Author Topic: Encouraging diversity (Read 836 times)

manatee1947 · « **on:** December 02, 2009, 03:18:42 PM »

I once asked a question here regarding "custom" chambers and was told that it was not worth company time to do this, that H&R was not a custom typ e of mfgr. I also see a lot of polls regarding possible barrel chamberings etc. I wonder how big a run of barrels it would take to be worth while?? For example, if there were a group of us that were willing to put up a deposit on a barrel, and wait until enough orders came in to make it worth while, how many do you think it would take? 500

5,000??? Last time I looked it was $90 a barrel at the factory, plus all the auxillary costs of fitting etc. I would love to have a 32-20 for example, and a 405 winchester.I would be happy to put a deposit in, or join a group in order to make a group purchase . Has this ever been considered? You guys that are connected, if some group came up with a prepaid order for 500 units, might they consider running it?

trotterlg · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2009, 03:35:29 PM »

How about something as simple as a barrel all fitted up to your frame with no chamber at all? Couldn't get easier or cheaper than that. Larry

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2009, 05:50:48 PM »

H&R only works with distributors and large retailers, so you'll have to talk one into ordering them, I think the minimum is 200 firearms.

Tim

Otony · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2009, 06:03:59 PM »

Are there 200 guys here who need a .405 WCF or a .257 Roberts? Mebbeso, if we notified several other of the larger gun enthusiast websites. That being written, I don't know how far out you could get in the choices.

You would likely have good luck if it is for a cartridge that requires a minimal amount of fuss on the part of H&R/Remington. For example, I kind of doubt they would be interested in turning out a .32-20 or a .405, as cool as those woud be. Things that could be far more likely are .257 or .250-3000, 'cause they already have .25-06 barrel blanks. Or longer .30-30 barrels, like 24" or 26" (I'm FIRST for that!). A .30-40 Krag is easy, etc, etc.

Wildcats are absolutely out, so no AI chambers, also no odd European things like 9.3mm.

Lets start easy. How about Tim chooses a half dozen obvious choices, and we agree to choose one from those. No thread drift, no chest beating. Then if we can decide on a single choice to begin with (doubtful), we poll how many people will actually buy the darn things. We take that to Buds or who ever and see how we can sweet talk them into ordering 200 rifles they may get stuck with. Or not.

If it goes well, perhaps it could be a yearly program through the distributor, similar to the DU guns.

My choice is a Target Classic in .30-30, 26" minimum barrel or a .338 Marlin Express, 24" barrel, nickel/SS, laminated

Whadda think Tim?

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2009, 06:06:58 PM »

I like Larrys idea but Ty or somebody would blow themselves up.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2009, 06:17:02 PM »

I think there might be a better chance if we wait until H&R is making their own barrels next year, right now Marlin is making ALL rifle barrels for both them and H&R. In the mean time, just try and get 200(if that's the min H&R will require) members here to agree on one model/chambering.

Tim

Otony · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2009, 06:30:20 PM »

"In the mean time, just try and get 200(if that's the min H&R will require) members here to agree on one model/chambering."

Fat chance of THAT but I will give it a whirl.......

springfling · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2009, 07:05:35 PM »

I have to admit that the .338 Marlin express, stainless, with laminated thumbhole stock would be pretty sweet!

trotterlg · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2009, 07:21:54 PM »

I bet the people on this board amount to about 1/100th of 1% of the H&R buyers. No company would ever make a special run of anything for that percentage of their customers. If I built up 200 32-20 barrels it would take me about 300 years to sell them here. Larry

Otony · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2009, 07:30:42 PM »

Larry, I have my doubts that there are enough people here to pull together a special order, you are absolutely right on that count. But if we can get an idea of the interest, a gauge so to speak, we can show that to a distributor and let them run with the ball. This needs to be "talked" up at other forums, with a link back to the poll I posted. Then we will see.

In my estimation, the poll will very shortly turn into suggestions, arguements, debate, and a dead end, but it just might bring an end to the ceaseless postings about "what we really need"........

As an addendum, I have cross linked the poll to nine other websites. Lets see if that gives us a wide enough cross section to make an informed choice.

BrianB · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2009, 01:27:06 AM »

I think Tim is right on the 200 number. We have a group of gun shops that sometimes buy togethor here in Ms. and 200 is the number of .35 Whelens they received this year. I figure it must have been profitable. They sure didn't make 200 units just to lose money.

