Author Topic: Getting my 1st Handi today (Read 1477 times)

paul63 · « **on:** September 18, 2008, 12:08:12 AM »

After work today I'll be going home with a new Handi .444. A co-worker has an uncle that has a home-based hunting & trapping supply. He ordered it for me & had it in 2 days. His price was $234, & out-the -door was $255 (7%tax). As soon as I get a scope on it, I'll let ya'll (it's a southern thing) know how I like it.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2008, 12:39:19 AM »

I am looking forward to a range report.

I know the 45-70 is VERY popular with the guys on this site, but I was looking at a big warehouse that carries Handi rifles and they were sold out of every 444 model H&R carries. The 45-70's were available for every model including the SS thumbhole model. BTW they also had 444 SS thumbholes listed but were naturally out of stock. It makes me wonder if over all the 444 is more popular or they just under estimated the market for them. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

hellblazer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:17:20 AM »

i'm also getting my first handi tomorrow in the .500 s&w caliber. i want to put a laminate thumbhole stock and forearm on it, but i can't seem to find where they sell them. any help out there? thanks

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:53:29 AM »

You guys are going to enjoy your new Handis. Good luck and good shooting. Pete

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2008, 02:21:24 AM »

hellblazer

The only 2 places to get the stocks right now are either H&R or sometimes E-bay and neither are a sure thing as they go real quick .

stimpy

Troyboy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2008, 10:31:44 AM »

welcome to the world of the Handi. I orded my stock and foreend from H&R took about 8 weeks give or take as it was backordered. Let us know how you like the 444. Been wanting one and the 500.

Troy

hellblazer · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:26:03 PM »

thanks. h&r had the cinnamon stock but not the forearm. he said it will go out tomorrow. have to keep checking for the forearm, i guess.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2008, 06:39:36 PM »

I think you will like the 444 alot. I have one and the 45-70, but think I like the 444 best of the two. This should bring the wrath of all the 45-70 guys here, but "sticks and stones", I can take it.

( Duck and Cover!

) Not a thing wrong with the 45-70, I just like being different.

DP

tykempster · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2008, 07:30:41 AM »

45-120 is where it's at...

cowboyup453 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2008, 09:14:24 AM »

Quote from: hellblazer on September 18, 2008, 01:26:03 PM

thanks. h&r had the cinnamon stock but not the forearm. he said it will go out tomorrow. have to keep checking for the forearm, i guess.

Brownells has the checkered one in stock.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7039&title=FOREND,%20LAMINATED,%20MONTE%20CARLO,%20CHECKERED,%20CINNAMON

paul63 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2008, 09:36:13 AM »

I was really impressed with quality & workmanship of the Handi I bought. I bought the rifle sight unseen until my co-worker brought it to me. I was really surprised that it had a BBL. I still have to get a scope & bore-sight it before I try it out. I don't use a firing range, I live in the midldle of 42 acres & I have a nice little setup in the pasture for 100 & 150 yds.

What would be a good ammo to sight it in with? I would like to try the new Hornady stuff but $36 a box is expensive to sight it in with.

Also I would like to recommend where bought my Handi to anyone interested. It's Boone's Trapping & Hunting Supply in Lecompte, LA. It's a Mom & Pop business that beat all the "big-box" store around here.

hellblazer · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2008, 02:37:18 PM »

thank you COWBOYUP453. i ordered it today.

jimmybirdwell · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:01:50 AM »

Paul63, get ready for sure displeasure and hardship. You eather will have a good shooter or a piece of junk that you are going to pore dollar after dollar just to get it to 2" groups. My experience with 2 handies I own and the 10 or so that I have worked on for other people, has been hellish . Out of my 2 that I own my .280 will shoot a 1 1/2" group. my .243 maybe 6". and getting a new barrel for it from Remington, is a night mare that will leave you so mad that you will scream at your wife and kick your dog.Yeah Remington Will work with you but its not worth having the dog run from you each time she sees you or tries to bite you (same thing goes for the wife).
if you do get one that shoots well keep it close to your heart and take care of it (same thing goes for the wife).

