Author Topic: Handi Rifles in .280 ...how accurate?? (Read 1000 times)

jim62 · « **on:** October 07, 2005, 02:48:09 PM »

Gents,

I have a chance to buy a nice ,blued Handi rifle with the 26" heavy tube in .280 rem.A friend of mine runs a gun shop and has little in it( from a convoluted trade)..

I can get the gun for a very reasonable price.It has the stained laminate wood stocks.I would like to give her a go during deer season this year.

How well do the Handis shoot in this caliber?? What should I expect?

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2005, 02:51:06 PM »

Buy it...it's a good deal....for $100.00 you can't go wrong......if it doesn't shoot...you can always make money buy selling the stocks and barrel...normally they a pretty accurate...most shoot MOA or better some shoot a little tigher...some shoot a little looser

Mac

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2005, 03:30:50 PM »

My .280 is one of the most accurate Handi's I own. 100 yds is almost not fun anymore. Been shooting it mostly at 200yds. I havn't begun reloading for it yet, still using Rem Core Lokt 150's.

I would buy it.

EVOC ONE

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2005, 03:31:39 PM »

My 280 is my favorite go to handi,it shoots Rem corlokts about 1 1/2 to 1 1/4" all day long. It will do the job at 400 yds. or 50 , whichever you want. The 150 gr. corlokts chrono 2975 fps. in my gun. Digger

jim62 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2005, 03:47:58 PM »

Thanks for the info,guys..

I am a .270 man myself (and always have been) Of course, the .280 is just about identical in terms of performance, so I have no problem with it, as long as it's accurate.

The gun also came with two boxes of .280 139gSST Hornady Light Magnum loads(a favorite brand of mine).

I was thinking of maybe punching the chamber out to a .280 Ackley Improved round not only for more performance but to lessen the back thrust on the reciever and locking mechanism.From what I can see the .280 AI is a pretty fine round.

As it stands it will most likely be restocked first.If I were to sell the stocks off of the gun,what to the used sets of factory plain laminates(not the checkered Cinammon dyed sets) sell for ?

MSP Ret · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2005, 03:48:18 PM »

, BUY IT OR LET ME BUY IT, BUT PLEASE DON'T TEASE ME!!!
My .280 with a 19" barrel ( aka "Thunderboomer") is a GREAT woods gun. I do sometimes wish I had the full length barrel on it. The .280 is one of the best all around calibers these Handi's are made in. MANY .284 bullets to reload with (7MM) and more than enough power for anything in the lower 48 and perhaps all 50 states. Accuracy is better than most can shoot. I WANT THAT GUN!!!! Sorry, I had trouble restraining myself, yes, buy it and you will like it, if not I promise I will buy it from you!!!!....<><.... :grin: :grin: :grin:

Fred M · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:19:24 PM »

Quote

I was thinking of maybe punching the chamber out to a .280 Ackley Improved round not only for more performance but to lessen the back thrust on the reciever and locking mechanism.

This statement by PO Ackley is in error. The theory has been disproved with state of the art pressure messuring apparatus.

Due to the Handi's light action there is some elastic stretch. Hand loaded cases will last about 8-9 times, and the AI cases would PERHAPS not last any longer. Meaning full lenghth sizing and forever fire forming brass. The 280 Handi is best left as is. Brass is cheap and easy to get and no fire forming.

Another thing the barrel can not set back for the 0.004" crush fit on a Handi. You could run into problems making brass. Two other ways of making fire formed brass would be by creating a false shoulder or jamming long bullets into the lands. Non of this is worth the trouble on a Handi. The 280 Rem with the 26" barrel has plenty of get up and go.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2005, 06:12:41 PM »

Quote

The 280 Rem with the 26" barrel has plenty of get up and go.

Yuuuuuuup!

What he said

Mac

jim62 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2005, 06:39:20 PM »

Ok,Ok!!

Yo guys have talked me into it..I will-

A) definitely be buying the Handi in .280
B) Will NOT be rechambering it in .280 AI
C) Will offer it to some of the longbarreled .280 starved members here if I do not like it..

Which is doubtfull..I bet come December,it will be the DEER around these parts who will not like the .280 handy..

MSP Ret · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2005, 02:43:11 AM »

Jim62, best of luck, I am sure it will work out GREAT for you. And thanks, I'm always here, waiting in the wings....<><.... :grin:

DanielWGriggs · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2005, 06:03:50 AM »

I too have been thinking about a .280, 7-08, 25-06,30-06. Many I would like to have Next I believe will be the shotgun/ML combo then add a tracker 1 and 2 barrels if they have the 1's left when I get it and the money in hand.

iiiwew · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2005, 08:59:47 AM »

My Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ultra 26" in 280 will shoot bullets from 140 to 170 grains range into one inch or less at 100 yards with IMR 4831.
With the 26 inch barrel you can get very close to 7mm Rem Mag velocities with the 120 to 140 grain bullets in the 280.
Still kick myself from not getting the one in 35 Whelen.

