Author Topic: Handi for the boy! (Read 1289 times)

SM Outdoors · « **on:** February 05, 2009, 06:58:45 AM »

I am thinking of getting my 11YO a handi in a smaller centerfire caliber for his first high power gun so he can grow into various calibers/guages as he sees fit. I wanted a gun he can grow with.
My question is how well are they made??? will they stand up to the physical abuse that a young man can place on it?

Spanky · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2009, 09:54:27 AM »

Get him a 223 youth model.
When he outgrows the youth stock, put an adult stock on it.

Spanky

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:01:55 AM »

Spanky,
I agree with your suggestion. Good caliber... If I go this route I will look into the youth vs. standard (the kids got arms like an ape!!!)
If you own them personally how are they made for standing up to what I can best describe as an over exuberant 11 year old?

WESTTX4570 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:21:13 AM »

Both of my boys were started out at 9yo with the youth synthetic .243. Both were about the same size at around 85lbs. No problems whatsover and you dont have to worry about the wood getting scuffed or scratched......believe me it would have to. The oldest which is 13 now graduated to the .270 about six months ago and we have just fitted his old .243 with thumbhole stock larger scope and bipod for varmit hunting. The .243 is large enough to take deer size game yet small enough not to make the boys whince. jmtc

Brandon

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:22:28 AM »

Unless he uses it as a club he will not hurt one. I've scratched mine up and dinged them some clambering around rocky hunting areas and I haven't broken one yet.

I would give a look at getting him a .357 barrel very easy to shoot well and can grow into a Maximum for more power makes a fine deer round. Teach the boy right we need our future assured.

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:38:37 AM »

I appreciate the feedback, I enjoy having a forum like this to get many test drives before you buy!!!!
I Use a TC for a multi barrel gun but for the boy I wanted something I could let him bang around and not cringe so much... I was hopeful after seeing some of the Handi man crushes

posted that it had some decently made mechanics and it seems as though it does...
Interesting thought on the .357

eskimo36 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:59:06 AM »

I vote 357... 38 wadcutters or roundnose are cheap and fun for practice and conversion to max or 35 rem(sb2 frame) later on is relatively simple.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2009, 11:05:28 AM »

The handi can be used as a baseball bat in the summer, a canoe paddle in the fall a post hole diggger in the spring, and as a gun all year long. Your 11 Year old will not be able to hurt it. If he is that tough on stuff then don't put optics on the gun.
The question I have is what is he going to use the rifle for? Hunting? and what? or is it a standard plinking rifle.
My input was going to be either 30-30, 243 or 308 Win as a kids rifle for big game. With the 308 there is no growing into the caliber, all you have to do is change his loads from the 125 grain reduced recoil to 150-180 depending on what and where he hunts. 22 Hornet or 223 rem for varmints and preditors.

burntmuch · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2009, 11:10:21 AM »

Yep 357 use that for a couple years. then Max it

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:35:45 PM »

MC... well put. I am not an optics fan for the kids... Learn the hard way and get good at it before you cheat like me

Its main use will be for his first deer gun and he has built a tree blind this past fall that will only afford him a 40 yd shot....

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:09:47 PM »

Another vote for the .357 Magnum. Especially where he'll be hunting from a tree stand shooting 40 yards. He'll be able to get lots of practice in shooting cheap .38's which also have no recoil so there's no chance he'll develop a flinch. My daughter loves to shoot .38's out of my .357 mag Handi.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:14:00 PM »

I hope we don't confuse you here, I do recommend a .357 especially at ranges under 75 yards, But, you can't fit a new production .357 (SB 1 Frame)with any other centerfire barrel, So if you plan on changeing around I would recommend a .243 or 7mm-08 Those frames will accept anything else H&R make except the 10 guage. I think thou that only the current .30-30 and .45-70s come with Iron sights some one will correct me if wrong thou

Handies are alot of fun and make fine deer rifles.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:45:37 PM »

