Buying my first Full Handi?

[ousooners1baby]

Ok, so Wal-Mart has them for $264.  Question is, which do I want. I will pick the caliber but need to know if their is any differences in these makes?  Are there anything I should know before buying one of these receivers and planning on getting extra barrels?

[Brian P.]

I got the wood one because I wanted to play with refinishing with a linseed finish and brass tacking my gun.  My next one (35 Whelen) will have the laminate thumbhole because I want the extra weight and the pistol grip is a little nice holding when I'm wearing wool gloves which do not give much traction and grip on a traditional styled stock.

[Dinny]

If you intend to have barrels added, then buy a CF rifle and not a pistol caliber or shotgun. The CF rifles use a SB2 receiver and just about any barrel can be fitted to it.

Thanks, Dinny

[ousooners1baby]

That's what I want to make sure of.  All of the pics show SB2 rec.'s, right?  Is there some kind of difference in those models I should be aware of?

[quickdtoo]

You can't tell an SB1 from an SB2 by the outward appearance or by the marking on the barrel, as Dinny mentioned, the 357 and 44 mag rifles now come(since 2008) on SB1 cast iron frames, not suitable for any other rifle chamberings as far as H&R accessory barrels are concerned. If buying new, look for the SB2 in the model number(except for the 10ga based models which use a 10ga SB2 shotgun frame). The difference between SB1 and SB2 is shown on the H&R acc barrel page and is explained in detail in the FAQs sticky above.

Tim

Welcome Pop!  Basically any H&R Inc(out of business in 1986) firearm made prior to 1987 is on a cast iron frame made for shotgun and low pressure rifle chamberings, in 1987 NEF (see H&R Timeline sticky in H&R Misc forum or FAQ) started production of alloy steel framed rifles(SB2 rifle frames) and cast iron framed shotguns(SB1 shotgun frames). Currently H&R1871 will fit all shotgun barrels (except 10ga based barrels) as well as 357mag and 44mag to those SB1 frames made 1987 and later, they won't fit any barrels to any frame made prior to 1987, nor will they fit any high pressure chambering to any SB2 frame made prior to 2000. This is pretty well explained on the H&R website. SB1 frames are ductile cast iron similar to those cast iron frames made prior 1987, SB2 frames are heat treated alloy steel. Rimfire frames(SS1) are cast iron and only work with rimfire barrels, SB1 and SB2 frames won't work with rimfire barrels(except the long discontinued Versa Pac barrels) due to the firing pin location.


http://www.hr1871.com/support/accessoryprogram.asp

Tim

[ousooners1baby]

I just wanted to know if there are any difference in the models I have shown.  I know which ones have the frame I am looking for.  I was just wanting to know if one was heavier or had a longer stock.  Something like that.


P.S.  I know you can't tell from a visual pic. You can tell from the caliber though. Since they are new.

[Brian P.]

Another thing I wanted to add, if I were to do it again I would get a standard barrel weight and not the heavy barrel because it really is a lot to haul around when walking.  I'm going to shorten mine about 5" to get some of the weight off.  I think one of the thumbhole guns would probably handle the weight a little better in the hands.

[ousooners1baby]

Another thing I wanted to add, if I were to do it again I would get a standard barrel weight and not the heavy barrel because it really is a lot to haul around when walking.  I'm going to shorten mine about 5" to get some of the weight off.  I think one of the thumbhole guns would probably handle the weight a little better in the hands.

Thank you Brian.  This is what I am looking for.

[ousooners1baby]

I am probably gonna get a heavier load for my initial buy.  .280 and up.  Anyone have suggestions on these calibers and the way they shoot in a Handi?  I have read where some of them have been over-bored and that they don't shoot quite as good as other calibers.
Also, I am thinking of buying a separate barrel to do my plinking.  Like the 223 up to the 22-250.  Is there anything better than these?  In you opinions, of course.

[quickdtoo]

The 280 Handi is a good choice, very accurate, mine shot great as a 280 and just as good as a 280 Improved. Just get one while you can tho, it's been discontinued for 2012, Walmart's supplier Sports South does have them in stock at this time tho, for how long is another matter.

Tim

[ousooners1baby]

Dadgum, I could live with those patterns.  I really have never thought about a .280.  How is the recoil compared to the .308 ?

[quickdtoo]

See Handi Recoil by caliber in the FAQs sticky.

Tim

[45-70.gov]

do you reload???


do you use a scope?


if it comes with  open sights......then  the stock won't fit right  with a scope....[low comb]
scope ready  is  my choice


I DON'T DO THE BARREL SWAPPING THING... only a few more dollars  for a whole new gun


do you carry a handgun?
get a pistol caliber  rifle to match
45colt....   hard to find 
if you carry 38 or 357..........ream you handi to 357MAX....plink with 38s
they are scope ready  and  i actually like the tupper ware high comb stock


my one  bull barrel stays  home a lot....[too fat]
love the laminated  thumbhole  but heard the  handi grip has  toooo low a comb


the  old  44  were the overbored ones....new 44 are good and scope ready
my girlfriend likes hers....with a red-dot sight


that  barrel swapping sounds  good at first
but look  into shipping  cost  ect..........


with  2 identical guns....one is spare parts for the other
have  5 barrels and the fireing pin breaks.....you have  5 guns and scopes that won't shoot

[ousooners1baby]

1. nope, so .280 is out probably. I have hundreds of .308 shells lying around because of the death of my woodsmaster 742.


