Don't Say Bad Things About H&R

[McLernon]

I have always liked the simplicity of the Handi-rifle. I have owned three. Worked on them diligently but only got one to shoot reasonably well. I had a 204 Ruger that would group 1-1/2 MOA....................................but who needs that................a 204 is a 300 yard round for varmints and 4.5 inches at 300 yards just won't do for ground hog size animals.
I finally traded all three in at one time when I bought my 1874 Sharps.
I do wish that Remington would put some engineering into these lovely rifles so that they would shoot well right out of the box. I am  a mechanical design engineer and could  suggest several things that, given the right investment in modern machinery, would not be big cost items and would improve accuracy.
I hope that one day I'll own another Handi, but I won't until Remington takes this otherwise attractive product seriously and knuckles down and puts some engineering hours into its design details.
 
Not a gripe..............................................just a wish!!!!!!!!!!
 
Regards to all Handi lovers
 
Mc
 
 

[PHATINJUN]

You go wishin and gettin to much done you'll engineer all the fun out of them!! Kurt

[twoshooter]

I really like the H&Rs. They are very simple machines. They have few moving parts.They can be taken down and transported in a 20" or smaller package using no tools.  All of mine will shoot 1.5" or better at 75 yards, including the 357 and 500 with my cast loads. I cannot shoot better than that. In fact, if I shoot a 3"  group off hand at 50 yards I am doing really well. If I can lean on something stable, 4 " at 100 yards is good. I cannot SEE anything smaller than about 2" white on black at 100 yards without magnification.
     I have an accurate rifle. It is about 47" long. It weighs about 12 pounds.It has a sling, bipod, 4x12 target scope.  I have fired 5 shot groups that went into 4.5" at almost 600 yards. I never take it anywhere. I need to lay down to shoot it. It is too heavy to carry very far. It is dangerous within a 4 mile radius. It is extremely loud. It is a fine gun though.
     I take my H&R about everywhere. I have shot my 357 more than probably any other rifle I own, including 22 LR. It is very short and light. I can shoot it with my 4X fixed power shotgun scope pretty well off hand. It has killed several deer, stray cats, armadillos, coyotes, rabbits, and squirrels. It shoots cast subsonic VERY quiet loads.
      I bought the long gun for ego and dreams years ago. I bought the H&R for comfort and needs. There is no doubt of which I would keep if I had to choose one. If Remington can improve them without much change or increased cost, fine. But if not, they are what I really need now, they are already better than I am.

[Spanky]

As far as I can tell Remington has done two significant things to the Handi's.
 
1. Raise the prices
2. Lower the quality
 
Guns are coming from the factory with canted scoep rails, bad chambers, bad bores, crappy wood, etc. and all that for way more money than they cost a few years ago.
I could understand a price increase if the quality was improved or upgraded wood was used or new chamberings but not for the crap they put out now.
 
I recently bought a new 17HMR Sportster just for grins... I've wanted one for a while and finally took the plunge. While the little hummer shoots well it looks like junk. The frame has the worst finish I've ever seen on a new rifle. The finish isn't smooth at all, it's almost powdery. How hard would it be to put a decent finish on the frame?? I could have bought a Marlin bolt action in 17 for less money and they are nicely blued and have good triggers. Just doesn't make sense.
 
That isn't the only one that I've been less than happy with. My 45-410 came from the factory with the worst bore I've ever seen. It looks like it was rifled with a garden rake from one end to the other. I've put about 100 rounds through it and it's still not smoothed out. My new 45-70 came from the factory with a bent barrel release lever. I had to knock the pins out and take the lever out and straighten it so the gun would open and close properly. Mind you these are brand new from the factory not used up old junkers.
 
I've slowly but surely been getting rid of my Handi's and buying better made guns. I plan on keeping a few Handi's but most of them are headed down the road. If and when Remington ever gets their act together and starts building a little pride into them I'll start buying them again, until then I'm done with the brand.
 
On a positive note... I just bought a new Ruger 77/22 Hornet and it's one of the best finished and accurate rifles I've ever laid hands on. Nice to see someone put out a product with some pride built into it.
 
Sorry for the rant but it is what it is...
 
 
 
Spanky

[Sourdough]

Don't know what the problem with not shooting good right out of the box.  Granted all my Handis were made back in the mid to late 90s.  Back when they were hunting rifles with ejectors.  My first one, a 30-06, I took out of the box and started shooting it.  I added an O-ring under the forearm, and that was it.  Seems the more I shoot it the better it shoots.  No problem hitting a 2 liter soda bottle at 500 yards, using a 165gr Sierria HPBT.  Same thing for my Ultra .223, using a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.  My 25-06 Handi can do the same thing using a 110gr Nosler Accubond. 

From what I am hearing, I am not interested in buying a new Handi.  I don't tinker, I hunt.  If a gun does not shoot straight I don't want it.

