ok let me just start out by saying that i don't even know how many handis i have loss count a long time ago, but i will also say when ever i need to thread a needle my handis stay home, i've never won a competition with a handi (besides the ones on here) . all my handis will shoot 1/2 moa every time i take them out , my 204 shoots in the .2's but all of my handis took work to get them that good. i'm a bolt gun fan for shooting off a bench or long range hunting. but for just an other day in the woods my handis get the call every time. i have three different handis that have shot groups in the .2's and better but if all you want is straight up freaking accuracy get a bolt gun, because you can put a lot more upgrades on them then you ever will a handi. small shot groups aren't cheap i have over $3000 in one of my custom guns but it shoots better then i can (really it does i can't seam to shoot a group under .1 but i know the gun can) but at the same time i have handis that shoot in the .2's that i only paid $200 for , so make your own decision , if your on a budget i would go for the handi if you just want a kick butt rifle build one.
This is about as good a summation of the comparison as I have seen & this is from someone who gets far more out of
a Handi than you could reasonably expect."So make your own decision, if your on a budget I would go for the Handi,
if you want a kick butt rifle build one." Yes indeed & I would add another 2 thoughts.
I expect & get more consistancy in the field with a properly set up bolt gun than from any Handi no matter how it is set up. I may use a bipod at times, tight sling, shooting sticks, use a tree for a rest from the side, whatever it takes. These things put different stresses on the forearm & harmonics in general, which affects a Handi a heck of alot more than a properly bedded & floated bolt rifle in particular.
In the way of durability, again no contest. I do hunt close to home at times with a Handi, for animals such as Whitetails that are not "make or break hunts". But there is no way that I would spend alot of dollars for an out of state hunt & then rely on a Handi only. The chance of something breaking or a failure of some type can sure happen with the best bolt gun, but the chance is far higher with a Handi.
No contest really.