Hi Mac
That is about my take on it. As I said before these hot rods are not for the Handi. As a matter of fact very few Handi conversions are worth the effort.
The only reason I converted my two Handi's was because I was not happy with
the accuracy of the origional 223's and I could not sell them no how.
Now both of them meet with my accuracy demands with fine cut rifled barrels.
Some of the conversions are Fred...some are... I wouldn't trade my 338-06A-Square for nothing..it just keeps doing better by each load I try...and I am sure Quick feels the same about some of his...but...These are some sensible ones as well..on good frames...with better than average under-lugs as well...Having fine cut rifling does make a real difference..some of the cheaper buttoned barrels available for stubbing just wouldn't do for me...I would have to spend just as much on this..as having it re-bored...just as Quick is doing with his 6.5 stubbed...
While certain calibers are excluded for the Handi..with the right under-lug..and right frame..they can be made into a super accurate rifle..Get one that is not so good...then it will give you fits like both of yours have...I'm glad you got them shooting good finally...now it they will just hold for awhile...
HH...Your Welcome...getting facts straight from the source is always better than 2nd or 3rd hand..and is how I like to do things...There is just too much speculation..and conjecture to weed thru for most folks...and why we always insist on giving factual information here for the members...Loading for these neat little rifles is hard enough for standard cartridges....factor in wildcats based from bolt gun data..can make conversions exactly like Fred said...a waste of time...and not only that..but can be very dangerous as well...
They were touting their cartridges there but I have yet to see any definitive proof of their claims of velocity, pressure and barrel life. Come on. We all know speed sells and if this were true we'd all be buying.
I have no doubt they do attain the velocities they state..since these are shot from a 28" varmint barrel...and the pressures are going to be at max for a 308 case head as well...As too barrel life..until they have a bunch of these being field tested and having some other reports..the jury is out on that for now..Different shaped shoulders have been tried before..and they have done a-lot of testing to get as far as they have with them...I do know that having a longer neck will ease throat erosion as compared to a very short neck...like a Gibbs design..so this does stand to reason to me...that it will help such a high pressure bolt gun round..
Mac