It feels good...

[De41mag]

It feels good that I just got rid of my H&R handi in .223.
I really wanted to like this rifle, but the darn thing was just to finicky.
I got $225.00 for the rifle and spent $215.00 for a Remington , Bakil in the .223. And it's not as finicky as the H&R.
It really likes 52 gr. bullets and stick powders..  Gonna shoot some more reloads through it this weekend.
I'm through with the Handi's, to much blood , sweat and tears. This SPR-18 is really a lot of fun to shoot.

Dennis

[Stan in SC]

I'm like you in getting rid of rifles that don't shoot or are just too dang much trouble.I,at one time,had five Handis.Now I have a 45/70 and that's it.The only reason it is still around is because it is accurate.
After five years of trying to get Handi's to shoot accurately consistently I gave up.And you know what???It feels good.

Stan

[lik2hunt]

  I'm almost there too guys. I've got a 445 SuperMag Handi that I doubt will ever leave my home. I have other Handis in .223 bull and a .280 Rem that may be on the way out soon. The .280 first if after this third box of ammo it still won't shoot......bye-bye. Gonna be out with it again this weekend to see. If the .223 doesn't perform any better at this year's PD shoot than it did last year, then it's gone too. Got several of their shotguns that I'm well pleased with, but the Huntsman mizzleloader may be on it's way out too. Digger and Mac are getting me sold on the CVA Optima Elites, but I still have a lot of confidence in the good ole bolt gun. Howas, Savages, Tikkas, Weatherby Vanguards, old model Ruger M77's .......hard to beat.
How 'bout them Steyers D?

[De41mag]

John;

That Steyr is so accurate that it's scary. It just loves 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips and 4895 Pull Down powder. I'm getting just over 3500 fps out of the rifle with those bullets.  Yes there are powders out there that will give faster speeds, but when the rifle can put them in the same hole practally, why change.
I still have a H&R NWTF shotgun and a Huntsman muzzle loader which I haven't even taken the grease out of the barrel yet.
But as far as a Handi, NO THANKS!
This little SPR-18 is a hoot to shoot and it will be there for the Praire Dog Shoot this year.
Along with an AR-15, a Savage Model 10FP, both in .223. Wheather to take the Steyr or the Savage Model 12, both in .243, it's a toss up.
See you soon John in OK.

Dennis

[lik2hunt]

I'll be there with a few little shooters myself. 

[Mac11700]

Dennis:

I understand your frustration..I really do...Sometimes we just get a lemon..no matter what we do to it..it just won't co-operate..It could be the barrel..it could be the receiver...heck...it could be even both...I'm glad I worked with the Handi's as much as I have.....I've met a-lot of good people because of them...and have learned quite a bit about break action rifles & shotguns...I don't think I would do anything different if I could because of that either...My beef has...and always will be with the upper most management of Marlin...not really with the rifles them selves or anyone at NEF...I don't see it changing at least until they change a few things about how they are making these little rifles...Until then..I will put the majority of my energy into other rifles like the Optima Elites..heck...I even bought a Savage last week...and that's saying a-lot for me... I will keep my 338-06 A-Square Ultra...It still a fine preforming rifle...it is a tack driver and there isn't any 338 calibers in the Elites yet...and yes...it is fun not having to go thru all the steps with the Elites as I have in the past with my Handi's...just going & shooting...and it's also a-lot of fun building a nice sniper rifle out of the Savage too..even though I got a malfunctioning one and had to get it fixed already...but it didn't take a trip to the factory to do that either...so...all of them can have problems...That Accu trigger will take some getting used to for sure...but it's super light & crisp when it does break...so I'm hoping it shoots as well as everyone says it will...

Just remember 1 thing about them if you will...there is certainly a ton of folks who still luv their Handi's..and have had exceptional luck with them right out of the box...and also those who have used a little elbow grease and are perfectly content with them too...so..they may not understand or except your feelings about them...which is ok...everyone is entitled to their own opinions here...Just please don't go to bashing them needlessly...Breath your sigh of relief...and enjoy your new toys..life is too short to get hung up with what's in the past for ya..ya know

When you get to shoot Diggers Elite at the PD hunt...you'll know then what we all have been talking about...Diggers getting his 67gr V-max bullets dialed in...and should be ready to go with him...I just wished I could head down there and meet all  of ya who is going to be there... maybe I'll get a day to drive down just to do that...we'll try any ways..

