New toy in the box- 762x39 Handi & first field test today added

[fredster22]

  Having been looking for one of these for a while, thanks to a couple members Dinny & Gendoc I
finally got one this week. NIB but a 2005 NV I guess they only made for a short time. Decided to
put a set of the new Handigrips on it, feels good, and came sightless with a rail so threw a 4x12x40
Banner on her. Got some CZ 123gr brass, boxer primed loads to try for now and WW brass and a couple
loads recommended by Gendoc and am looking for any load suggestion you guys might have. Am going to
the range tomorrow weather permitting to run some loads thru her. I think its going to be a fun cartridge
to play with. Something different
         Went to the range this afternoon, weather wasn't great ( strong winds) but couldn't wait to try out
this one. Cleaned & boresighted last night. Got her rough sighted at 50 yards, less than .75" out of the box
with S&B 123 gr sp and then shot at a 100. got two groups at less then 1.50 but wind was blowing strong
so shot up rest of box at clays & chips on berm with good results. No misfires. Going  to slug the bore and
load up some loads accordingly tonight and come back later in the week. I believe she shows promise. Light
recoil and feels good, not bad trigger.

[geezer56]

Congratulations on the snag.  The 7.62X39 is almost as much fun as a 45-70.  Cast bullets and Unique are great fun in this little round.  You will enjoy it. 

[capt45]

Wow....New in Box.....You did score. Let us know how she shoots!

Great find.....

Rob

[tmccray45]

If yours is anything like mine, you will find that it's probably the most accurate rifle you own.   I have tried several loads from the Hodgdon site and have found them all to be more accurate than I am.   30-30 like ballistics, soft recoil, super accurate - what's not to like?   

The only problem was the (somewhat) soft firing pin strike.   I solved that with CCI primers - the Winchesters I used at first didn't always go 'bang!' when I pulled the trigger.

I think you'll find this will be one of your favorites.

[PHATINJUN]

Try the Sierra 125 and 150gr ProHunter bullets in .313.311 you should find that your bore is .311 .309 not .308. Great find. Mine is as tmccray45 says also. Kurt

[gendoc]

phatinjun, now thats kinda hard to swallow...
i know these are man-made and can vary......
mine is .30911 and my son's is .309 somethin...(can't remember) both handles the .308 130gr speer hollow point #2005 most excellent. i'm the same as tmccary
it is the most accurate and only one i have that goes in the same hole @100 and 150yrds
consistantly. all the other 30 are very close, if i had to choose.... the 39 rules in this old cajun's
portfolio....   maybe cus i dodged them for 6 years in the rice patties  and my son is currently
out smarting them today....

[fredster22]

  From the sounds of the guys who have them, accurate & fun and what I have found so far this may
well become a favorite. Gave another member the imfo to find one and I heard he was successful but
thats his thunder to let us know. I appreciate any imfo offered.
  Hey John hear ya, been there done that RVN 66-67

[gendoc]

mssfc-64/70......semper-fi,  hooooooooo ya---man yeah    damn proud.... father & son  

[mechanic]

Fredster, you've got me envious.  I surely would like to have one of those 39's.  If you get tired of it, send it to Ga. and I will pamper it for ya'!

Nice looking gun.

[necchi]

I'll bettya it's fun to shoot. I find empty steel cases around the range all the time, I grab-up the brass ones, when I get enough to make it worthwhile I'll toss'm out to you guy's.
Sure is a cute little case, are they good close range deer getters? Say out around 100-150?

And do they really have a different bore size even amoungst the handi's? It's understandable with with the mil surplus.

[Blackhawker]

I've got a question that's a little off topic here (if you don't mind).  You guys that are shooting one ragged hole at 100 plus yards or even under an inch at 100 yards, are you shooting these things from a lead sled type rest or are you just sandbagging or front resting them?

If you are all only sandbagging or front resting them with those kind of results, I'm selling all of my stuff and just getting one Handi in 7.62X39!!!     

[wreckhog]

Be curious to see how it shoots steel case.  Read that some guys love to reload steel case. No sizing, or trimming needed!

[fredster22]

  Wreckhog  Steel cases & mil surplus with hard primers caused a lot of misfires in the handi which
is the main reason they stopped production. There is good stuff available out there and handloading cures the problem.

[Dinny]

Fred,
  I'm really glad you like that rifle. I nearly took a double-take when I saw it with the factory tags on it. Are you gonna hunt with it? It should be a good one within it's practical range.


Thanks, Dinny

[yukondog]

Congrats on a great find,been looking for one awile came across a .357 and jumped on it instead.

[tmccray45]

I've got a question that's a little off topic here (if you don't mind).  You guys that are shooting one ragged hole at 100 plus yards or even under an inch at 100 yards, are you shooting these things from a lead sled type rest or are you just sandbagging or front resting them?

If you are all only sandbagging or front resting them with those kind of results, I'm selling all of my stuff and just getting one Handi in 7.62X39!!!     

ANSWER:
   In my case, after I got my primer settled with CCI, I took a box of 20 handloads to the range.   At the end of the day, I had 5 holes in the target - four within an inch of the red center and 16 in the center.  I used neither a lead sled, sandbags, or front rest.  All I had was my elbows on the shooting bench.
   I'm 64 and have been shooting centerfires for the last four years.   By no means am I a marksman.    Except. . ., except with that stupid little 7.62x39 Handi.   I know that H&R had problems with this model shooting military loads because of the "hard" primers and they stopped making them, but for the handloading community out there, a great injustice was done.   
   When I want to delude myself into thinking that in a previous life I was Sgt. York, I take the Handi 7.62x39 to the range.   
   And smile.

[Blackhawker]

I've got a question that's a little off topic here (if you don't mind).  You guys that are shooting one ragged hole at 100 plus yards or even under an inch at 100 yards, are you shooting these things from a lead sled type rest or are you just sandbagging or front resting them?

If you are all only sandbagging or front resting them with those kind of results, I'm selling all of my stuff and just getting one Handi in 7.62X39!!!     

ANSWER:
   In my case, after I got my primer settled with CCI, I took a box of 20 handloads to the range.   At the end of the day, I had 5 holes in the target - four within an inch of the red center and 16 in the center.  I used neither a lead sled, sandbags, or front rest.  All I had was my elbows on the shooting bench.
   I'm 64 and have been shooting centerfires for the last four years.   By no means am I a marksman.    Except. . ., except with that stupid little 7.62x39 Handi.   I know that H&R had problems with this model shooting military loads because of the "hard" primers and they stopped making them, but for the handloading community out there, a great injustice was done.   
   When I want to delude myself into thinking that in a previous life I was Sgt. York, I take the Handi 7.62x39 to the range.   
   And smile.

Is that at 100 yards?  Even if it's only 50 yards, that's great shooting off hand.  Nice job!

[gendoc]

@ 100 and 150 yrds... a strapped lead sled.
@ 50 yrds... free hand,  4 out of seven in the same hole  and the others were in .5" (1/2") at the most.

that gets the goodies from my cheapie 4-16x40 a/o glass....... big picture !!!!
and load development.    

i just pull the trigger at the right time, i guess.. don't really know why it does that !!!!

[PHATINJUN]

My bad doc don't know where I came up with the .311 bore mine is .309 and I use the .311 sierra's. But without a doubt the most accurate .30 cal even when i first got mine and I could find the American Eagle Soft Points cheap they shot just as well . I use just a bag at the range.Kurt