Battle of the Maxis--Handi versus Encore<<Handi wins, more pics added>>

[Dinny]

Hello everyone,
  I can finally take a deep breath. I got both my Maxi barrels today!! I sent my Handi .357 MAG off to be custom reamed to the Maxi and throated specifically for the 180gr Hornady SSP-B. To my surprise it was 18" long, had a shiny new target crown and the scope base was modified for the 8-40 screws. I am a happy camper!!

Also, I got my MGM barrel today after a months long ordeal with their CS rep, Colleen. It fit nicely to an Encore receiver I purchased here and, once again, to my surprise the receiver has an outstanding trigger. The TC is new to me, I have never owned one. It's gonna be really hard to sway me from my trusty Handi, but we'll see....

I have both of them adequately stocked and scoped and tomorrow I will run them both through some accuracy trials. I'll let you all know what I find.

A shooting I will go, a shooting I will go, hi ho a dairy-oh, a shooting I will go....

Thanks, Dinny

[tacklebury]

Sweet have fun.  I'm takin my new now working .45 Colt BC to the range to put the smackdown on some paper bullseyes.    Hope you like the TC, the few TC's I've shot have been decent.  I really don't like their pistols with that little sharp point sticking down though.  I shot my bud's Contender in .357 Maximum and broke my knuckle when that little point bit me!  After about 3 shots, I kept the finger down further, but I have big hands and they just don't fit those pistols well.    Good luck to ya!

[bikerbeans]

Dinny,

Sounds like you have great fun lined up for Saturday morning!  I am jealous.  Please post target pics and let us know what load works the best in the Handi; can't bring myself to type the name of the Brand X gun.

BB

[dave29]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

[cowboyup453]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

[bikerbeans]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

  Sound like He Who Cannot Be Named Here would make a good title for another Kevin Costner movie about the plains indians.

[Whopper]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

  Sound like He Who Cannot Be Named Here would make a good title for another Kevin Costner movie about the plains indians.

LOL, mix in a little Postman and Robin Hood and you got yourself one hell of a movie.   ;DSorry I couldn't resist!!!

[Dinny]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

You're absolutely right, and I couldn't be happier with the work.

Thanks, Dinny

[Dinny]

The Handi wins in my book! It had much less muzzle jump, shot just a little bit better groups and has just a great feel about it. It balances perfectly with the barrel at 18". Both rifles were scoped with a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 with the circle-x reticle. Granted the trigger was much lighter on the Encore, the Handi didn't surprise me so much when the trigger finally broke around 5lbs. I will get pics posted later this weekend of both rifles and their respective groups at 50 and 100yds.

This Handi was assembled for my mother to hunt deer in IN. I'm gonna have a hard time giving it back to her now. Next I think I will glass and pillar bed the forend to eliminate that as a possible factor in the overall performance of this rifle.  More to follow....


I do have a question for everyone. Will the same Libsaver pads that fit the normal old-style synthetic stocks also fit a youth synthetic stock? I don't want to give it back to her with the varminter stock on there, not much of a pad.

Thanks, Dinny

[steve@357maximum.com]

Dinny,
I look forward to seeing your accuracy data on these two rifles.  Any details on load data would be greatly appreciated too.  The fact that you are making the effort to set your mom up with a good deer rifle shows that you are a good son and confirms my first impression of you that you are a good guy   I look forward to seeing your results.
Steve

[wreckhog]

I use a wood stock and take off the buttplate. Then add a small slip on limbsaver.

[Dinny]

Dinny,
I look forward to seeing your accuracy data on these two rifles.  Any details on load data would be greatly appreciated too.  The fact that you are making the effort to set your mom up with a good deer rifle shows that you are a good son and confirms my first impression of you that you are a good guy   I look forward to seeing your results.
Steve

Steve,
  After my teenage years, my mother deserves a whole lot more than I could ever afford. Although some dye would help to cover some of the gray hair I gave her. 

