Forgive me for I have sinned....

[Stan in SC]

Being a confirmed Handiholic I presume I have erred but I ain't quite sure yet.Truth is I bought a Rossi single in .223.It was too good to pass up.I work part time at a gun shop and it was a trade in and I got offered such a good deal on it by the shop owner who knew I was a single shot fan that I couldn't pass it up.
I got home tonight and was giving it a good look and noting the differences between it and my Handis.First off it is in like new shape and has no dings on it.It has a Simmons 3X9X32 mounted in see thrus.
The rifle is slim and quite nice feeling.Not overall as graceful looking as a Handi.A couple of noticeable differences which I found.It has a safety on the left side which I presume is a hammer block since it does not appear to have the transfer bar.Am I correct in this assumption?
The sling swivel on the forearm is actually the screw which holds the foreend on.Finish of metal and wood is every bit as good as a Handi.The wood parts appear well finished.The action closes easily and tight.It has an extractor rather than an ejector.
The balance of the rifle is good feeling.The hammer needs no spur and is easy to reach and cock.
Overall I am impressed with it.In the next few days I'll get to the range with it to see how accuracy is.I didn't post this on the Rossi firearms portion since I am basically comparing the Rossi to the Handi.
I'm sure some of you own or have shot or examined a Rossi and I'd be curious as to your comments and overall comparison to Handi features.
I'll decide later what,if any,my penance might be.Thanks in advance for your comments.

Stan

[quickdtoo]

Congrats on the new rifle, Stan! I can't give ya a bad time cuz I have sinned even more, bought a used Encore frame and ordered a 28" fluted SS .375H&H barrel and Prohunter thumbhole stock for it, I felt the need to do that comparison and see what all the fuss is about. I think your penance should be a mandatory range and shooting report, I'll do the same!!

Tim

[acloco]

SINNERS!   LOL!

[Fred M]

Moves like that are not surprising. Last Easter a the gun Show I bought a Ruger#3 in 375 Win. Well as far as comparing, there is no comparison. It shoots factory ammo into one hole at 100 yards and a very small 3 shot group at 250yards.

Had to fix and refinish the stock, install scope bases and scope,  hone the trigger to suit me and install a soft recoil pad. Mind you this is an old and used rifle. Must make picture and show it. So far it has not frustrated me like my two Handi's.

Next week I hope the 3# will fill my last deer tag this year.

Well if that is a sin I love it.

[canon6]

I have also sinned, I have the same Rossi,it is a shooter and loves all the WW whitebox I can shove thru it,I have paid penance by building up three handi's in the last three months   Doug

[Brett]

Stan, Your Rossi does have a transfer bar in it like the Handi's. I think the extra safety was to fill the Federal import requirements for firearms. I bought a stainless 22/410 combo for my daughter last Christmas,  I think you will be pleased with the performance of your Rossi.   The Rossi's and Handi's are pretty evenly matched and the main reason I would give the nod to the Handi is because it is made right here in the USA.  If that were to change it would be an even tougher decision. 

Please copy your post to the Rossi forum I'm sure the Rossi fans would be curious, besides that forum could use the traffic.

Thanks. 

[Stan in SC]

Tim bought an Encore and Fred bought a Ruger?Next thing you'll tell me is that Marshall Dillon wore lacy underwear and Miss Kitty liked women also.LOL.
Brett,thanks for the information.After reading your reply the brain cells kicked in and I went to the Rossi website and informed myself on various features of the rifle.I am glad to find that it does have the transfer bar.Now I can ignore the safety in clear conscience.I have always thought that a safety on a hammer gun was  most ridiculous.
As far as you other two miscreants I hope your forays into the dark side meet with success.Sounds like Fred's already has.I've always heard that the Ruger single shots were fantastic shooters.
And you know another thing this brings out to me is that although I do like Handis,there ARE other singles with certain merits.Kida puts things into perspective.Thanks for your comments gentlemen and I look forward to anybody else chiming in.

