Author Topic: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?  (Read 985 times)

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Offline Joel45acp

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Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« on: September 05, 2007, 10:44:05 AM »
I was wondering how many of you guys have "wild cat" chamberings in your Handi rifles?  I've been think of a 300 Whisper based on the 223 case.  Whatcha think? ;D
In Christ,

Joel C.

Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2007, 11:20:04 AM »
I do not have any, but know that there are several who do. You are limited with some of the choices that are offered by H&R. There are a few Gun Smiths that will take a smaller bore and bore it out to a larger size and re rifle + re chamber. The 300 Whisper is based on a 221 fire ball cartridge. A 22 Hornet bored out to 30 caliber and re chambered for it would work I believe. This would cost in the $300 range + the donor barrel for this. I do not think that 223 would work however because the chamber is too long to begin with. You could also do a stubbing project. This involves taking a donor barrel, cutting it down, boring it out bigger, threading the ID and the threading a new barrel to match the threads. For those you need to stick to low pressure rounds. The one the most recent that I am aware of involved a 30 carbine. I think a lug from a donor barrel could be welded back on a new barrel and any thing reasonable would work. One member has a project going on right now that will be a 6.5 X 55mm Swede when it is done. He usually comes along later in the evening, but will reply to just about any reasonable thread. There is another member that stubbed a 30 carbine recently (did it himself). There is another that had a 22 Mag barrel to chambered to a 218 Bee and is now looking at doing a rimmed 222. There are many more such projects. All fine fellows. I am sure they will give you some more insight with your 300 whisper. ;D
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2007, 12:49:09 PM »
No real wildcats, 280 Improved, 405 Winchester, 338-06 A-Square, 45-120-3¼" Sharps Straight and 35 Remington are as "wild" as I've got so far. Wayne York is working on a 6.5x55 Handi using a custom Shilen barrel for me right now, or will be as soon as he gets time.  :D Other members have 445 Supermag, 219 Zipper, 218 Bee, 220 Swifts to name a few. ;)

Tim
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2007, 01:31:37 PM »
300 whisper would be good, but finding a barrel to work is a problem.  I did a 30 carbine, it will shoot 170 gr cast subsonic, so that may be an option if you want to do subsonic rounds.  Either way you will need to re-bore or stub off a barrel to get either chambering.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.

Offline eskimo36

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2007, 03:36:24 PM »
You can duplicate 300 whisper loads in 30-30 and 7.62x39 with all but the heaviest bullets.  i have shot as heavy as 200 grains sub sonic in both with no problems.
"one shot is usually enough"

Offline Fred M

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2007, 03:56:04 PM »
Well I turned a 223 into a 6x47 (222Rem Mag case). Another 223 I made into a 257 Roberts. Both turned out well with a lot of ellbow grease and $$$$.

Fred M.
From Alberta Canada.

Offline trotterlg

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2007, 04:43:16 PM »
What someone really needs to talk NEF into is chambering  barrels in the smallest cartridge avaliable in the cal.  They already have the 22 Hornet and 17 HMR, they need a 30 cal like the 30 Carbine, a really small 25 cal like the 25-20 and something in .270 etc.  This would provide the custom chambering folks an easier path to a cutsom rifle while getting NEF off the hook for selling a wildcat.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.

Offline georgeld

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2007, 10:08:48 PM »
Only one I've got that's not factory chamber is a HMR reamed out to .17x28mm, that's based on the
5.7 FNH case. 

Put it on a .410 action and cratered the primers.  Quick told me that's the problem with the big
firing pin. So I bought a .223 action and put it on there. Works slicker 'ell so far.

Had a too tight chamber neck that's caused problems. Had that reamed out, expecting the barrel back anyday now.

Should be a fine little p/dog shooter out to 200yds. since I shoot a lot of 'em among $10k-50,000 horses and the rancher don't like the blast. Says he'll give me a chance to prove this isn't as noisy.  The
horse's don't seem to mind my shooting a .223.
Shucks, had one mare that would point them for me, then when I shot 'em. She'd trot over there and pick them up with her teeth and toss 'em around the 5 acre pen. Funny as can be. But, it's a real pain because the rest of the horse's have to follow along behind her.  They do get the exercise running back and forth though, and the barrel will never get too hot this way either.  One fell down the hole. She got down on her knee's and stuck her head almost to the eye's down the hole. She sure was proud when she got that one out. Tossed it up in the air half a dozen times, knickering, shaking it, throwing it around.  What I'm waiting for is for her to pick up one that's not dead and it bites her nose.  Had one lunge at me wide open mouthed once.  IF you've ever seen a house cat yawn, that's about what it looked like and this one lunged at least two feet in the air at me with a blown out belly.

Since  I started this conversion they've come out with the .17M2, so I've got one of them too.  Need a HMR barrel to replace the one I used up.

You must have something in mind, or you wouldn't have started this thread. What are you thinking about making?

George
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It's about Control, join the NRA today!!"

Offline PartsMan

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2007, 03:22:24 AM »
Sometimes I feel like my 7mm-08 is a wildcat.
There is only one shop in the area that has ammo.
$32 or $36 a 20  :(
Everywhere else says I have 7mag, will that work?

Someday I WILL own a 25 souper.
Don't know if it will be a Handi or not.
I guess I should start reloading first.