.308 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2005, 09:45:53 AM »

Quote from: iiiwew

Still kick myself from not getting the one in 35 Whelen.

Betcha they could sell a bunch of them if they'd bring it back. I know one person who'd buy one. ME. Heck I'd settle for a barrel.:grin:

jim62 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:53:14 AM »

Well gents, I got the .280 Handi Rifle. :grin:

It locks up VERY tight(smooth ,but tight) and I am really looking forward to chasing whitetails with it in a month or so.I am mounting a new Simmons Master Series 3x9 scope on it (with a 1975 era K-4 Weaver as a backup).

I have been offered the chance to use my rifle as a test bed for some new stocks being designed for the Handis by a local firm.They have a slightly different aproach on the Handi stocks than any other maker-including the factory.

From what I can see,it will make them MUCH more comfortable in the grip region-no slab ,sided clubby feel.The butt end is also wide and comfortable.They are also nice looking! Actually, the stock design looks better than those on a factory Ruger No 1!! The proto stocks will be on the rifle by hunting season.

Hopefully, I will have some kill picks,some group pics and some stock pics in about 30 days.. :wink:

I have a question, since the rifle is not going to be a volume firing Varmint rig, do I really need to do the washer trick etc to the forend? or should I shoot it a bit first and see?

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2005, 03:06:43 AM »

Congrats on getting the .280. I would be very surprised if you found you didn't like it.

As has been mentioned, the .280 is very accurate and, for me at least, the recoil is much less than my '06 Handi even though it doesn't give up much to the '06 in terms of performance.

Any chance of posting pic's of the new stocks being tested? We're always interested in something different for our beloved Handi's.

Enjoy!

EVOC ONE

jim62 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2005, 03:31:26 AM »

The guys told me they will have extra protoype stocks available for testing by thanksgiving, about a week before the deer opener here. Several gunwriters are getting protos as well, so there is a bit of a line to get a pair..

I WILL post pics as soon as I have them bolted on the gun.They are very nice from the master patterns I have handled.I have always been a fan of the EARLY Ruger classic stocks on the No 1s and the m77s that Leonard Brownell designed.For the sake of economy of MFG,Ruger has gradually changed the design of those stocks over the years to the extent they are just a shell of what they were in the beginning.

Lot's of little details add up into something very handsome and usefull and that's what those early Ruger stocks were.These new H&R stocks remind me of those early Brownell designs..I can't give them any higher praise.

I will make a direct comparision of there stocks to the factory laminate stocks on my rifle so you guys can see the differences.One thing is for sure, they will reduce the felt recoil a bit..

MSP Ret · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2005, 04:10:31 AM »

OK OK Jim, I WILL volunteer to test those stocks on Maine Deer and Coyotes for them!!!
I will even send them back the stocks with a written evaluation and some game pictures after the test OR buy them for a reasonable discount!!! I know, I know, it was a lot to ask but I have been a test bed for handgun grip tests for stockmakers before I retired so I thought I should be the one to suffer through it. Just make them the offer and you can contact me through a PM re: where to send the stocks...Thanks again for asking, it took guts in your part....<><.... :-D :-D

Mac11700 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 06, 2005, 06:08:17 AM »

Me too...put in in for a pair to try...one on my 45-70...and one on my 338-06...should be a fair enough evaluation of the reduction in felt recoil...wouldn't you say...

Mac

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #18 on:** November 06, 2005, 06:21:45 AM »

Jim62

Saw the emphasis on "WILL" in your response and re-read the post.

Duh! I didn't read it thoroughly the first time. Sorry.

I wonder if that oversite is similar to when my wife says "you never listen to what I say"

Have a great day!

EVOC ONE

jim62 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2005, 08:49:19 AM »

Well guys, I understand your "enthusiasm" for the Handi stocks..but don't laugh, there may indeed be a set or two of "Pass around" stocks for some willing volunteers to try on some hard kickers and then share the results with other folks.. :wink:

Stranger stuff has happened..the gents who are making them are serious shooters and sharp enough businessmen that they know how important user feedback word of mouth recommendations are... :grin:

For this crowd to test, I would suggest something STOUT- like laminate with some sort of "bullet proof " Marine grade finish on it!! :-D