Stan

[Ditchdigger]

Me to,I have 2 new Saiga's (AK 47 clones) that shoot very well also. The 308 got loaded with Nearmax loads of 748 and 125 gr.B.T.'s and is shoot 3 shots well below 1". The 223 is shooting Winchester Varmit pak's less than 1" also for 3 shots.And the 223 was only 255 out the door.But the Handi's will get carried ths deer season (280 Handi)  Digger

[Ranger J]

As we are all confessing, I sneaked out and bought a Stevens 200 in .308.  I got two deer with it on the second day of season.  Great gun for the money.  I’m afraid I’m going to backslide again and get one in .223 also.
RJ

[EVOC ONE]

Well, I may as well admit to being unfaithful also.  A Stevens 200 in .22-250; Mossberg ATR in .308 and a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe also in .22-250, over the last few months.  But, I'm trying to do right.  I did pick up a like-new, used Handi .30-30 this past week. 

On the road to recovery.

EVOC ONE

[poncaguy]

I have a bull barrel 223 Rossi....................as accurate, if not more so than my Handi's..............

[knight0334]

I already confessed a couple months ago to buying a hammered SxS 12ga.

I'm gonna make up for my sin by ordering another NEF/H&R tomorrow.

[myarmor]

I love to shoot. Hunting, plinking, target, back porch, from the tractor/ truck, any form,. I love to shoot. But especially when my tools do what is demanded. Be it my be loved Handi's, bolts, or pumps. My Handi's are just so versitile that I can always pick up my go to combo and run with it.
With that said, ..yes I buy other makes and models. But these little guys are top on my list.

-Aaron

[andrewtheelder38]

....Well, since everyone else is having an "Oprah" moment, I too will confess my sins, I recently bought a mossberg ssi-one in 30-06 new in the box....pricey at 378 but a neat rifle and a single shot too....not as convenient a rifle as a handi but larger heavier and looks strangely like a savage model 99

[Brett]

....Well, since everyone else is having an "Oprah" moment, I too will confess my sins, I recently bought a mossberg ssi-one in 30-06 new in the box....pricey at 378 but a neat rifle and a single shot too....not as convenient a rifle as a handi but larger heavier and looks strangely like a savage model 99

Those are some nice looking guns. It's unfortunate that they discontinued them. Post a pic of yours if you can.

[JPH45]

Congrats on the new rifle, Stan! I can't give ya a bad time cuz I have sinned even more, bought a used Encore frame and ordered a 28" fluted SS .375H&H barrel and Prohunter thumbhole stock for it, I felt the need to do that comparison and see what all the fuss is about. I think your penance should be a mandatory range and shooting report, I'll do the same!!

Tim

Good for you!!!! Currently I'm working with a 223 and 25-06 barrel on my Encore, each has been very pleasant to work with. Both shoot 5 different loads inside an inch at 100 without jumping through hoops, just load and shoot. My 38-55 Handi was the only one that shot this well, this easily. All the others (30-30, 357 Max, 44 Mag, 45-70) were pains in the behind when it came to getting them to shoot well with more than one load. Get a milder chambering for that frame, something you can shoot lot's of and you'll begin to see why I ain't gonna have another Handi. By the way, I've over 2000 rounds fired on my frame and no failures. I never got close to that from a Handi. I know of one Handi that has 3000 rounds over it, but I think it is the exception , not the rule.

[quickdtoo]

I seriously doubt I'll keep it as I have no real need for a .375H&H, it's just another toy,  but it will be fun to walk that mile and ring it out with the 28" barrel and 300gr TSXs, Rog might be proud of me, maybe he'll even invite me up for a hunt!! I figure for what I got the frame for, I can sell the entire rifle for as much or more than I paid for it and have fun while I have it. On the contrary, I have no plans to sell any of my H&Rs unless I just part with some of my extra barrels.

Reading the Encore forum, they certainly aren't without their problems, some of which are the same problems the H&Rs have and they're harder to fix and on top of that, they cost 2-3 times as much as an H&R!

Sorry for the hijack, Stan!

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,99018.0.html

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,101050.0.html

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,94901.0.html

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,77466.0.html

[hunman55]

OK, guys, me too! Bought a Ruger OM single six-kinda beat up and somebody had messed with the front site. Had my machinist friend fit an old Mossberg 640 22 mag barrel cut to 12 in. This gun is a 22lr. He did a jam-up job. It shoots Win and Rem solids into 1 inch off the bench at 20 yds. It shoots a lot better than I can.That ain't sinnin' to me. We all have other guns, but the Handis,in general, are very hard to beat. Hunman55

[jon f]

I too have sinned, I bought a Russian Baikal single shot in 7.62x39. I got cases , powder, projectiles the realised I did'nt have a shell holder. Arrrh !!!
Oh well I'll get to shoot it soon.