Author Topic: 6.8 SPC Handi? (Read 1268 times)

welldone · « **on:** January 01, 2013, 12:43:32 PM »

Anybody ever know of a handi rifle in 6.8 spc? I know the ballistics can easily be beat by a lot of handi calibers but I already have all the reloading stuff for the the 6.8. I hunted with a lightweight AR this past year but I am wanting to get back to the simple life and make a easy to carry, no mag., no fiddle with hunting gun. Looks lime the handi is my answer but can't decide what direction to take. Whitetails/hogs in the ga. swampy area with an occasional 300 yard shot.I have the stuff for. 308 but I really want a lightweight gun so the recoil may be an issue. Anybody have any suggestions?

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:56:58 PM »

There is no factory 6.8 available from H&R . It could be done by a rebore. But for the cost of the rifle and the rebore you could buy a 7mm-08 Superlight and the reloading supplies and have some money leftover. This would make a very nice walkabout firearm .
Just an idea
George

RPRNY · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2013, 02:10:05 PM »

My $0.02 (and worth as much I suppose) is that unless you have a donor barrel and stub and the ability to work it up yourself, I would pass on the 6.8 SPC and just get a .270 Win Handi Rifle. Readily available factory ammo should you so desire, no worse bullet selection should you choose to handload, a better performing round than the 6.8 for the odd 300 yd shot, and it's rimless v. rimless, so no Handi "benefit" to the 6.8 SPC. Purchase a used .270 Handi and you will have a lot of money left-over to purchase dies and brass compared to the cost of re-boring/chambering a .223 Handi or stubbing something else.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2013, 05:41:22 PM »

I can see suggesting the 7-08 as a substitute for the 6.8SPC, but a 270? I think what welldone is looking for is a lightweight, and fairly light kicking rifle to use as a walkabout gun. I wouldn't consider a single shot 270 as a light kicking carry gun. Just my 2 cents.

I too would like to buy a Handi in chambered 6.8SPC, and while we're at it also one in 6.5 Grendel.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2013, 05:52:45 PM »

30/30 would likely do whatever you
want it to, especially since you already load.

i'll be looking for one myself soon if i
find one i like. i wish i could get
my old one back.

good luck

welldone · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2013, 11:42:06 PM »

.30-30 is definitely on my list. Why do rimmed cartridges seem to be prefered for the handi?

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2013, 12:03:09 AM »

I agree with George on the 7mm-08 Superlight.

There's two schools of thought here...rimmed vs rimless. I'm a middle of the roader. I have both and like them equally well. Different rifles, different usages. I can't honestly say one is better than the other. I haven't had a problem with either.

Pete

wganz · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:05:45 AM »

All it would take for us to have a 6.8 SPC Handi Barrel in the Barrel Accessory Program is for H&R management to send Bubby in a golf cart over to the other side of the plant to pick up some chambering reamers and headspace gauges. H&R already has .277" bore barrels. A few minutes with an html editor to add it to the list of available calibers. Chamber a barrel when the barrel shows up.

Not complicated at all.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:08:16 AM »

Ya gotta convince the bean counters that it's profitable first which ain't gonna happen. $:-\$

Tim

RPRNY · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:29:16 AM »

Quote from: OldSchoolRanger on January 01, 2013, 05:41:22 PM

I think what welldone is looking for is a lightweight, and fairly light kicking rifle to use as a walkabout gun. I wouldn't consider a single shot 270 as a light kicking carry gun. Just my 2 cents.

Fair point. Noted. The requirement for 300 yard shots on whitetail and hogs had me thinking more rather than less.

Dinny · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:30:55 AM »

I have to agree with the others about the 7mm-08 Superlight. It's a fine carrying Handi and has a much greater selection of bullets. It can be converted to shoot rimmed .307 brass if you so desire. That's how mine is going to be done.

Thanks, Dinny

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2013, 09:48:03 AM »

Quote from: welldone on January 01, 2013, 11:42:06 PM

.30-30 is definitely on my list. Why do rimmed cartridges seem to be prefered for the handi?

Or a 7X30 waters if aval.

welldone · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:25:19 AM »

It's so great to have choices. I am a little confused about 7-08 "Superlight" . Looking at H&R website, I only see 223 and 243 listed as caliber under synthetic model. It is weighing in at 5.3 lbs. Is this model now available in 7-08?

Airsporter · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:55:26 AM »

Are 7mm-08 superlight barrels available?

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:18:37 PM »

Quote from: Airsporter on January 02, 2013, 11:55:26 AM

Are 7mm-08 superlight barrels available?

Quote from: welldone on January 02, 2013, 11:25:19 AM

It's so great to have choices. I am a little confused about 7-08 "Superlight" . Looking at H&R website, I only see 223 and 243 listed as caliber under synthetic model. It is weighing in at 5.3 lbs. Is this model now available in 7-08?

I don't know if 7-08 superlight barrels are available in complete guns, quickdtoo would know.

I do know that you can't get them as accessory barrels, but the regular 7-08 barrel is available, as a complete gun and as an accessory barrel.

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

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2013, 06:14:48 AM »

Quote from: Airsporter on January 02, 2013, 11:55:26 AM

Are 7mm-08 superlight barrels available?

It was made as a complete rifle at one time not long ago and they were offering accessory barrels for a while, but at this time H&R will only use them for repairs of original 7mm-08 rifles, if a barrel isn't listed on the acc barrel page, it's not available.

Tim

dk17hmr · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2013, 06:55:32 AM »

FYI 6.8spc can be formed from 30-30 brass. I have a 16" contender barrel in 6.8 that I cut a counter bore for the rim. Works well with rimmed and rimless brass. I use 375 Winchester brass which seems to hold up better.

44 Man · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:18:42 AM »

I'm with Pete in that I have a 7-08 Superlite and it's a wonderful gun to carry and shoot. It would be well worth doing some looking to find one. They were often listed as a 'Youth' model. On the other hand, a 30-30 Topper, (they have a nice, slim barrel) will fit the bill well. If we are talking neat calibers (that are not available), I'd like a 6.8. Of course I'd also like a .250 Savage, and a 7-30 waters! I agree that H&R could make money with the 'ream the chamber when the caliber is ordered' system. It could be sold as a 'custom' service for a 'custom chamber cut' service and I'd be happy to pay an additional $50 to $75 more for that. Back on track; I do like the idea of a 6.8 in a Handi (no magazine bans apply), but I'd list your components for sale on GB's reloading classified and do my best to find a 7-08 super or a 30-30 Topper. 44 Man

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:24:53 AM »

Concerning the H&R 7mm-08 "Youth" model, they've listed one for years in their catalogs and on the website, but it's not a Superlight, it has a 22" standard contour barrel with a youth stock. The youth model with the Superlight barrel will be 20", big difference in weight.

Tim

welldone · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:46:52 AM »

Now that's some handi dandi info. Thanks.