Handi conversion idea

[Dan97526]

Hi all.  I just found this forum.  Glad to see there's a place for us Handi enthusiasts to gather.

Anyhow, to the point.  I've been interested in getting a 17 centerfire, and the Handi is a great platform.  But since NEF doesn't make one, I did a little homework and an idea struck me.  Please bear in mind I know nothing about gunsmithing, nor anything about the design of a rifle chamber.

So here it is.  Using a Handi in 223, have a 17 caliber barrel liner installed and get the chamber reworked to fit the 17-223 wildcat cartridge.  It sounds like it would work, assuming the barrel liner can be fit back far enough into the existing chamber and there is material enough on the liner to make reaming out the new chamber possible.  I don't know for certain, but I would guess that the 17/223 matches the 223's dimensions behind the shoulder.

So what do you think?  Is this a viable solution? 

The possible downsides as I see them:  I might have proposed an overly complex operation here, and it can be done more easily in another fashion.  Furthermore, I don't know if the barrel liners (since I find them only for rimfires) can withstand the higher pressures and velocities of a centerfire round.  I'm also suspicious that it might be pretty hard to get an accurate rifle this way.

Thanks for your input.

Dan

[knight0334]

I honestly don't think thats a safe idea.   Personally, I'd get an 17HMR barrel, rechamber it and refit the lug to an SB2 receiver.

[quickdtoo]

I second the .17 rimfire barrel rechamber, it's been done before, in fact, there's another current thread on it!!

Tim

[joshco84]

yeah quick has been discussing it with me except i am wanting a 17 remington

[kenbev]

I now have a 17 Remington barrel that was orginally a 17 mach II.

[crabbies3]

i have three of precision rifles rechambers and 2 of thier stub barrels they do good work im considering having them do me a stub in 17 ack hornet they do good work and you will have more then one option with them tks for your time "ken"

[joshco84]

what did they charge to do the rechamber?

[stimpylu32]

josh

Alot depends on who does the work , anywere from $50 to $150 . Wayne York does great work , most Handi guys swear by him.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eoregunsmithing/index.html

[Dan97526]

OK then, a resounding NO!

Thanks for the input, guys.  It sounds as if I have came up with a needlessly complex, possibly unsafe solution to a fairly simple problem.  I'm a math major, so that's an old story for me.

Appreciate the prompt and helpful replies.  Think I'll stick around.

By the way, filled my deer tag today with a nice little forked-horn blacktail.  Didn't take him with a Handi, tho'...

Best,

Dan

[quickdtoo]

Congrats on the blacktail, Dan!!  Forkys are great eatin and aren't too big to drag out, and them forks are easy to hang on to!!

Tim