The SB1 357 only comes with a scope mount too, it's not drilled and tapped for sights, although you can use an aperture sight mounted in the two rear scope mount holes, muzzle would have to be drilled and tapped. $:-\$

Tim

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:53:23 PM »

thanks for that heads up. I guess the next step is to go and start handeling them and get the interchangability down so I can start building the plan.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:59:17 PM »

40 yards.
The pistol ctgs will work fine. heck get him a 44 mag barrel and use either a hot special or the 180 grain Reminton / UMC jsp rounds. Recoil is mild but they fly strait for a while out of a rifle. I think the 44, and 30-30 arrels come with sights. But I'm a novice at the handi guns with only one in the safe and one on the wish list. someone will send you to the website. I forget what it is. I know it has an 1871 in it.
Other options are the $30 red dots from wall mart if you do go with the 357 barrel.
Heck I took one off of my handi and stuck a Weaver 6X on it. No longer need a night time Coyote 22 mag. If you want it for the boy it's yours. PM me with an address and I will get it out next week.

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:04:30 PM »

MC,
Thats a mighty fine gesture. I do have 2 sitting in the gun room unused that came on my crossbow and one that came with a mossberg 935 turkey package. That might finally get them some use, and like you say the $30 price tag makes it ok if one gets banged around.

SM Outdoors · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:05:19 PM »

will the 44mag setup support cchanges to various calibers that the .357 does not?

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:37:52 PM »

Not the current production same as the .357. If you can find an older one with wood stocks and iron sights they should take any barrel. That goes for the .44 and .357.

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2009, 03:18:01 PM »

Here is my recommendations!

30-30 Ammo is cheap and available anywhere that deer are present in the countryside. Light recoil, and plenty of punch for up to deer size critters and everything in between. Comes with iron sights, and barrel is mounted on an SB2 receiver so you can add barrels later.

.357 mag/38 special Fun to shoot and cheap, and will handle just about everything the 30-30 will, with even less recoil and muzzle blast. easy to reload if you and him would want to get into that.

.243 Can't go wrong here either!

7MM-08 or .270 when you and he want to get really serious about your deer hunting.

45-70 if he has no fear and likes the sound of a large lead slug slapping a target!

coop2564 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2009, 04:52:22 AM »

My daughter uses a .308 with the reduced loads and has no problems. She started at 12 and is 16 now but she still prefers the reduced loads. We havnt lost a deer she has hit yet with them. Havnt got an exit on 2 though some what of a tough track. My son used a 243 full loads and we had same problem several times using sp's he's using 85 gr TSX now and has shot thru every animal not that its a lot 2 deer and 1 hog. If you use anything under a 243 better pick your bullet well or u may have a bad experience for the little guy if deer are in his sights.

JerryKo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2009, 10:47:45 AM »

Here's a suggestion. If you do find a 357 or 44 with open sights and you want to be sure before you buy just look at the serial number, write it down or memorize it if you can, and call this number before you buy. Just ask if such serial number would be able to be fitted with a 243 barrel. If they say yes, you it is good to buy. Here is the number 1-866-776-9292. Put it in your cell phone and you'll have it when you go to the shop. Best of luck to you. I know what you are going through. Been there and still doing it.

Jerry

quickdtoo · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2009, 11:38:26 AM »

Here's another heads up, any 44mag made before early 2007 is likely to be overbore requiring hot loads or oversize cast bullets, those made after Marlin started making the barrels in early 2007 have tighter bores and shoot good, so it will be wise to look for a serial number prefix of NX or HX if you go with a 44mag.

Tim

dep869 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2009, 06:07:26 PM »

Looks like alot of sound advice. All gained from experience, no doubt. The great thing about all those calibers suggested......you can find them in a 'handi! I can think of five or six off the top of my head that will fit the bill--.243, 7mm-08, 30-30, .357 mag., .44 mag. They will all fit the bill. I just think it's great to start 'em off with a single shot rifle, teach 'em sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control....and that there is more to a 'successful' hunt than knocking an animal down. Have fun.

