Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Durability of Handi-Rifles?

There is no "receiver-stretching business." There is no need for a 26" barrel, esp with the .308. It was designed for short barrels.

Here's a quote from a guy named David White, who is the site Administrator of Precision Rifle Works in an article about the NEF/H&R rifles. He seems to think there is an issue with frames stretching, and I think he is a gunsmith, so take it for what it's worth. Swampy, ya otta read some of the articles that go against what you want to believe. It might be enlightening.



BTW, this is from a link that Swampman1 put up in another one of his diatribes about the superiority of the Handi-rifle. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

And then, in a subsequent post, White answered the poster as to an estimate on the cost to "FIX" the Handi to make it a good shooter, and here is waht he said:



Not bad! Pay 200 bucks for the rifle and then pay an additional $190 to get the thing so it will be a better shooter. Another guy on the same post said he had a 38-55 that only shot lead cast bullets with shotgun and pistol powders at mild velocities and he had to use some shim stock to keep the gun from shooting all over the place -- after 1000 rounds.

Hmmmmmmmm!

I'm the one that first posted the link to that site. Those guys are shooting hot loads, wildcats, and stretching frames on purpose by their own admission. A standard stock NEF will shoot and work fine for tens of thousands of rounds if you don't do stupid stuff. That can ruin any gun. I think anyone that pays for additional services to a Handi is stupid. From the factory they shoot MOA. Each rifle is proof tested which is a rare thing. Through your money away on expensive inaccurate rifles if you like. I'll keep suprising others shooters, and winning money at the range.

Tens of Thousands of rounds ? ? ? And you have one that is approaching that number, I suppose. Tens (plural) is by definition at least 2 times 10 or 20,000 rounds. Pretty bold claim, if you ask me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

And I DID give you credit for the link. See below from one of my previous posts.

On another forum, a NEF owner was having trouble getting his NEF to get good groups and the folks over there mentioned the transfer bar and that you have to "pull through" to get good groups. see here. http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,108271.0.html

that link didn't work right, the #'s and html tag on end is supposed to be part of the link. like this, I hope.
web page

Ah, 'tis plain ya ain't been watching birds, turns out half of it is done with the ears. I had a 20" .308 once that I found entirely too loud. 26" might help some.

Some years back I read an article by Finn Akgaard (sp?) on one of those obscure European calibers he would often review. This one was set up on a long-barreled rifle and was of a mild report, the whole package being remarkably well balanced, complete with iron sights, and IIRC a hotter round than our own .30-30. If we had 'em I prob'ly would have bought one.

Too, 26" hangs that front sight a few critical inches further out, important for us old guys with an action as intrinsically short as a break-open.

Plus, I recall that in long range competition, a 26" .308 barrel in combination with 165 grain match boat-tails will just barely squeak by supersonic out to a full 1000 yards. Not that I can even SEE anything at that far, or that a Handi could do more than land 'em in the stadium at that range, just nice to have that option is all.

More than anything though, I just like the lines of simple, slender guns with long barrels, and again since that short action gives me a few extra inches to add on, why not?

Maybe H&R will come out with the Buffalo Classic in .308 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Birdwatcher

Not unless you get a truly exceptional example.

And also not according to the gun test that you posted previously either, Swampy.

Oops...

Damned facts...

Those test were with factory ammo. Any Handi will shoot MOA with the right person pulling the trigger. I will for sure out shoot a #1 or a Dakota.

well swampman - you and them handi's are just the kings of the shootin' world ain't cha. i had no idea in the very beginning of these posts that you were "all that". looks like someone would have done pulled you from the swamp and ushered you on to your justly deserved throne (complete with crown AND septre.
just one more question almighty one-
if you was all that - then why do you waste your precious time on a bunch of dumbazzes like us ???

Your the one that keeps posting.

Define short. It was designed to deliver a specified velocity in a 24 (later 22") barrel. Nothing more. It will benefit from a longer barrel, continuing to gain velocity out to about 54inches. Those 31" Palma barrels seem to work just fine.

Sorry, no. In the report I read, the handi was tested in a fixture and only delivered 2-3 MOA. Not human can hold better than that. With a tuned load and a good gun - maybe MOA. The fact of the matter is that there are very few rifles that will reliably turn out MOA time after time, despite what gun writers say. They do things like allow 'called' shots, or three shot groups.

For a rifle to be a true MOA gun, it must deliver at least 5 shots into 1.042 inches CTC at 100 yards every time.

How hard is that? Consider, the US military acceptance standard for the M14 and M1 Garand was 5.5 inches at 100 yards. Many rifles could not meet this requirement!

The problem is that there is the error introduced by the rifle, plus the error from the ammunition. A huge percentage of ammunition made and sold can not meet MOA regardless of what rifle it is fired from - from $200 handi to $2000 Remingtion 40x.

Rifles are normally tested for precision (which is the correct term anyway) by firing from a fixture. This completely eliminates shooter induced error. The fact of the matter is that rifles so tested, with match grade ammo, that will shoot MOA, are very unusual. How many manufacturers actually will gurantee MOA? Not too many.

The FN SPR is guaranteed to shoot MOA. The SA M25 as well. A couple of others. NEF doesn't seem to be on the list.

Swampman. Please post a witnessed target of a Handi fired 5 shot MOA group. Give exact groups size and ammo fired.

And you're the one who keeps attempting to elevate an inexpensive rifle by puttting others down:



Are we to assume that these "proof marks" aren't????







Swampy, You seem to be the only one with the inside scoop on all these details, yet you keep promoting a rifle which is laughable alongside many of the weapons you compare it to. What gives?

Do you really want to also see which rifle comes apart first? Methinks my #1 might not be it, in fact, I'd bet money on that. I lose, I buy you a #1; I win, you buy me a Handi.........wait, I don't want a Handi... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

yes, the key word here is witnessed. get one of your awe-struck subjects from swampland to verify this "miracle".

Fellas, quit with the facts to rebut the "superiority" of Handi-Rifles. Facts just confuse the issue...

Tod, great post. I am sick to death of hearing about everyone's MOA rifle that really isn't. Frankly I have not had anyone show up on my range and demonstrate a true sub-MOA rifle. Some were close, a 6mm Rem. with an adjustable brake and my Nesika Bay/Krieger 6.5-06 is near to MOA but the harsh truth is that some of the better rifles I have seen shot here are more like 1.5 MOA at best. Most of the factory stuff is much more like 2 MOA+.

Outside of the competitive circles most true MOA rifles are a fiction.

SS