« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?  (Read 970 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline pagris

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 130
Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« on: March 23, 2007, 04:59:19 AM »
Members:  A recent topic concerning the 44 magnum Handi pointed out a common overbore issue with this particular chambering.  This got me wondering - are there other Handi chamberings that are, shall we say, more problematic, overall, than others? Conversely, are there some that just always seem to shoot well?  Those of us that are relatively new to the Handi experience might be interested in this info.  Thanks in advance.
Logged
Thanks, Dad, for taking me into the great outdoors.

Offline DalesCarpentry

  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6111
  • Gender: Male
  • I would rather be shooting!!
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2007, 05:04:59 AM »
From everything I have read on this fourm there are some calibers that almost allways shoot well,such as 45-70   30-06 and 223 I am sure there are others but the are some that need tweaking.
Logged
The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work!!

Offline mattparliament

  • Trade Count: (38)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 503
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2007, 05:08:19 AM »
I have a 22 hornet, 270, 35 whelen, 45-70, 17 HMR, and a 44 mag.  They all shoot really well if I do my part.
Logged
Life is tough, it's tougher if you're stupid.  ~John Wayne

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2007, 05:37:14 AM »
It's far easier to name those that have had more problems than others, the 44mag and 38-55 are on the short list, although they both have their work arounds! Most all Handis have longish throats, with the exception of the .45-70 which is short throated in general. The .308 Winchester has been reported quite often with accuracy issues. The .243 Superlight can be finicky to find an accurate load, but with patience, can shoot very well.

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline aulrich

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 678
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2007, 06:54:54 AM »
It would also be hard to guage since there must be a dud rate, you know x/1000 that get through QA/QC that should not have and you expect to see more reports of duds with the more popular chamberings, just through the sheer numbers. 
Logged
The second mouse gets the cheese

Offline PartsMan

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1351
  • Gender: Male
  • Proud Handi Owner
    • myspace
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2007, 08:11:04 AM »
Some 7.62x39 and 35 whelan had trouble with missfires.
They are discontinued.
Logged

Offline MSP Ret

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (173)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8940
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2007, 09:08:27 AM »
The problem with that great all american .35 Whelen has reportedly been traced to a bad batch of ammo. At the time .35 Whelen factory ammo was in very limited supply and I believe it was Remington .35 Whelen that was the problem. Since them Federal has re-introduced the .35 Whelen in it's ammo offerings. the problem was with the primers IIRC, I believe Quick also just had a bad batch of primers in his reloads. If you reload or use good factory ammo (easier now with the new Federal offerings) you should have no problem with the .35 Whelen. I have a 26" Handi barrel in .35 Whelen and it is great. Another caliber that is always spoken of as having great inherent accuracy in the Handiis is the .280 Remington. I don't know of anyone that has one that doesn't like it....<><.... :)
Logged
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline EVOC ONE

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1373
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2007, 09:43:33 AM »
There are four calibers, or perhaps individual rifles, that I have achieved out of the box, exellent accuracy.  They include, both the Handi and Ultra .223; .30-30; .280 and .45-70.  None of those rifle have required the use of any accurizing techniques. 

One of my .280's loosened up last year (I've only shot factory loads through it).  I returned it the NEF.  They replaced the barrel, no charge, and sent it back.  The accuracy picked up where it left off.  :)

Logged

Offline hellacatcher

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 976
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2007, 10:03:10 AM »
The one I realy think of being bad for me was a 22 hornet. I did have 280 for a short time that didn't do good.
Logged
from Tennessee---Paul

Offline Ranger J

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 990
  • Gender: Male
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2007, 04:10:23 AM »
I have only owned four barrels, the 45/70 is excellent and I still have it.  The .223 bull and 308 bull were accurate but stuck an occasional empty in spite of chamber polishing.  The .44 was disaster accuracy wise.  Two Stevens 200s and a Marlin 1894 have replaced the last three.
RJ
Logged

Offline just bill

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 260
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2007, 04:24:08 AM »
The 22 Hornet has been good for me, solid 3 shot moa average with just factory Winchester loads, a value 12x scope & bags, factory trigger and of course......me  :).

Bigger scope,trigger job,real rest & reloads and a better shooter with keen rather than fading eyesight/mechcanics   ;).......who knows?

Logged

Offline Devy55

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 106
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2007, 05:26:33 AM »
I'm still tweaking my .243 to get better accuracy.  I'm floating the barrel and trying to find the right ammo configuration, but I'm sure sooner or later, it'll work out fine.
Logged

Offline eskimo36

  • Trade Count: (156)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1359
  • Gender: Male
    • Adventure Rider
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2007, 08:03:30 AM »
now now...don't be bad mouthing the 38-55.  Now I understand you can't just go buy factory loads and and go to the range and shoot MOA, but proper sized lead and the proper amount of crimp or lack of crimp and it is a very good lead bullet gun.  Bullets are readily available for the bore size of the 38-55 guns unlike the 44 mags that suffered from having oversized bores.
Logged
"one shot is usually enough"

Offline greg916

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 410
  • Gender: Male
  • was mich nicht tötet, bildet mich stärker
Re: Handi Chamberings - The Good & The Bad ?
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2007, 10:58:37 AM »
Worst I had was a 22 Hornet.  Would not shoot any factory load I tried very well.  However 4198 and 45 gr Noslers did the trick!
Logged
OSTENDO NON OSTENDO
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »