Author Topic: .44 handi (Read 2592 times)

mmt7714 · « **on:** October 05, 2010, 11:15:21 AM »

Hey guys, I don't own a handi YET. Hoping to change that real soon. I have guy wanting to sell me a handi in .44 mag. It is one year old, and has had maybe 20 rounds through it. Black synthetic stock, blued barrel, and in good shape. No rust or anything like that. I know the guy real well, so I know the gun is what he says it is. He is wanting $300 for it with a simmons 8pt scope. Good buy? I don't know thats why I am here. Also, I will primarily be using this gun for deer but really have no experience with this round. I know it will be adequate, but I don't reload. What would be some good factory ammo? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

wreckhog · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2010, 11:24:27 AM »

Should be able to puy a new one for around that much.

dave29 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2010, 11:28:21 AM »

I would offer $220 with the scope and see what he says.

You can find the gun new for ~$225 or less, then add on the cost of that scope.

murphdog · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2010, 12:25:11 PM »

I agree with Dave29. Local gun shop here in Indiana sells them new (no scope) for $230. Whether yours is a good deal depends a lot on the scope that its wearing. You can probably get a Bushnell banner thats adequate for deer hunting for about $80. Cheaper scopes are available, but I'm not inclined to use them. For ammo, Winchester white box with 240 grain bullet is often recommended, and it shoots accurate in my handirifle. I only take 1 deer a year, but in my limited experience this bullet has worked very well on deer.
Duane

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2010, 01:21:08 PM »

I don't believe it is a fantastic deal at that price. I think you could put the scope and rifle together new for the same or less price. I wouldn't pay over 250 for the package. If the rifle is only a year old, I'd check to see if it is on a SB1 or SB2 frame.....on a SB2, I might pay it. Don't look at the markings on the barrel, they don't mean a thing. You've got to pull the stock and see if it is a solid cast iron frame or a skeletonized alloyed frame. The later, the SB2 frame will handle any barrel you want to put on it. See the FAQs on this page. If the original box is available, the model number on the box will tell you what it is. Good luck, and I hope this helps.

Pete

Spanky · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2010, 01:35:13 PM »

Offer him $225 and don't pay more than $250 for the package. My 44 mag shoots 180gr. Remington ammo very well.

Spanky

spikehorn · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2010, 02:23:31 PM »

Seems expensive to me considering I have bought Simmons 8-point scopes for $29 brand new. Offer $225 settle at $250. Mine shoots both the win white box 240's and the Hornady LE rounds very well

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2010, 02:44:29 PM »

Bud's price was $227 shipped for a new SB1 44mag.

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_263/products_id/55422

mmt7714 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2010, 04:37:39 AM »

Thanks guys,
You all just kind of reinforced what I was thinking after checking some prices, but I am in no way an expert on handi's so I definitely wanted a second opinion. I will offer him 225.00 today and see, if not I will buy a new one. Thanks again.

Mike

pruhdlr · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2010, 07:47:53 AM »

As in most trades or buys from an individual,most dealers consider the lower end scopes are worth $0. Now if it had a Leupold on up,that would be different. Same with the rings and bases.

IMO that would not be the scope that would be good for that weapon anyway. As stated by others,friend or not,it is still a USED gun. I would say $180-$210 would be a good deal. Tell him to keep the scope and see how much he wants. ---SAWMAN

geoindyman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2010, 03:58:55 PM »

Hey guys, I too am very interested in a handi 44. How can I tell if it's a SB1 or SB2 without taking it apart? Is there something in the serial number that tells you? Also, I found a Rosi today, are they any good?

petemi · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2010, 05:26:59 AM »

The serial number tells you nothing. You have to remove the buttstock to know for sure. See the FAQs. On a new rifle, the model number on the box will tell you.

Pete

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2010, 05:54:45 AM »

Factory SB1 rifle frames are marked on the right side of the frame, but SB1 shotgun and SB2 rifle frames aren't, other than that, the best way to check is removing the butt stock to see if it's solid or hollow around the tang bolt.

Tim

nova71 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2010, 11:43:42 AM »

I just bought a new Handi in 44mag (serial # CAC168XXX) and on the right side it says only shotgun, 357 and 44mag barrels are to be used with this receiver. sorta takes the guess work out of wondering if it is a SB1 or SB2..

geoindyman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2010, 02:10:57 PM »

Have you shot your new 44 yet? I had one gun dealer tell me to shoot at least 50 rounds before I worried about getting a good group. Does that sound about right?

nova71 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2010, 02:18:14 PM »

No, not yet. I picked it up while I was on vacation in Branson MO. and just got home yesterday. it will probably be Monday or later before I get to make it to the range. I did try the barrel on an extra SB2 receiver I have but it isn't going to work without some work, won't lock up and has a gap

geoindyman · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2010, 02:26:26 PM »

I will probably buy mine tomorrow. I'm thinking about putting a red dot on it. Do you know if the cheaper red dot's will hold up on a 44?

nova71 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2010, 02:45:01 PM »

I haven't tried a red dot on a 44 yet, I use one on a 357Mag revolver and never had any problem with it but it was an AimPoint and it wasn't cheap, cost almost as much as the gun

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2010, 03:02:56 PM »

Quote from: geoindyman on October 22, 2010, 02:26:26 PM

I will probably buy mine tomorrow. I'm thinking about putting a red dot on it. Do you know if the cheaper red dot's will hold up on a 44?

I've used A1 Optic, TruGlo and a couple of others on several large caliber Handi's, .445 for one and they do hold up. I'm not happy with the degree of accuracy I, personally, can attain with them. I've taken 3 off in the last month and replaced with glass. The red dots, to my way of thinking, are 50 yard, minute of deer. They are fantastic in deep woods, short range, low light situations, because both eyes are open and you're always focused on your target.

Pete

korkskru · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2010, 06:34:30 PM »

red dots are ok. i like mine on my handi 44, but i am not planning on shooting any great distance with it. mainly a woods, brush gun. it has held up very well. its a simmons and i think i gave $40-$50 for it. it shoots 240 gr really well, from about all manufacturers. got some brass ready to reload, but waiting on powder and primers.

geoindyman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2010, 04:05:29 AM »

From what I'm being told and have read after about 125 it's going to have a big drop. I plan on using it for deer season and the longest shot might be 100 but probably 75 or less. It's pretty thick in the area I hunt so I'm hoping it will do the trick. I"m just concerned about the quality of some of the cheaper dots.
I priced them from 30 to 450 yesterday.

spikehorn · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2010, 07:29:56 AM »

I've had good luck with the Tru Glo 2X red dots and you can get them at Dick's SG for around $69 i think

gcrank1 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2010, 08:03:05 AM »

I suppose only the more expensive 'red dot' sights have an adjustable dot size? I played with a cheap one a couple of years ago and the 3 or4 moa dot did show on target without a doubt, but was too big for me to get comfortable with. Seemed like at 25-50yd on a deer it would cover a lot of deer. Now maybe thats just disconcerting to my eye/brain connection, moreso than performance in the field, but it doesnt instill confidence in my equipment, which I need.
Ive learned too, through the years, that in trying to scope early morning deer, if I cant see the crosshairs on a traditional scope, its too early for me to be pulling a trigger. Thats OK, I can wait.
On a .44Mag, etc. I would prefer a lower power scope than that 8X, like a 2.5 to 4X max., so unless you have another rifle and caliber better suited to that 8X, it likely wont be the scope you end up with on the 44.

petemi · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2010, 09:55:41 AM »

I have quite a few 3-9s, 50s and 40s. 99% of the time they're set at three power.

Pete

mmt7714 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2010, 09:56:28 AM »

Well, I finally bought my first handi the other day. It was a 44 mag and I went and shot it a couple of days ago. Awesome little gun, very accurate, light, moderate recoil, can't really complain about it at all. The only problem is ever since I shot it strange things have been happening. For instance, I keep going to the H&R website without thinking and browsing their guns, I constantly check my bank account to see how much money I have too spend, without knowing how or why I find myself looking at the NEF classifieds, are these things normal, lol.

Mike

gcrank1 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 24, 2010, 10:06:56 AM »

Normal?......noooooo
You done caught it, and are a gonner, just grin & bear it as best you can.

spikehorn · « **Reply #26 on:** October 24, 2010, 12:58:09 PM »

Welcome to the addiction!

geoindyman · « **Reply #27 on:** October 25, 2010, 12:49:01 PM »

Well I must say I'm hooked. I bought my 44 handi on Sat. and put about 50 rounds through it. It started grouping decent after about 30 rounds. I still have a little more work to do on the sighting in thing but I'm looking forward to it. It's a blast to shoot. Any recommendations on factory ammo? I shot a box of Winchester so far. I hear Hornady makes a good hunting load.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 25, 2010, 01:09:33 PM »

Oh man...you just gotta get a Lee starter reload kit with carbide dies and start loading your own!
Way more shooting for the money you spend now on factory ammo.

tacklebury · « **Reply #29 on:** October 25, 2010, 01:16:14 PM »

+1 gcrank1. Mine paid for itself in about 6 mo.

I reload for my .45-70, .45 colt and .45 acp and soon will be doing the 7.5x55 swiss.