Take care

Mac

[hellacatcher]

I use to have a closet full of handies now I think I am down to four center fires. I got tired of all the things you were suppose to try to get one to shoot. After going through the rout en of cleaning polishing and adjusting one friend said you then have to put a thousand rounds through one to find out what it would shoot and by then it would change and you have to start over. A man can go broke just owning a two hundred dollar gun. After shooting some good guns I did get spoiled by the XR100 witch will shoot most any thing I put in it very well if not perfect. I have some others that will do the same. I don't think now I can say that about the N.E.F.'s I owned. At the time I had em I did think they were very good. The one that I have and it will shoot one load very good is my 357max. I will admit they have found me some very good fiends witch I can't say enough for. They are fun to play with when you have nothing better to do. The ones I have left are the 44 mag, 30-30, 45-70, and of cource the 357mag. The 44 may get changed to a super the 30-30 may get change to something. It seems like if you want to get some thing good out of one you have to make it into something else.

[Stan in SC]

The absolute best part of my whole Handi Rifle experience has been the great people I have met on these boards some of whom have become good friends.

Stan

[lik2hunt]

The absolute best part of my whole Handi Rifle experience has been the great people I have met on these boards some of whom have become good friends.

Stan

A great big DITTO to that!

[Mac11700]

Yup...if it weren't for the Handi's...I would be a lot poorer person...in several ways...and friend wise is certainly one of them...

Mac

[Datil]

 Yep between GBO , Handi rifle and the P. D. shoot, I meet some good
 people and made a lot good Friends. A lot of enjoyable times. You take care.
 Marv.

[De41mag]

Yes, above all else the people on the H&R/NEF are fantastic.
The friends I've met there are truly lifelong friends. If it were not for the forum I would not been at the first two prairie dog shoots. And planning on being at the next one.
Again, the friendship is the most important.

Mac;
This Ultra Varmint,.223 was tough getting rid of. It seemed that no one wanted it.
And, by the way I had two Handi's. The other was a UVF in 22-250, when they first came out.
That one was a complete nightmare in itself. After hundreds of rounds shot through it only produced one, and only one five shot group at 100 yds that was MOA.  And I was oh so careful in cleaning it when I first got it did the proper shooting once clean, shoot again clean and so on.
So I'm batting 100% for bad Handi's.
I came here to the single shot forum to post my original statement as not to make anyone mad at the H&R forum.
As far as Handi bashing goes, I think not!
I don't keep a rifle if it won't shoot to my expectations, and both of mine did not. Plus I'm not a tinkerer.
Again as for the people on the forum they are ALL SUPER.
Back in 2005 when my father passed away. I would come to the H&R forum just to talk and everyone helped me through it.  at that time I had not seen anybodys faces to put with the names. but they all seemed like family, and you included Mac. I still have your message you sent me after sending out thank you notes to everyone.
So if you make it out to the PD shoot this year, I'll be one of the first to shake your hand and say Thanks for being there during the time my father passed.
Take Care.

Dennis

[Mac11700]

Dennis:

I remember well how disappointed you were over both of your Handi's...and I for 1 am not mad at your statements here on this thread in the least..and please note what I said to you about..needlessly bashing..I see the growing numbers of those who are totally dissatisfied with them..and understand their frustration..and I just didn't want your thread to turn into something more than what you intended it to be... by others who would take advantage of the situation to do so...This is why I worded it as I did...with no dis-respect to you or any thing implied...

Being able to vent in the manner as you have is healthy..Healthy that you can express your feelings...and that you can find some closure to your situation...and at the same time let those that can effect positive changes with these neat little rifles see not all is "well" with respected Handiholics.While this may not sit well with those that think these rifles are the best...they will just have to realize there are 2 sides to every story...and as I am an educated adult...I won't turn a blind eye to any ones real & documented problems....especially when they can show just how much effort went into making it work such as yourself...I feel these problems can...and should be discussed in an adult manner...without turning into a rant,name calling,and personal insinuations...which sometimes these types of threads can become...After all...constructive criticism can open the door to positive solutions..provided folks keep an open mind about things...and not take things personally...

Big companies go thru transitions...sometimes they can correct 1 problem..only to have another crop up...and you know as well as I know...there will always be lemons slip thru the line and get sold...whenever all Q/C is done by human eye...Hopefully they will start catching more of the bad ones before they get away from the plant...and this will only make things better in the long run..

Mac