Author Topic: Rifling type in Handi ? (Read 493 times)

foxbat21 · « **on:** January 05, 2005, 11:12:23 AM »

I want to get a 357 or 44 barrel next to shoot lead bullets. I have a Marlin 1894 in 44 w/ a Micro Groove barrel and it doesn't like lead bullets.
Do some Handi's have micro groove. I don't think my 2003 45-70 barrel does.

Coastwatcher · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2005, 12:17:32 PM »

I don't think my older vintage .223 does either. Perhaps one of the more knowledgeable types could give a description of the differences.

Duce · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2005, 12:20:13 PM »

Foxbat21: If it hasn't changed just lately Handi's use a standard button rifled barrels. Do a search or start a post about shooting cast bullets out of .357 or .44, several members do and will be glad to help. Luck:

<>< Duce:

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2005, 01:43:42 PM »

I've never seen a micro groove barrel on a handi, the micro groove has 11 or 12 grooves,and the handis have 4 and 6 I think. Digger

Ed Hill · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2005, 04:38:22 PM »

Foxbat21, this has been kicked around a bit. My Buff has 6 grooves, but they are the shallowest of any gun I have. ( 8mm mauser milsurp, 01 springfield, Rem 30-06 ) When the bore is really clean they are even hard to see.

Works fine with jacketed bullets, a little harder to get cast bullets to shoot well.
E.D.

JPH45 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2005, 05:43:38 PM »

I am convinced my 44 mag is a Microgroove barrel, it has 12 lands and grooves, grooves are SHALLOW, it won't shoot cast worth a hoot above 1300 fps. There are some exceptions to this....

My molds drop .430 bullets, everything I have ever read says microgroove rifling needs .002 over groove diameter.

The only cast bullet with a gas check I have shot is a Lyman a friend here sent me a sample of, it shot ok, but at full velocity was 4" at 65 yards. Not exciting, but better than most others I have tried.

The Magnus Bullet Co. 300 grainer shot a bit over 1400 fps into a groups of 1.25" at 65 yards, I was impressed.

Having shot two deer last year with a 265 grian plain base bullet at 1275 fps, I'm not convinced that high velocity, particularly with a 44 Mag is a Grail that should be so heavily sought after. As the Dave Scovill, editor of Handlaoder magazine and cast bullet afficando extrodinaire told me in a conversation about the 44 and cast bullets and velocity and Handis.........A 250 grain bullet at 1275 fps will shoot through any deer in Alabama.........I went out and proved him right.....twice over.

My favorite plinker is Lee's 200 RF pushed with 8.3 grains of Blue Dot for a nice soft 830 fps. Shoots 1" at 50 yards all day, monotonously :grin:

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:37:28 PM »

I shoot alot of cast bullet out of my .357mag and .357 max the max will push a 180gr LBT style GC at 2000FPS and group 1.5" @ 100yrds with iron sights, with a scope and I stay away from caffine( or let someone who knows how to shoot do it :roll: )it'll shoot moa all day. A .44 is gonna be ordered soon and I'm picking up my new .30-30 tomarrow, gonna use cast in them both more fun cooking your own I think.