What variety NEF/H&R would do me best.

[bilmac]

I'm thinking of getting a single shot to carry on my ATV, while I explore looking for our small blacktail prairie dog towns. Carrying any rifle on an ATV is really hard on it so I'm thinking of taking it down to travel, maybe even shorten the bbl so the two halves are close to the same length. Lots of riding with a few stops to shoot. A hornet would be good our ranges are short, and it would be easier on the ears, but I understand it may be hard to find, so can make do with a 223.

I would like to also get a deer barrel for the same purpose. Why are barrels sold in the classifieds at about the same price as the factory? The factory says they need to fit extra bbls if so why are extra bbls even being sold in the classifieds? Is there a chance that I could get a 7x31 Waters bbl without having it custom made? I'm going to want a cartridge with at least the whop and trajectory of a 30-30, but I understand that the real high pressure cartridges aren't too accurate, and may cause extraction problems. 30- 40 perhaps, 300 savage 7x57. something in that range. I don't know the history of the gun well enough to know what I might reasonably find.

[quickdtoo]

Sourdough uses Handis on ATVs regularly, he carries 223 and 30-06, and others I do believe.

Spend some time in the FAQs and you'll learn about fitting your own barrels if they need it. I have over 40 H&Rs, about half of those barrel were bought used here and put them on frames myself, some fit, some need work, you take your chances as to whether they do or not and how much work they'll take.

I wouldn't worry about any chambering being inaccurate, I have none that fit that title, and I have just about every chambering ever made including 7x57, 7x64 and 35 Whelen and several in custom chamberings, any current production centerfire rifle barrel will be an extractor, they don't make ejectors any more.

The only way to get a 7-30 is to have a smaller chambered barrel rebored and rechamberd, have a stub done, or a donor underlug welded to a blank, all custom gunsmithing work.

Don't fiool yourself into thinking any round is "easy on the ears", there's no such thing, wear hearing protection when shooting, even the 22Lr is harmful at 134Db, you're going deaf one shot at a time.



Tim

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?id=2052

[EVOC ONE]

Why are barrels sold in the classifieds at about the same price as the factory?

Some reasons, perhaps:

-Convenience of having the barrel within a few days rather then waiting several weeks from NEF.

-Saving the fitting and two way shipping fee's.

-There are those who like to tinker. 

-Many include shipping into the cost of the barrel.  Shipping fee's, like everything else, are increasing.

 

[bilmac]

Thanks for the help guys. I've been getting negligent about wearing my ears when shooting 22s and never when I hunt. I guess if I'm going to take time to unwrap and assemble a rifle I should have time to install some plugs too.

Maybe I'm suffering from an old wives tale, I've always been under the impression that rimmed cartridges work best in break open guns.If that isn't the case then 223 and 243 would be easy and effective.

I also get the impression that mild loading works better, since I handload everything this is not a problem.

The general acceptance that the guns shoot better if they are supported near the hinge concerns me because I like to support my guns forward. If a guy put a QD swivel on the barrel and a bipod on that and used the bipod for any shot where accuracy counted, would that work?

[PHATINJUN]

"I'm going to want a cartridge with at least the whop and trajectory of a 30-30" Why not just use the 30-30. Also you might want to consider the 17HMR Sportster darn close to Hornet ranges. Kurt