The load is 28gr of AA1680 behind a Hornady 180gr SS-PB. Nothing new there, but I will be trying some loads up to 30gr. Of course that will be in half grain increment steps and I will inspect my cases thoroughly in between shots. The Handi is a SB2 frame.

Results will be posted soon.

Thanks, Dinny

[Dinny]

Here are some preliminary groups from the two rifles. Remember that the Handi is comfortable to me as I have had it for a few years and shot many of them. The TC is new to me and I believe that with more proper barrel break-in will shoot much better. Also, it still really surprises me when the trigger breaks. Both targets show a 100yd grouping.

Although the TC has a 20" barrel and the Handi a 18", the Handi is only 3/4" shorter at 33 1/4". The Handi weighs 2oz more at 7lbs 8oz.

TC Encore with 20" MGM .357 Maximum barrel. 0.625" muzzle diameter

The top shot was a called flyer.


Handi rifle rechambered to .357 Maximum originally with 22" standard contour barrel cut to 18"



More groups fired today, 8/29. The top group is with the 170gr SWC that I have had for sale from time to time. The bottom group is with the 180gr SS-PB with a firm roll crimp instead of a taper crimp.


The Handi will have a new wooden forend soon that will be glass and pillar bedded. After that it's getting Duracoated and gift wrapped for Mom.

Thanks, Dinny

[tacklebury]

Nice for first time out.    I'm sure with some load playing, you will be able to cinch 'em in tighter though.    For me that's a big part of the joy of reloading.

[Dinny]

Nice for first time out.    I'm sure with some load playing, you will be able to cinch 'em in tighter though.    For me that's a big part of the joy of reloading.

That's the plan and I will enjoy every minute of it.

Thanks, Dinny

[Lon371]

 Dinny, Looks good! Your mom is gong to like that one. 

Lonny

[Spanky]

Dinny, Looks good! Your mom is gong to like that one. 

Lonny

If she don't like it send it to me... I like it.



Spanky

[PHATINJUN]

Dinny not sure if you have done much checking with the differant coatings if not do a poll on the coatings to find out which ones chip least. I got 2 guns that are coated both have chips in them .I bought them coated and don't know for sure what they are but had I paid to have them done I would not be happy. The only ones that have not chipped are the ones that I have done myself with the Steel-It paint and my only issues with it is that it goes on about 3-4 mil thick .BTW very nice guns. I've played the TC game and the very best thing I liked about the ones that I had was they allowed me to build a sizable Handi arsonal with thier sale Kurt

[Dinny]

Dinny not sure if you have done much checking with the differant coatings if not do a poll on the coatings to find out which ones chip least. I got 2 guns that are coated both have chips in them .I bought them coated and don't know for sure what they are but had I paid to have them done I would not be happy. The only ones that have not chipped are the ones that I have done myself with the Steel-It paint and my only issues with it is that it goes on about 3-4 mil thick .BTW very nice guns. I've played the TC game and the very best thing I liked about the ones that I had was they allowed me to build a sizable Handi arsonal with thier sale Kurt

Kurt,
  I have 3 guns that have been duracoated, I am very happy with it.  I hope that my investment in the TC is not short-lived.  Only trigger time will show. 

Thanks, Dinny

[bikerbeans]

"HANDI WINS"

I luv it when the guy gun wearing the white hat wins!

BB

[dave29]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

  Sound like He Who Cannot Be Named Here would make a good title for another Kevin Costner movie about the plains indians.

I haven't been here long enough to know who it is. 

[bikerbeans]

Dinny, who did the work on your Handi barrel?

My guess based on work performed is: He who cannot be named here, or Censored word.

  Sound like He Who Cannot Be Named Here would make a good title for another Kevin Costner movie about the plains indians.

I haven't been here long enough to know who it is. 

It will come to you in a vision Grasshopper.  Actually, almost a thousand posts and I have no idea who it is either.