Offline Mac11700

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2007, 06:11:09 AM »


There are lots of wildcats you can do..and as been said..you either rechamber/rebore to get there..or you do as others have done and stub a new barrel on and go that route..or...try what Quick is doing with Wayne...We will have to wait and see how his turns out before recommending it...if any one can pull it off...I know Wayne can...Me..FWIW...I prefer the re chamber/ re bore option..I've had really good luck with my 26" 270..and 338-06 A-Square..It isn't cheap..and it isn't for everyone...and you have to have a fair amount of knowledge of these rifles to know their limitations as to what they will and won't handle...Mostly it will depend a-lot on what you want..and if an existing chamber & bore will suffice for your chosen cartridge..if it won't...then going the stubbing route is the next best option...Even going with a new barrel...you still are limited to what the Handi frame can tolerate..It isn't as strong as a bolt gun or Ruger #1 or #3...so...big magnums are defiantly out..Folks will tell you that the SB-2 frame can take a-lot more than what NEF is saying...and point to the 500 S&W and the 450 Marlin being chambered..yes...these rounds are available and are chambered..but..each have their own problems in a Handi..The 450 Marlin is just a hot loaded 45-70..with a belt..The levels that it can handle with are the same as the  45-70 ...it is just into the lower levels of the published Ruger #1 loads...in some manuals...not all manuals...but some...The 500 S&W..well...even though it has a much higher SAMMI rating than the 450 or others with such a large case head diameter...there is only a couple of commercial loads that get close to it's max pressures...most stay much much lower...and for good reason to...this big of a case head would put a tremendous amount of back thrust on a frame that flexes...and this isn't a good thing to happen...In most cases..the barrel lug gets set back and then they have to be sent in or shimmed to correct this...I firmly believe they are too much to begin with...and if the steel that is being used in the under lug shows this much stress...the rest of the frame will too in time if the lug no longer sets back...I may be in the minority on this here...but...given what I know about them...is how I feel...These frames aren't forged frames of high tensile strength stainless...they are casted frames that are heat treated to gain their strength...so...there can be some differences on just how strong one is as compared to another years make of the same..and why some frames may exhibit more flex than another...It's something to bear in mind when making major changes to a Handi...all are not created equally...and to assume they are is fool hardy at best...They are good platforms for a multitude of "improving"...so...again...deciding what you want is first...

If you elect to go with a magnum rated cartridge.and I highly recommend you stay away from them...do your self a favor...Call NEF...ask to speak to Gordon who is the C/S manager...and discuss the Handi's strength  with him..he won't tell you for liabilities sake to modify the rifle...nor will he even recommend what to chamber & reload for...since NEF doesn't warrant damages caused by hand loads...and is something to bear in mind when discussing how much a Handi can take...especially with the 500 S&W...You also can call and discuss this with Wayne York of Oregunsmithing who has done several conversions on Handi's for several of us here..He can and will tell you what will and won't work...You should remind him that this is a Handi action and not a Ruger...he sometimes is so heavily involved in another project that he can forget that fact and assume you are discussing another type of rifle...it's happened before..and a couple of folks got upset that he had to retrack what was told them...He does however do exceptional work and I highly recommend him...He is going to be doing a couple more for me real soon...1 of which is a 6mm-AI...and a 25 Gibbs or 30-06 Gibbs for wildcats...or possible a good ole 26" 30-06...All of his rebores...give you an great cut rifle barrel when done...and if you know anything about them...then you know they usually do better than most others...A good cut rifle barrel usually gives better results than a standard bore..

Any way you go...Good Luck...and keep us posted on what you do..

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline Mitch in MI

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2007, 06:56:15 AM »
Wow, Mac. You must have REALLY wanted that 26" 270 to pay for a custom job instead of just getting a 26" 280.

Offline Mac11700

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2007, 07:36:47 AM »


Yup...I did...







 ;D ;D ;D

Mac



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Offline Joel45acp

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #12 on: September 06, 2007, 08:02:11 AM »
You guys just amaze me. ;D  Thanks for the in depth response Mac. 
In Christ,

Joel C.

Offline aulrich

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #13 on: September 06, 2007, 08:03:26 AM »
Though pretty mild I have a 22-hornet converted to k-hornet

Mac where did you get that butt plate?
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #14 on: September 06, 2007, 08:10:57 AM »


It's a Morgan Adjustable...and is available from many different on-line stores..They have are making a plastic type plates as well but..The original die cast plated models  are still available if you shop around...and you can order the new models straight from the company if you prefer..http://www.morganrecoilpad.com/index.html

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #15 on: September 06, 2007, 08:23:09 AM »
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Mac11700

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #16 on: September 06, 2007, 08:00:52 PM »

Those are the old style I was talking about being available on line Quick......

Cabela's has the plastic version in stock as well...for those not wanting metal..They look like this..



http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0003682220713a.shtml

Mac

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Offline nomosendero

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #17 on: September 07, 2007, 03:14:24 AM »
Mac, are you trying to steer people toward the quality stuff again, shame, shame !!  ;D
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline wtroger

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #18 on: September 07, 2007, 04:44:24 AM »
I just finished a stub project in 6mm/223 or 6X45 which ever way you want to call it.I learned a lot from it and Will probably do some more as I come across Donor barrels. Trotterlg has more expierence at this than me but it is for me a cheaper way to go than the rebore rechamber route since I have the tools to do a stub myself.

Offline Mac11700

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Re: Any "wildcat" chambers in Handis?
« Reply #19 on: September 07, 2007, 04:56:03 AM »
Mac, are you trying to steer people toward the quality stuff again, shame, shame !!  ;D

Always.... :D

Nothing wrong with buying the good stuff...heck...with all the money folks save by buying the Handi's it easier to do... :D :D

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...