2. Yep.  Always could shoot as a kid but blindness has caught up with me.


3.Thank you


4.Not arguing but looks like about $100 difference at least


5.Yep, Shoot a hot 45 long colt thru my Super Blackhawk


6.Thanks


7.For sissies, got it!  LOL


8.Thank you for your time!

[quickdtoo]

Having lots of 308 brass is a good reason to start reloading if the 308 suits your needs, see the Handloading Forum sticky down the index page for newbies handloader info.  But factory ammo works excellent in the 280 Handi, the FAQs topic Best Factory Ammo has high praise of the 140gr Fusion ammo as well as Remington Core-lokts and a couple others.

Tim

[Brian P.]

Nothing wrong with 308.  I got a 223 as I can get Lake City brass cheap and will last a LONG time.  I download 45gr bullets to the 3000fps as my general purpose small game/varmint gun.  I can reload it for less than the cost of premium WMR and it's more accurate so I sold my 22mag.

[45-70.gov]

308  0r 45  it  should be


my  next will be  308  or 30-30


308  is scope ready
if i get 30-30 [preferred]  i will get boyds thumbhole..or high comb tupperware

[ousooners1baby]

Of course all would be guessing but, I bought some hot 45 LC loads for my Ruger.  They shoot almost 1200 fps compared to about 750 normal round in the cowboy load.  Do ya think the rifle could handle that hot load too?  Only two pistols should be shot with them, the Super Blackhawk and Vaquero.  They bring the recoil up there towards the 44 mag.  Not quite but quite powerful.

[45-70.gov]

i  reamed a few to 454cassul...what do you think??


others have reamed them to  460 SnW

[Dinny]

I have a SB2 framed 45LC Handi. I see no problems shooting any loads you normally shoot in your Ruger SBH. Mine is 1 1/4" accurate at 100yds with a 335gr cast bullet and 2400 powder. There's a whole new world awaiting you in reloading.

Thanks, Dinny

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

a 308Win can really do it all

there is a reason NATO decided on the military version of it.

a good place to start.

[spikehorn]

My 280 is joy to shoot, suprisingly mild recoil and extremely accurate
 

[ousooners1baby]

Ok. Fellas, what is a good estimate of what it takes financially to get started reloading, say, .308?  I had a press and die for .45 at one time but got rid of it.  Just get me in the ballpark.

[Ranger99]

you can start with a lee loader 25.00-30.00
and use it for the rest of your life
i have a hand press also- a wee bit tough but
do-able on the larger rounds
i have 2 rock chucker presses- my first press,
bought used and likely older than anyone on this
forum, still very much useable for at least a few
more centuries


you can spend as little as you want or go gadget
freak hog wild


you don't have to have the best and most expensive
to load good ammo - consistency is the key
and keep a detailed log

[Brian P.]

http://leeprecision.com/lee-loader-308-win.html  I thought this would be fun to get for my Handi but it only neck sizes.  Anyone have issues with that in their guns?
 
Otherwise, I'd skip on the handpress and go with a bench mounted one.  Lee sells a classic kit that's around $100 or so. I used one for 15 years.
* Geesh, the price went up on those kits: http://leeprecision.com/50th-anniversary-breech-lock-challenger-kit.html
 

[cudatruck]

I just recieved the midway add in the mail a few days ago and noticed they had the lee challenger aniv. set for 105.00! everything you need is in that kit except dies and a MANUAL. dies for .308 win are not expensive and can be bought used. new ones with the crimp die are probably less than 40. powder primers and bullets are all going up in price but still cheaper than factory ammo. you can clean a few cases by hand, but you will want to get a tumbler. you will also need a set of dial calipers to measure case length and cartridge over all length. I think thats it to start. re loading has turned into my favorite hobby. and it allows my family to shoot more than we could afford otherwise. good luck, Mike.

[ousooners1baby]

So after buying the starter kit I would need, primers, lead and what else?

[quickdtoo]

As I recommended before, the best place for newbie handloading discussion is in the Handloading forum, best start with the sticky for new reloaders. 

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,46.0.html

[Brian P.]

The Lee kit comes with an instruction book with some data in it.  I think only old guys buy hardcopy manuals now days; most powder companies have their data online.
 
After the lee kit its bullets, brass, primers, powder. maybe some plastic cartridge boxes.
* You do NOT need to tumble fired brass.  In fact there have been several guys who became seriously ill from poisioning from all the primer residue that shakes loose when they're tumbled.  The stuff was found all over cothes, door knobs, counters, etc.  I clean primer pockets with the tool in the kit so to fit a new primer in and leave it at that. 

[quickdtoo]

The Lee kit comes with an instruction book with some data in it.  I think only old guys buy hardcopy manuals now days; most powder companies have their data online.
 

Any handloader that relies on online published data alone is foolish, the information in good manuals is required reading for any handloader, partularly a newbie handloader, he should have a good manual in hand and read it well before ever touching any reloading equipment. 

Tim