[petemi]

All 17 of my Handi rifles shoot better than I can.  In the instance or two when they didn't, H&R made it right.  They vary in age from 20 plus years old to brand new.  I have no complaints with any of them.  They do what they were made to do....they're a hunting/utility rifle not a showpiece or a long range target rifle.

Pete

[thejanitor]

My bolt guns shoot no better or worse than my handis, I have no issues with the quality control since I have not bought new since 2004. But for what I use these for (everything) they do just fine. We have a new ruger 10-22 the last gun we bought new.... jams 2 times per clip with any ammo we feed it. So it isn't that I am all over the Ruger section bashing, I think any one can get a sucky one once in a while. I think there are some people you will never please no matter what product you sell and they are more than happy to tell the world their woes, (Not bashing, but not afraid to mention it) I just pick through the threads I read and don't get my shorts in a wad.....  I like my Handis and when I need to shoot something for the last 10 years or so they are the gun I grab first.  Handis have put more meat in the freezer than any others at our house, and if this were a poll I would be voting for HAPPY with my Handis.   thejanitor

[quickdtoo]

All 17 of my Handi rifles shoot better than I can.  In the instance or two when they didn't, H&R made it right.  They vary in age from 20 plus years old to brand new.  I have no complaints with any of them.  They do what they were made to do....they're a hunting/utility rifle not a showpiece or a long range target rifle.

Pete

[muznut 54]

I have had a bunch of Handi rifles over the years and still have several the only one that I have issues with is my Rem flavored 500sw mag its not very accurate with stiff loads and I don't think its me my H&R 450 marlin and my Sidekick are tack drivers with stiff loads. When I first got my 500 I fired one shot and noticed it didn't lock up tight then I sent it back to the factory and they fixed that but now it fails to fire and the sights were junk so I replaced those but anyway I'm done buying new Handi's until someone else buys the company or Remington gets their act together!

[gcrank1]

These are, and have been for a long time, the modern version of 'the trade gun/rifle'. For me, owner serviceability is important 'cause I do NOT want to have to send a gun back. Thus far a gentleman at H&R has been good to me with the few new parts I have needed. Buying used, and hopefully wisely, I have several dandies for less than the cost of a single Ruger No.1. If I get at it, I can make the wood fit better. The finish is.....industrial; and I dont really care. My 'nicer', more expensive, big name guns are mostly gone, but what is still here and ready to go play?
H&R  , still working for me.

[McLernon]

Thanks for all your comments!!!! My post was not intended as any kind of bashing or rant, rather it was more of a challenge to make these lovely, simple production rifles all I believe they can be. As an engineer I believe they have real potential and cannot help wanting to improve them. I can relate to most of what has been said but cannot resist the urge to try and change them..............just the way I am......is all!!!!!!..........................................and I want another Handi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mc

[ratdog]

 i don't really see your point my 204 will   hit a dime at 100 yards easy if my gun won't shoot good i wouldn't have bought more handy's.and i have shot sum really crappy guns look  good but that's about it.

[muznut 54]

Don't get me wrong I like them My Ultra varmint T'hole 22-250,my Sidekick and my M450 Ultra hunter are very accurate and I would fix the SW500 but its a head space problem in the barrel its about .015 I need to get a new barrel from H&R.

[ironglow]

All my H& Rs have been 'satisfactory'  to 'very accurate'...but then I haven't purchased any H&R Remlins.
 
     Now, twoshooter  makes that .357 sound very interesting, enough so I might like to try one.
         ....But it appears from Spanky's post that I had best try to get an older barrel.

[gcrank1]

Muznut54, Or a different frame that it fits on better.....

[muznut 54]

The barrel is tight against the frame no clearance there, the case falls .015 into the barrel.

[quickdtoo]

Sounds like it should be replaced, better get it done while H&R still makes em if you really want a 500, never can tell when a chambering will be discontinued, of course they'd always offer an alternative if it's whatcha want too. 

Tim

[muznut 54]

Thanks for the advice Tim but its out of warranty now do you think they will still replace it for free?

[quickdtoo]

They've replaced defective barrels that were far older than that, not only older, but the owner wasn't even the original purchaser!  PM Brian and get his advice on how to go about getting it done.

Tim

[stimpylu32]

All 17 of my Handi rifles shoot better than I can.  In the instance or two when they didn't, H&R made it right.  They vary in age from 20 plus years old to brand new.  I have no complaints with any of them.  They do what they were made to do....they're a hunting/utility rifle not a showpiece or a long range target rifle.

Pete

But all you need is a can of Krylon and some load work to get both Pete 
 
stimpy

[muznut 54]

Tim who is Brian?

[quickdtoo]

Brian is an H&R gunsmith at the Ilion H&R Plant, see the Thanks to Brian56 sticky. 

Tim

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