Hello
I am new to this forum but not new to shooting/reloading. I have just found out about these Handi Rifle. I questioned on another forum when a thread was started about a Handi in the S&W .500 Magnum. I thought this could be neat, so I ordered one, at that point I was sent to this forum in search of Handi wisdom. After reading for a week I started to worry
with some of the problems I was reading about that the .500s were having. But it turned out to be moot, as my Handi had none of these problems, I fired ten rounds out the first time and ten today with NO MISSFIRES.. I did two reports on the Handi I have on another forum one from two weeks ago had to wait till today for the other (6” snow last weekend here in Eastern PA). So below are the reports of the two times I had a chance to shoot this little gem. I will get one or two more and be happy, cause there are a lot of S&W revolvers I NEED also………
Hello
This past Friday I picked up the NEF Handi Rifle I ordered. It is in the S&W .500 Magnum caliber, I figured it be a neat rifle to have since I already load for my son’s pistol. Once I got it home I cleaned and oiled it. My first impressions were not too bad for an inexpensive rifle, I paid 238 OTD for it. There are a couple of things I thought could be better but what the heck its not a Ruger #1. The Trigger guard, fore end spacer and sights (Ramp front sight, fully adjustable rear) are plastic, but they are fiber optic. This is the first time I used this type of sight, and it was easy to get a sight picture. The barrel is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. It has American hardwood pistol grip stock with walnut finish, ventilated recoil pad, sling swivel studs. The rifle shouldered rather well, even though it not a big rifle and the balance was very good also. The barrel is 22”, with the OAL 38”, with a 14 Ľ” pull, and weighs in at 7lbs.
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/youth.aspxI shot the rifle on Saturday afternoon and this was a hoot. I set up my sand bags and put a large target up at 50 yards and prayed for the best. I had ten rounds with me to shoot, sorry no 4 or 5 types of ammo on this one. Ammo was my reloads that I made up for the S&W revolver, 350 Gn. XTP over 16 Gn. of Titegroup, Starline case, and CCI large pistol primers. I did not know what to expect as I touched one off, and it did not kick at all or shall I say not what I expected. man what a wussy load. I hit paper at 50 yards but POI was about 10” high and 7” right, now where’s my screwdriver crap at home. Oh well I just adjusted my aim low left, bingo a bulls eye, The group could have been better but I had a blast. Through all this I did not even think about the trigger I couldn’t even guess the pressure of the pull, but it was good. The only problem was I ran out of ammo way too quick. To think I had 125 more rounds at home 25 as listed above and 100 with a Remington 385Gn. JHP over 40.7Gn of H-100 with Starline cases and CCI large rifle primers (bench rest). I figured I would go on Sunday and play some more. It felt good to shoot a high powered for a change, been almost a year.
UGLY IS AS UGLY DOES
I did go back on Sunday with lots of ammo and a screwdriver, but the range was packed so I had to settle to shooting pistols. God only knows how much I love shooting S&W and Colt revolvers
Have a great day
Joe
Hello
I got to go shooting today. I took my newest toy the N.E.F. Handi in .500 S&W Magnum and what a difference two weeks and the new loads make. Buy the fourth shoot I was flinching badly and I am not sensitive to recoil. Out of this I still had fun, which is important right.
The ammo I was using were my reloads, Remington 385 Gn JHP over 40.7 Gn of H-110, with Starline brass and a CCI BR primer. The afternoon was overcast with a light breeze ands the temp was in the 50s.
The first three shoots showed very promising results in the picture below, the grouping at 2-3 o clock I then made a sight adjustment and my next shot was the one at 6 o clock with the next at 1 o clock. I then offered the other shooter at the range to shoot the Handi and his shot is the one at 10-11 o clock, the other four were me and it was not pretty as you can see.
After today I have come to the conclusion I need some sort of recoil damping device. With the loads I shot two weeks ago it would not be needed (350 Gn XTP over 16 Gn of Titegroupe with Starline and a CCI LP) but who wants to shoot a WIMPY loaded Handi in S&W .500 Magnum, not I. Besides the H-110 load shot much better. I also have some Sierra 350 Gn JHP and Berry’s 350 Gn plated to try. The one thing that I am not real found of on the Handi is the way the sights are adjusted, I like to turn a screw and feel a click these just slide once the screw is loosened, no real way to tell just how far the sights moved. I will fix this with some sort of scope arrangement. Like I mentioned last time these are not a bad deal for the 238 OTD. Almost forgot again, the trigger is simply amazing it is that good to me.
I will buy another, I was looking at their Buffalo Classic in 45-70 at Cabelas and as soon as the taxes are paid I will order it from where I got the other.
Just had a funny thought, “ what a wussy” I was thinking that Texans were tough when 9X19 said his Handi in .500 Maggie kicked when he shot the 400 Gn factor loads.
Well guess what…………………….HAHAHAHAHA
…………………………………………..
I have a question for you how do you guys get all you Handi’s in the house without the wife knowing?
Thanks for letting me ramble
Have a great day
Joe
