I haven't looked at Handi's for a couple years. Gave up on finding a .357 and bought a Rossi because I needed a short, light gun for "yard work." While the Rossi has been great, it is missing the unique ability to load the .357 with longer, heavier bullets, which is one of the things the Handi has going for it.
As far as the rimless cartridges go, I typically prefer a bolt - and for the same money, that's the way I would go - BUT, I have this cute little Synthetic Youth Handi in .223 that shoots better than a "cheap" or extremely lightweight gun should. It's greatness is menifested in its light and compact stature.
So, the ability to be creative with rimmed cartridge loadings and the possibility of having that in an extremly light and compact package are the appeal of the Handi to me. Being relatively inexpensive is a HUGE bonus because that just means that I actually can take advantage of the other two big advantages rather than just look at pictures of something I can't afford.
Where did all that go? Their prices seem "high" to me even considering the rapid increases of guns and related paraphernalia over the past four to five years and they don't have much in the way of "lightweight" or "compact" going for them any more.
Consider the current .357 magnum rifles/barrels available - 22" long, very beefy, no iron sights and not even D/T'd for iron sights - but they are close to or just over $300 and SEVEN POUNDS for a complete gun with a stock that is too big for me and not easily shortened.
I am likely most apt to buy neither because the Handi offered something you couldn't easily get in a bolt-gun. I'm just not seeing that any more. Maybe I am not looking hard enough or in the right place - but I am guessing they might get a bit harder to find as bolt-guns become less costly and Handi's become more costly. There are a lot of folks out there who buy guns that don't post here and I think many of them bought Handi's because of the price.
Those buyers will almost certainly go for the bolt. The shops are going to have to stock what sells best to pay the rent. I think H&R attracted a lot of new Handi-users when they started chambering for other than low-pressure rimmed cartridges and I think that was a good thing. I also think that those same buyers would be more likely to buy a bolt-gun for the same money. Bear in mind that I am not speaking of the majority here who appreciate their guns far more than once a year for a couple weeks of hunting season, but those other folks buy a lot of guns collectively and help keep the arms manufacturers' doors open.
I am actually a little worried that the Handi could be in trouble and I don't think it would bother Remington too much to see it go away. Not bashing Remington - they have to pay their bills too and trying to focus on their original line, Marlins and H&R - they may be inclined to let one go to save another. Not that I have their insight or know what they are thinking - it just worries me that it seems possible.
