Want to buy a handi. Which model?

[Z]

This is my first post on this site as I just learned about it a few months ago and have been lurking and reading.  I have been interested in buying a handi for a coyote rifle.  Would love to get it in a 17 remington which they don't make.

1. Can I get a barrel blank from NEF and have it made into a 17 remington?  If not I will go with the 223.

2. Which model is best?  I have been thinking about an Ultra-varmint.  Do I need a bull barrel if it is just used for calling coyotes?  I am not going to shoot that many shots in a row so heat will not be a problem, but would the heavier barrel help with the vibration and harmonics of the barrel?

3. What is your choice for the stock?  Laminate is pretty, but would the composite be better?  I am not worried about weather, humidity or moisture.  What about a stainless barrel?

Thank you in advance.  Your opinions are appreciated.

[MSP Ret]

 Welcome aboard Z,  H&R will sell not any barrel blanks. They are coming out with a .204 Ruger and a 22-250 very soon. The .223 is another great caliber for coyotes and many here, including myself, have them and use them for coyotes. I recently have been using a .22 Mag I set up for coyotes but thats another story (and for closer shots). You don't need the Ultra Varmit unless you want to spend the extra money. The Laminate stocks are nice but a bit heavy, the wooden stocks are a bit lighter and the synthetic stocks the lightest. Also the bull barrel is not needed for a "walking around" gun, the regular barrel shoots fine for that. I would recommend against the superlight barrel in any Handi, I have not heard on anyone that gets great long range accuracy from it but for closer range hunting type shots it might be OK. It boils down to this, get what fits your type of hunting and what you like and want, after all it's your gun and your going to be carrying it. All these Handis can shoot at least as well as the shooter after you have found out what your particular gun likes. For a walking around, carrying gun I would suggest a synthetic stock with a regular configuration barrel. I have a Laminated stock and a bull barrel on my .223 with a Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50 scope in Millet high Angle-Loc rings. It is set up for longer shots without much walking/carrying and is a bit heavy although I did carry it through the woods for a while with a 4x scope on it. That is one reason I set up a .22 Mag with a synthetic "survivor" stock and "storarm" forearm with a Millet red dot, to carry long distance and shoot at mostly at 100 yards and under. The gun can shoot accurately further than that but the energy begins to fall off much past 125 yards or so...
These guns are fun and addictive, and there is no end to how you can set them up, inexpensively, to fit your hunting needs....<><.... :grin:

[handirifle]

Z
Welcome!

We are always glad to see new Handi shooters.

I second MSP's comments on the Ultra light barrels, stay away from them!
My son's each have the wood stock Handi in 223 and I have the UV 223 with the 24" bull barrel.  As far as accuracy goes, it's a toss up once the barrel is broke in and you find what it likes.

I do think my UV balances better.  It for sure looks better too.  Some guys have a little more trouble with the forend on the synthetic models but not much.

What ever you get, make sure you thoroughly clean the ejector assy and I ran JB's bore paste down tha barrel about a hundred strokes  and put it on an empty case stuck on a screw.  I then at about 100-200rpm with a cordless drill "polished" the chamber.  I have not had a stuck case yet with about 300 rounds through it so far.

Also the Ultra Varmint comes with a slightly better scope base than the standard Handi.

Good luck on the choice.

[Mitch in MI]

You could, in theory, find a rimfire frame that matches the tolerances on a centerfire frame, get a 17 cal barrel fitted to the rimfire, and rechamber it for 17 Rem with a .223 ejector. I'm not sure what the point of a 22" barrel with all that powder behind a 17cal bullet would be. I'd love a .17 k-hornet myself, but Lee doesn't make dies for it, and RCBS dies cost more than the barrel. I'd just use .22 Mag or 17HMR for close shots, or get a .22 hornet or .223 for longer shots.
The 24" .223 is nice to shoot, but the barrel alone weighs 4lb, 10oz. With the scope MSP mentioned, factory scope caps, aluminum Weaver rings, and the lightest stocks (low comb synthetic), my 24" .223 weighs 8lb 13oz. Since you'll never overheat any barrel shooting yotes, it's likely not worth dragging all that weight around. If you buy the H&R ultra with laminated monte carlo stock, it will weigh a fair bit more than my synthetic.

[Mac11700]

Z:

Welcome Aboard...

I'll go along with the 223 set up...some are getting exceptional accuracy out of them...but for my taste...if I was going to set up a dedicated varmint rig...I might wait till the 22-250 comes out...but if your in a hurry to get at them...the 223 will do just fine...if your not planning on doing a-lot of hill climbing and have a good place to set up...I would opt for the bull barrel...but that's just my taste...I loved my laminated stocked 308 all 9lbs of it...and it was a bull barrel one too :wink: but this set up for a 223 is pretty cool.......http://www.atigunstocks.com/shotforce-HRNEF.html...and I wouldn't mind having one set up like it...
Mac

[handirifle]

Hey Z
Check this out.

http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=23241567

It's not mine (or anyone I know) but you might get one at a decent price here.

[Mitch in MI]

http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=23241567

That's being sold by our old friend Silver V, the author of our trigger tuning FAQ:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=26200

[MSP Ret]

Z, Thats a great price and if your planning on most shots from 100 yards and in with the occasional out to 125 or so I'd say jump on it. The only other thing to consider, especially if you do not reload, is that .223 ammo can be purchased quite cheaply. It's not as cheap as .22 Mag but the Winchester 45 grain HP's in the economy box of 40 rounds seems to shoot as good as any ammo in these Handis and it is quite reasonable....<><.... :grin:

Remember the final decision id up to you, get what you want or you will never be happy, then get another one. How about a .223 and a .22 Mag!!!

(just as a suggestion, you might try contacting that same seller of the .22 Mag and see what he might charge for a .223, his prices are great)

[Donaldo]

Ditto what MSP said.
I have the 223 ultra varm. with the 24" bull barrel with a 4.5-14x40 simmons ATV scope on it.  The WW white box 45 grn JHP shoot as good as anything I can handload at about $2 a box more than my handloads cost.  Wally world has them for about $12.50 for a box of 40.  I recently shot a 3 shot group at 100 yds under 0.4" with them.  However the UVarm is pretty heavy.  My guess is that what would suit you would be the 223 in the standard barrel with either the wood or synthetic stock.  Personally I don't care for the plastic stocks, to me they look too much like toys.

[JimIowa]

 I got a 22 Hornet a couple weeks ago, and have never enjoyed a rifle so much.  I am having a lot of fun loading for it and testing the loads. Things could certainly get out of hand!!
Tuesday I took my son(26) out to the range. It was the first time he had shot any centerfire rifle.
He is totally amazed at what $200 will buy.
Now heres my problem, He wants one too.
So I think I`ll buy another Hornet( this time get the youth model with the 20" barrel and shoot both and decide which one he can have.

See what I mean? Are you sure you want to get bitten by this bug?