Author Topic: Help me make a decision.  (Read 474 times)

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Offline luke6417

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Help me make a decision.
« on: October 23, 2011, 08:07:16 AM »
About a month ago, I was robbed and my entire gun cabinet was cleaned out, 8 guns in all.  Among them was a handi-rifle in 45-70 with a nikon prostaff scope.  It was my primitive weapon for Mississippi.  I've put together about $300 to get myself something for this season.  I wanted a .357 with an sb2 frame, but that seems to be very hard to come by around here.  Everywhere I look, I can find .444's, .35 whelen's, and 45-70's all for about $260.  I really don't want the .444, but can't decide between the other two.  I need some opinions.

Offline quasne.inc

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2011, 08:31:15 AM »
I would go with the .45-70 because I like my cartridges old and fat.

Offline Fred McIntire

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2011, 08:34:57 AM »
I'd suggest you buy a Handi in any other caliber that is on an SB2 frame, then send your frame in to the factory to be fitted with a .357 Magnum barrel. Once you receive your factory fitted .357 Magnum barrel back from the factory, rent the reamer from Tim here and ream it out to the .357 Maximum, if legal in your area.

As for a scope, I have had excellent luck with the 2-7x32 Center Point brand from Walmart for $68.

Problem solved.   :)

Look in the classifieds here, on Gunbroker, Gunsamerica, and Auction Arms for a Handi.

Offline luke6417

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2011, 08:41:51 AM »
my dad has an sb2 .243 that he told me that I could use, I just don't have enough time before primitive weapon to send the frame in and have another barrel made.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2011, 08:47:17 AM »
Sorry to hear about the stolen guns, that really stinks.  :( Knowing you're short on time, the 35 Whelen would be the last choice unless you know it's a good shooter, buying a new one that hasn't had the service notice work done on it may be a bad choice, that makes the 444 or 45-70 the best choice since they're both very reliable, hard to go wrong with either. BUT, everyone should have at least one or three 45-70s,  I have six of em, so you should have at least one!!  ;D



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Offline thejanitor

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2011, 08:49:53 AM »
I know the people who have had problems with the 35 whelen usually get them figured out but I believe the best of those two choices for out of the box problem free shooting would be the 45-70. We have had 2 and still have 1, but I myself have never had a 35 whelen. (yet)
Sorry to hear about your lost guns,  thejanitor

Offline flinthead

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2011, 02:48:56 PM »
The camo stocked 35 Remingtons are the Handi of choice in MS... you can find them pretty easy there. Got mine from a pawn shop that deals in guns. Get you a box of 200 grain Core-Lokts and get the grease hot. ;)
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2011, 04:11:10 PM »
Short of finding a caliber you want in a pawn shop, or such, get the 45-70. You can load it from light bullets on up to heavy, with light to pretty stout powder charges, so it will cover a lot of shooting, and most shoot really well. Resale, when you find what you want otherwise, will probably be easy, but by then you wont want to get rid of it.
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
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We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Ol BW

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2011, 07:29:11 PM »
I think that if you don't want a .444 your best choice would be the 45-70 for the reasons stated in the posts above.  Besides you already know what the 45-70 will do and how it should shoot.
 
I wanted to tell you how sorry I was that your guns got stolen.  That really hits home, as I have had the same thing happen to me before.  That is the reason I dont have a gun cabinet anymore.  Having everything nice and organized in one place just makes it easier for someone else to find and get them all!!  (gun cabinet/safe, jewlery box, tool box, etc.)  Around here crooks have been known to take the whole gun safe if they could!  Now I stash them all over the place out of sight!
 
I will never forget when the Sherriff's deputy called me and said he had one of my rifles and he was going to turn it over to me so I could go hunting.  I was disapointed to find out it wasn't my Handi Rifle!
 

Offline petemi

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2011, 01:23:41 AM »
I too know what it's like to have guns stolen. 

Patty's boss had a .30-06 stolen by a guy who lived about a quarter of a mile away.  The S.O.B. shot himself in the foot with it and had it amputated.  Kieth got the rifle back.  Every local knows the guy's a thief and are reminded of it by his limp.

Back to the topic.  .45-70 for all the reasons stated above.

Pete
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The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2011, 02:26:36 AM »
Pete, That sounds like justice to me ;D  Better than the courts give out ::)
What Tim and Ol BW said, get what you know and are used to. $260 is a good price.


Good Luck and sorry to hear you were robbed.
 

Offline Jimbo47

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2011, 05:08:02 AM »
45-70 and you won't look back!
 
It's just so versatile that you can load it light with some trail boss powder for plinking cans, are put some hotter loads in it like Pete and shoot 300 yards.
My culled down Handi's are the 45-70, and then I have a few others to keep it company...357 Mag/Max. .45 LC/.454 Casull Carbine, .243 Ultra, and 20 gauge Tracker II.

Offline gcrank1

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2011, 05:09:15 AM »
Mine shoots to 300 (and beyond) with the TB loads, just like the old black powder loads did......... ;) .
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Jimbo47

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Re: Help me make a decision.
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2011, 05:18:14 AM »
I came full circle on the 45-70 because I had a great shooter when I bought my first one.
 
Then I got a wild hair and sold it to fund another project which was a big mistake.
 
For some reason I kept most of my ammo I had loaded and all my reloading components for that caliber knowing I would return.
 
I did a short while back and picked up another, and it too with some TLC is also a shooter, and I won't make that mistake twice, and you can count on that!
My culled down Handi's are the 45-70, and then I have a few others to keep it company...357 Mag/Max. .45 LC/.454 Casull Carbine, .243 Ultra, and 20 gauge Tracker II.