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Offline koger

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First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« on: May 30, 2010, 04:47:46 PM »
Hello all, long time lurker here, first post. I bought a new 44mag. handi w/sights, pallet wood, new in box at a local gunshow  yesterday. After some dickering, i gave the guy $200 out the door. How did I do, and how shoud I expect the rifle to shoot. I have 25+years as a gunmsith, and handloader and have had great success with handi's in .223, .243, .22hornet and 45/70. Havent fooled around with a 44 since the 80's, it shot real nice though. All feedback welcome!
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Offline Datil

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2010, 06:13:17 PM »

 I think you did good Good luck and welcome to GBO forums  Datil
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2010, 08:44:35 PM »
Being a gunsmith for 25 years I'm sure you can built it to shoot as good as you want. Good deal on the gun
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2010, 01:59:08 AM »
You "done" very good!!  ;)

Welcome to the board!!

CW
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Offline Ranger J

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2010, 04:59:32 AM »
As this is very probably one of the 'new model' 44s you did quite well.  A number of years ago the Handi 44s had an oversize bore and were more trouble than they were worth.  I know as I had one.  At gun shows sometime guns stat NIB for years.  I got rid of that barrel but later bought one of the 'new model' barrels and it shoots well.  Check the date on it to see how well you did. :)

RJ
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Offline gendoc

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2010, 06:51:56 AM »
my son's is an old model with the over-size bore, but it will shoot .430 cast boolits
better than my newer one will.  :o  ;D

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Offline Mac11700

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2010, 12:27:06 PM »
Welcome to the Forum

A lot of the older ones seemed to be a hit & miss if they would do well.Some did better with cast,some did better with jacketed as I recall. You did good on your price,and if it shoots as good as what is acceptable to you and as long as your happy with it,well,that really is all that matters.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Mac
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Offline Spanky

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2010, 03:34:27 PM »
I shoot clay pigeons at 100 yds. with my old "more trouble than it's worth" 44 mag. It'll bust 'em every time... I guess it ought to be good enough for deer. ;) I think the "trouble" with the old 44's is more fiction than fact. Mine shoots as good as any of my Handi's.



Spanky
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2010, 04:12:50 PM »
Quote from: Spanky on May 31, 2010, 03:34:27 PM
I shoot clay pigeons at 100 yds. with my old "more trouble than it's worth" 44 mag. It'll bust 'em every time... I guess it ought to be good enough for deer. ;) I think the "trouble" with the old 44's is more fiction than fact. Mine shoots as good as any of my Handi's.



Spanky

No,not really. There have been many many complaints about them over the years,long before we all arrived here on Greybeard's doors steps when the old H&R forum was going full bore my friend,and FWTIW the earlier ones did seem to have the biggest issues with over sized chambers and bores.It wasn't until the mid 90's and later that they really started getting their act together and tighten up the tolerances of them,at least for the bores on them,the chambers had many issues up until the late 90's. That's not to say that many sold during this time functioned perfectly and had no issues,but many did.

Mac
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Offline koger

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2010, 05:11:06 PM »
Well got the .44 out and shot it tody. Started off on paper at 45 yards, sandbagged, first 3 shots was a ragged hole with factory rem. .240 HP! Shot a little low, clicked the sight up and fired a few more at 45-100 yds. Hitting where I looked! I picked out a clump of grass about 8"   in the bare clay at 150 yards, raised the front sight blade up above the rear a little and put three into it, 2 off hand. This is a shooter, ejects emptys about 12 feet. I need to go thru the trigger, and that is about it. I shot about 30 shots total, killing cans, clays, and dirt clods. I believe this one is a keeper for sure. Will have to dig out my cast .44 slugs, got 2 big coffee cans of them here, 240-260 gr, and see  how much unique I have in stock.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2010, 06:09:26 PM »
Quote from: Mac11700 on May 31, 2010, 04:12:50 PM
Quote from: Spanky on May 31, 2010, 03:34:27 PM
I shoot clay pigeons at 100 yds. with my old "more trouble than it's worth" 44 mag. It'll bust 'em every time... I guess it ought to be good enough for deer. ;) I think the "trouble" with the old 44's is more fiction than fact. Mine shoots as good as any of my Handi's.



Spanky

No,not really. There have been many many complaints about them over the years,long before we all arrived here on Greybeard's doors steps when the old H&R forum was going full bore my friend,and FWTIW the earlier ones did seem to have the biggest issues with over sized chambers and bores.It wasn't until the mid 90's and later that they really started getting their act together and tighten up the tolerances of them,at least for the bores on them,the chambers had many issues up until the late 90's. That's not to say that many sold during this time functioned perfectly and had no issues,but many did.

Mac



Mine was made in 1996.
I'm happy with mine... it shoots good.



Spanky
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2010, 06:17:07 PM »
Spanky, is yours microgroove? It would have 12 grooves. Pete's is MG and shoots fine even tho it is very overbore at .433"ish.

Tim
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Offline Spanky

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2010, 06:22:46 PM »
Quote from: quickdtoo on May 31, 2010, 06:17:07 PM
Spanky, is yours microgroove? It would have 12 grooves. Pete's is MG and shoots fine even tho it is very overbore at .433"ish.

Tim


Mine is microgroove. I've never slugged mine to see what it is for sure but it's always shot pretty good for me. It's not a one hole shooter but it's minute of deer. ;D



Spanky
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2010, 06:30:52 PM »
Thanks, glad it works good for ya.  ;)

Tim
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions?
« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2010, 04:18:09 AM »
Quote from: koger on May 31, 2010, 05:11:06 PM
Well got the .44 out and shot it tody. Started off on paper at 45 yards, sandbagged, first 3 shots was a ragged hole with factory rem. .240 HP! Shot a little low, clicked the sight up and fired a few more at 45-100 yds. Hitting where I looked! I picked out a clump of grass about 8"   in the bare clay at 150 yards, raised the front sight blade up above the rear a little and put three into it, 2 off hand. This is a shooter, ejects emptys about 12 feet. I need to go thru the trigger, and that is about it. I shot about 30 shots total, killing cans, clays, and dirt clods. I believe this one is a keeper for sure. Will have to dig out my cast .44 slugs, got 2 big coffee cans of them here, 240-260 gr, and see  how much unique I have in stock.

Sweeeeeeeet,glad you got a good shooter there.They certainly are a lot of fun to shoot with when they shoot like yours.Good luck with the cast bullets,and keep us posted on how it does.

Mac
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Offline petemi

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #15 on: June 02, 2010, 10:29:51 AM »
Tim's correct, mine is an overbored micro.  This is what it does with Hornady LEs.

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #16 on: June 02, 2010, 03:58:52 PM »
Pete, blink yer eyes for me, picture is a little blurry. ;D  Good shooting Pete.  koger, I got one of the newer ones and she is a straight shooter, better than me with iron sights.  Still haven't put glass on it yet. :-[  DP
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Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline petemi

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #17 on: June 02, 2010, 04:15:40 PM »
Yeah, DP, I can work the rifle, not so good with the camera.  Old dog, new tricks....something like that.

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.msg1098959491.html#msg1098959491

Offline Spanky

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Re: First post, 44 mag Questions? Updat w/Range report!
« Reply #18 on: June 02, 2010, 04:40:41 PM »
That's some nice shootin' Pete.
Is yours scoped or irons? Mine has irons on it.
I might have to try some of the Hornady's in mine.



Spanky
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