BTW, the .35 Whelens were gone in a matter of days.

tykempster · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:33:50 AM »

Do you think other 499 people are yearning for a 50-140?

petemi · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:39:48 AM »

Sure Ty, didn't you know we're all masochists?

Pete

luke6417 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:10:14 AM »

I really like the idea of being able to buy a barrel without a chamber. The big hindrance right now in some of the custom ideas is that they don't make barrel in 6.5mm, .338, .375 and so on. If you could order a 26" barrel in any of these bores without a chamber or crown, you could come up with all kind of new toys. Just chamber to a suitable cartridge, trim the barrel to the desired length and crown it.

BrianB · « **Reply #14 on:** December 03, 2009, 05:02:24 AM »

I've been wondering for a while why they don't do a limited edition run of 500 or so each year. Say, .327 Mag one year, 25-20 the next, etc.

(I would certainly pick up the .327 because of the other .32 cartridges you can use. Talk about a fun small game killer!)

They could easily sell that number as a certain number of folks would buy them for the novelty, the other guns would fill a niche.

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 03, 2009, 09:27:09 AM »

Just to throw my 2 cts. into the bucket!

Look at the 7.62 X 39 for instance!

You have a caliber that the ammo is fairly easy to find, not that expensive, and it's a very popular round for plinking to game, with low recoil, and it was manufactured for a while but discontinued because of problems with FTF issues for what ever reasons, but it was discontinued, and not brought back, although many bought them, and many would buy them again if it were brought back.

So far they haven't tried to fix this problem and restart production, so why would they take off into another unproven direction, even if they could get a possible 200 people to place an order?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 03, 2009, 09:57:44 AM »

The 7.62x39 was discontinued because too many were complaining they wouldn't shoot milsurp which have hard, recessed primers which work fine in firearms they're intended for, those that used sporting ammo including handloads had no problems. If H&R modified them to shoot the milsurp which is contrary to their ammo requirement which is SAAMI only, then there could be primer problems with standard ammo when a different barrel was on the frame.

Tim

dave hall · « **Reply #17 on:** December 03, 2009, 10:14:27 AM »

Otony said about the 405 WCF.I would pay what H&R wanted for one,I was going to pay $950 for a #1-H in one,but I talked myself out of it.Now I got to do it again with next years 300 H&H #1 a $1000 is a little hard to bite.

manatee1947 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 03, 2009, 01:51:56 PM »

I bought a combo @ wally world 2 years ago, 20ga and 243 youth for 245$ plus tax. That was an sb2 frame, must have been. Now, they are offering combos on the SB1 frame, 44mag/12ga and 357/20 ga. If they stuck a 28ga and a 32-20 on that same frame (they already have 28ga barrels) you dont think it would not be worth an extra 50 to 100 bucks?? And it would still be the cheap frame!!! I would also go in on the Whelan barrel. I was just daydreaming when I started this, but if it actually produced one good ANYTHING, I would be tickled pink. I would even buy a 327 mag in place of the 32-20 if necessary, they should be almost identical in performance. Christmas dreams...ain't they wonderful

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:20:50 PM »

Why not have a special order with the Graybeards Outdoors medalion on them.Maybe 3 different oldtime caliber's with Buffalo Classic funiture on them. It may be a collectures item some day.Say with a 28" barrel and maybe octagon barrel. Digger

45-70.gov · « **Reply #20 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:34:09 PM »

as long as we are dreaming

octagon barrel [32 inch?]
405 winchester
buffalo classsic

stainless

quickdtoo · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:47:39 PM »

I got some official numbers required for a special run, 250 for a normal bore, 500 if additional tooling is required, like for a 405 Winchester or another bore they don't do normally.

Tim

LONGTOM · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:46:44 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on December 03, 2009, 02:34:09 PM

as long as we are dreaming

octagon barrel [32 inch?]
405 winchester
buffalo classsic

stainless

I'd go for that, along with TY's 50-140 in the same configuration.
Or even just a round barrel for that matter.

LONGTOM

manatee1947 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:18:07 PM »

well, there is the beginning. They normally have 224,243,257,284,308,358,429,452,458.500 diameter bores. 250 units. It does not have to happen overnight, with some place to register we could just sign up, even post some deposit if needed, and when the magic number comes up it triggers the order. How cool is that?? possibilities.................

tykempster · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2009, 06:29:09 PM »

I ain't picky what it looks like as long as it has horsepower.