Manion

petemi · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2009, 02:57:35 AM »

My .357 is one of two or three favorite rifles, but I built it on an SB2 frame. I don't think I'd buy a new one on an SB1. They're just too limited as to what you can put on them. If you could get one on a SB2, I'd do it for all the above mentioned reasons. My 14 year old grandson is shooting a 7mm-08 Handi and he's good to go from woodchucks to deer or more.

Pete

BBF · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2009, 06:59:15 AM »

I vote for the 30-30 Win, open sights are standard if you really want him to use them.
It might be a good thing on paper targets, but when that Bambi shows up and the heart rate hits redline, a low power fixed scope will certainly make a good hit more achievable.
You didn't say if you handload or not. If you do, the 30-30 in the Handi can be loaded with some Spitzer type bullets appropriate for the velocity of that cartridge.

tykempster · « **Reply #25 on:** February 07, 2009, 07:08:57 AM »

45-70 no doubt. For 40 yard shots you don't have to worry about trajectory. Factory 405 grain loads kick like a 243 and will make a good blood trail. When he gets bigger (or just wants recoil) you can graduate him to 325 LE loads, or go much higher with reloads.

Factory load is 300 grains at 1600-1700 fps, whereas you can handload 300 grains to 2500 fps. A truly versatile caliber to 300 yards.

Couger · « **Reply #26 on:** February 07, 2009, 03:29:40 PM »

Quote from: SM Outdoors on February 05, 2009, 10:01:55 AM

Spanky,
I agree with your suggestion. Good caliber... If I go this route I will look into the youth vs. standard (the kids got arms like an ape!!!)
If you own them personally how are they made for standing up to what I can best describe as an over exuberant 11 year old?

Your boy would have to be a rather destructive lad to ruin a Handi-Rifle. And the .223 is an excellent varmint and smallish centerfire round to fill the niche at the bottom of a list of Handi-barrels.

Twas me equipping a youngster for deer hunting someone might say get him a .243 or .30-30. Instead I'd get a youngster a .3006 since I reload, and would load up some reduced rounds Ken Waters (who used to write the Handloader Magazine column "Pet Loads") called the .30-30-06.

Also by getting a 22inch .3006 or any other cartridge the rifle won't be any longer - just because of the round.

Having a .223 and a .3006 on the same Handi-frame would provide the "beginnings" of a quite-versatile all-'round single-rifle. Plus a chamber adapter to shoot .308 Win is available from mcacesports.com out of Anchorage, AK.

Also besides the stocks and barrels you see for sale and trade on GBO, don't overlook the Choate (Tool & Machine) web site for youth length stocks.

DeepSouth · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:54:15 AM »

In jan 2007 I got my son a youth 243,this one does not come with iron sights,so it had to be scoped.I shoot a 788 rem in 243,the handi will out shoot that bolt action so bad it's shameful.My son shoots 95gr Federal Fusions out of it,usinf a cheap Bushnell 3x9x40,at a 100yds you can cover 3 shots with a quarter.I was blown away completely.Now if you continued shooting along string of shots the group may open up.He only needed 1 shot to kill his first deer this Thanksgiving.The one problem with the gun is it's a little heavy so a off hand shot would be a little diffucult,but we stand hunt so he has a rest.Totally satified wiyh this gun,and would buy une again if I had to.

DeepSouth · « **Reply #28 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:56:08 AM »

My son just turned 8 in dec and ways 78lbs,Just a little more info.

Steve P · « **Reply #29 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:08:41 AM »

Get him a .223 youth model. Ammo is cheap enough that you can take him out shooting a lot. Last year I picked up a little combination model at our local Wal-Mart store. .22lr barrel and .410 barrel. I wish I had a kid I could take hunting with it. It is a hoot. If I had it to do over again, I would look for the youth model with 20 guage barrel and a center fire barrel. Just because the .410 are so expensive to buy and I am too friggen lazy to get out my .410 loader to load some up. I do like those short guns for plinking out the truck window and carrying on scouting trips when grouse season is open.

Steve