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Author Topic: Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle  (Read 1785 times)

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Offline IC Cowboy

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« on: April 19, 2006, 06:13:29 AM »
First off, I am brand new, was not even aware there was a sight or Forum devoted to Handiholics until someone passed this along to me. great info and sight thus far.

O.K. so lets get down to business. I just purchased a SB2 (frame) receiver
I plan to order the Monte Carlo Camo Laminate stock and forend. I am also considering getting the 32" 45/70 Govt. barrell after I get the complete gun back from H&R, I plan to have the barrel cut to 26" and a Trigger job.

So has anyone cut the Buffalo barrel and to what length? Opinions welcome on length of barrel and trigger weight. How much does it cost to get a barrel cut Professionally and a Handi trigger job? I like the idea of having a clean barrel without the plug screw where front sight was.

I will of course be glad to post pics  of this transformation as I enjoy them and I know ya'll well.

So let the advice and opinions flow freely to your newest Member. Thanks!
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Offline Couger

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!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2006, 06:59:40 AM »
ICCowboy,

What makes a 'custom gun,' ...... "custom?"   :wink:

Personnal preferences?

FWIW, I also hope to get a BC .45/70 barrel for the extra weight, then cutting it to 22-26 inches.  Since I'm still trying to save my pennies for the first barrel-assessory-factory-visit, I haven't decided yet what I'll choose but your ideas sound perfectly sensible to me.

Thought I was going to use a good peep in the back, but wonder if my middle-age eyes might like an optic better.  Either way, my .45/70 would be a 200yd shooter.
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Offline Mac11700

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2006, 08:04:21 AM »
I've seen prices from $50 to $150 for what your wanting to do...If your sending your reciever into NEF..ask in writing for Jon the gunsmith there to do a trigger job for you..He does a fantastic job on them..they won't take it down to varmint gun triger pulls..but they are extreamly clean and crisp when you get them back....

Thru shooting all of my 45-70 Lever guns and my 45-70 Limited Handi..I would say for shooting hunting loads (for me anyway)..that the best barrel lenght will be somewhere between 26"-28"...you'll optomize the velocity with a wider range of powders...Shooting the extreamly slow burning powders with the 500 grain bullets & up and BP..will be different..

Good Luck & Welcome Aboard  :D

Mac
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Offline IC Cowboy

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Re: !!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2006, 09:35:51 AM »
Quote from: Couger
ICCowboy,

What makes a 'custom gun,' ...... "custom?"   :wink:

Personnal preferences?

FWIW, I also hope to get a BC .45/70 barrel for the extra weight, then cutting it to 22-26 inches.  Since I'm still trying to save my pennies for the first barrel-assessory-factory-visit, I haven't decided yet what I'll choose but your ideas sound perfectly sensible to me.

Thought I was going to use a good peep in the back, but wonder if my middle-age eyes might like an optic better.  Either way, my .45/70 would be a 200yd shooter.


I will agree with your? What makes a Custom, Custom. And perhaps my choice of wording was not the best. However I'm implying it to mean that one that has something done differently than what the factory does/offers.


I purchased a Buffalo Classic last year and it is such a pretty gun, and to me (the scope which I put on almost ruins the look of this Antiquish looking gun), however for low light hunting situations those peep sights don't compare to a quality scope the last 30 minutes of shooting time, Hence another reason I am wanting to build my own for a serious whitetail slayer out to 200 yds. I will probably retire my Original Buffalo Classic for just fun open sights shooting or if i get into Cowboy Action Shooting with the Williams Receiver  or perhaps Tang sights.

I only plan to shoot the lighter 300-325 grain loads probably the new Hornady round as mine will be a Primitive weapon whitetail weapon in Mississippi.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2006, 10:33:28 AM »
Welcome aboard, IC Cowboy!!

26-28" isn't a bad length for a BC, the Target comes in 28" if you want to get a feel for that length to see how you like it. Here's my Target which is rechambered and rebored to .405 Winchester, about as "custom" as you can get!! :wink:



Not all scopes on BCs look out of place, Stuffit has a real nice one with a walnut roll-over Gunstocks Inc stock w/varmint forend..



Mine's not as nice, but not unattractive, either...



For sights a little more classic, there's always the Smith ladder sight with optional peep slider, this is Bernie's(Dodd3), I'm waitin for my peep slider from Track of the Wolf....

Tim



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Offline Couger

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2006, 11:22:09 AM »
ICCowboy,  I wasn't disagreeing with anything you said, rather the opposite.

Quick, thanks for the insights from your experiences.  I could see cutting a barrel at 26", but I'd not want to go any longer.

Generally I like 24-26 inch tubes on shotguns, and 24 inch tubes on rifles, but not excessively 'short' or 'long' with either longgun.
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Offline pascalp

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2006, 11:26:32 AM »
I understand, shortened and recrowned heavy barrel. How heavy, only by lenght or diameter when compared to a regular SB2 45-70.

For custom, we have all our inclination.

When using scope, sight radius is no use.
With modern powders, i have no need for a great barrel lenght to push my bullets with enough speed.
A straight Choate stock seem to help to take recoil (for me).

So:



I'm not a "tactical look" fan, it's simply the most affordable thumbhole stock that i could get. And the wide forend is perfect when i use a bench front rest instead of bipod.  

And the project isn't finish, something is missing at the muzzle!.


I would like a BC. Look really fine out of factory. But with my specs for pratical use !!. Scope for my eyes and suppressor for my ears, it will be awfull, i won't do that. I can't figure how to let it on the wall, just for eyes!.
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Offline IC Cowboy

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2006, 11:40:19 AM »
Couger, Not to worry, No harm done, Friend!  8)

I can also tell you from experience that the 32" inch barrel gets caught on low limbs vines and low flying aircraft (O.K. I may have not actually caught it on a plane yet, but I wouldn't want to tote it upwards with Lightening in the General aree either.) when taking it hunting, and is very cumbersome climbing in and out and up and down treestands!

How about I split the difference regular barrel=22" ,buffalo barrel=32" any reason a barrel need be an even length?
Maybe I'll do it 27" what do ya'll think?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2006, 12:10:15 PM »
Here's Big Blue's 27" barreled BC w/Hi-viz recoil pad and 2½x Bushnell Scopechief..

Tim

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Offline Couger

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2006, 06:32:17 PM »
:-D

27 inches!?  Could work.  Whatever blows up a fellow's kelt!  Right?   :wink:



If a fellow had a chop saw and could cut his own barrel, I suppose he could shorten the barrel one inch at a time until it felt good or 'felt right.'  Ideally, that fellow would also have the tools and know-how on how to 'finish' the new muzzle.

Also, till now I think most everyone has assumed the said 45/70 ammo is propelled by smokeless powder, but if a shooter really got a wild hair, why couldn't he [carefully] use black powder?   :roll:   The looooonger legnth would be a big advantage again.
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Offline tcshooter52

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Scope mount and rings
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2006, 01:21:15 PM »
Quickdtoo
  What scope mount and rings are you using on your HR.

John
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Offline quickdtoo

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2006, 01:48:30 PM »
Which one? Rings on both are medium Burris Signature Zee, the Target has a Simmons Whitetail Expedition 1½-6x32, the BC has a 10x40 Bushnell Elite 3200.

Tim
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Offline Couger

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?????????????
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2006, 02:51:21 PM »
Does anyone know if Talley makes a good solid STEEL scope ring for the Weaver-piccatiny style mount?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Putting together a Custom Handi Rifle
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2006, 03:18:08 PM »
Here's their web site, take a look...

http://www.talleyrings.com/
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