil just plain stings, but it doesn't bother me!  The wild thing is, I'm more accurate with it than many guys are with any other shotgun they have.  It's like someone measured my body, and made the shotgun just for me.

QUESTION: Anyway, to the point: in two weeks, I'll have my tax check, and I'm buying a rifle.  My choices are either: Stevens 200 in 30.06 (Savage's bolt-action discount line), OR the Handi-Rifle in 30.06.  I'll do some target shooting once a month at the 100-yard mark, and MAYBE in some far off future decade I might go hunting in either California or Wyoming, but that's it.  To be honest, they both cost the same, but that barrel exchange program just seems so neat.  On the other hand, I HATE LOOSE GUNS.  That Pardner clamps up darn near watertight, if you get my drift, so I don't want a gun, even in two calibers, if it rattles.  Sometime in 6-12 months, I'll toss on a used Leupold up to the total cost of the rifle.  I guess what I'm saying is, I'd rather have no rifle than one I'll be sorry I got, so I don't have the money to waste, or the time to tinker.

Help!

[poncaguy]

I have 2 Stevens, 7-08 and 25-06, very accurate, good rifles. I have 15 Handi's, same .

[joshco84]

my grandfather swears by savages and we have a bunch, not a thing wrong with them.  However they are just a plain jane bolt gun, however these handi's are fun.  I bought my second one before i even shot the first.  So...... its up to you.  If you like savages, i would not think you would be disappointed in the handi.  I personally like them both and probably will build a 17 rem out of a stevens 200 or savage 10 receiver.  Just my thoughts.

josh

[backstrap]

Well if u dont have the time to tinker with a rifle than  u dont  need 1 because all rifles need some kinda tinkering done to them 1 way or another. is this going to be your first rifle u have ever owend? because a rifle is a much diffrant than any shot gun

[Badnews Bob]

A good friend of mine wanted a .30-06 in a very simple rifle, He dosn't handload or tinker around with his shootin irons, One day we were working around my new house and I broke out my .357 He looked it over and shot some, Next day he ordered a .30-06 handie, Shot a deer, two ground hogs,and a bunch of targets with it,Out of the box clean it take it to the woods Gett'er done. He loves it.

[stimpylu32]

From all reports the 06 handi is one of the best - out of the box rifles that H&R makes , i will be getting myself one in the near furture as i have always wanted a 06 but never needed one , so this is a chance to get one at a low cost for just plunking with .

stimpy

[Bill3006]

If you are mostly going to do target shooting, get something with less recoil such as a bull barrel 223 or 204. If in the future you make that hunting trip, add the 30/06 then.

[PartsMan]

The stevens that I handled seemed loose to me.
Pull the bolt back and it would "jiggle".
I bought my handi rifles(2) because I liked the simple rugged quality.

[aulrich]

I have both, I think accuracy wise there potential is about the same, though getting full accuracy potential is easier with the bolt. But that said as stated erlier getting a 223 or 204 and adding a barrel for big game latter is the handi's advantage. Yes you could swap the barrel on the savage but not a quick.

Never did understand the bolt wiggles when open argument, me thinks tightness is only important when the gun goes boom.

[greenjeans]

I use my 30-06 Handi more than any other rifle I have. Has never let me down. It does have some kick to it, synthetic version, but it hunts a lot. I just really like the shorter length of the Handi's.

[Mac11700]

I have both, I think accuracy wise there potential is about the same, though getting full accuracy potential is easier with the bolt. But that said as stated erlier getting a 223 or 204 and adding a barrel for big game latter is the handi's advantage. Yes you could swap the barrel on the savage but not a quick.

Never did understand the bolt wiggles when open argument, me thinks tightness is only important when the gun goes boom.

Well...not really....See...if the barrel is wiggling all over the place..it has the possibility that it can lock up a little different each time which can effect accuracy...It won't effect it near as much when it wiggles when it's open..as compared to when it is closed...having it wiggle there is a definite no-no...and would be a reason to send it straight back to NEF to have it fitted correctly... I would make sure that it don't wiggle either way...You can easily tighten up the forearm to make it fit good by simply shimming behind the spacer..or you can bed it there..or in the area cut out for the barrel stud...Making the barrel fit tighter is a little more entailed but still do-able...if one wants to do this...

I wouldn't purchase a Stevens rifle...I'm sorry...I just won't...I looked at 16 new in the box models...and every one of them had some serious problems...If I wanted a Savage rifle..and didn't have the money I would put what I did have down on one...and put it in lay-a-way...I know a bunch of guys swear by theirs...and I looked at a few when they first came out...they were a lot better quality then...as compared to now...and their higher priced  Savage models are much better in quality over all...

There are issues that folks have with the Handi's as well...some have parts falling off of them..others..aren't fitted correctly...but..all of them I have owned always have been put together right...Of the 2 you mentioned...I would go with the Handi over the Stevens..but..for a little more money..there are other options available to you if you choose to wait and put more towards it.....One thing to remember...If...you have a problem with your Handi...the help you can get here to make it shoot...or the help you'll get if you have to send it back in to the customer service department will be second to none...

Mac