good luck
Jimmy

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2008, 01:18:56 AM »

If you're competent, you shouldn't have any problems. Enjoy your new gun.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2008, 02:46:19 AM »

Quote from: jimmybirdwell on September 20, 2008, 12:01:50 AM

Paul63, get ready for sure displeasure and hardship. You either will have a good shooter or a piece of junk that you are going to pore dollar after dollar just to get it to 2" groups. My experience with 2 handies I own and the 10 or so that I have worked on for other people, has been hellish . Out of my 2 that I own my .280 will shoot a 1 1/2" group. my .243 maybe 6". and getting a new barrel for it from Remington, is a night mare that will leave you so mad that you will scream at your wife and kick your dog.Yeah Remington Will work with you but its not worth having the dog run from you each time she sees you or tries to bite you (same thing goes for the wife).
if you do get one that shoots well keep it close to your heart and take care of it (same thing goes for the wife).

good luck
Jimmy

WOW......

Jimmy,
Have you read the FAQ's? I can just about guarantee, I know a couple of the issues your having that are causing your woes. Read up, follow the instructions and your will also enjoy better shooting Handis too!!

Paul,
Jimmy's story is most certainly NOT the norm. Just read up all the happy owners threads on here for yourself !! If you do happen to have any issues, read the FAQ's and post up here, we will all happily help. This is coming from a self proclaimed handihaulic who owns and shoots over 30 different Handis. There is even a couple of guys here who have more than I do. Do you really think we would own so many, have a web site with a dedicated H&R/NEF section and SO MANY HAPPY owners, if they where such POS's and cause our dogs to bite us???

Good luck with your new "toy".

CW

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2008, 03:02:54 AM »

I wouldn't mind the 2" accuracy claims floating around here. I too am impressed w/ the quality of my NEF survivor .308. If your worried about accuracy, take a moment to view some range reports, many of which Tim (Quickdtoo) has posted. I think you'll find that they generally run sub MOA. Also if you have a problem w/ accuracy please view the FAQ section which has some invaluable information.

Enjoy

- Sam

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2008, 04:08:40 PM »

Midway has 444 brass on sale now, check the closeout/overstock section. Give a range report soon. DP

paul63 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2008, 02:18:51 AM »

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the helpful commments & suggestion concerning Handi's. I read alot of post before ever posting myself. I doing research before buying a Handi. I bought my wife a youth 7mm-08 & a .444 for myself. I understand that most of the posters here do alot of target shooting, so the issue of accuracy is important. We use our Handi's for hunting & if we can put rounds within a paper plate at 100yds, then life's good. I put a Tasco 3x9x40 that I had & never used on the .444. I'll try to boresight it this week & shoot it next weekend. I did clean the bore with Hoppe's #9 until it was clean. Should I do anything else before I shoot it for the first time?

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2008, 06:50:14 AM »

paul63

If you havn't done it yet pull the barrel off and give the frame a good cleaning to remove any factory crud that may be in there , ( metal chips , machining lube , ect ) then use a good gun oil on everything BUT the latch area , it needs to be oil free for good lock-up .

Other than that --- HAVE FUN SHOOTING

stimpy

cjclemens · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2008, 06:26:55 PM »

I have an old one thats been who knows where before I got it. It literally took me one afternoon to get it dialed in and shooting 1" groups at 100 yards. That even includes the time it took me to handload the rounds I used to sight in with. I honestly dont think you can go wrong with these rifles.

cajun · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2008, 10:54:08 AM »

Paul:

I think you are gonna like the H&R. I bought one in 444 Marlin several weeks ago. I have only been to the range with it one time but, once I got it on paper, I was shooting about 2" at 100 yards. I plan on getting back to the range soon to see if I can improve on that. You may want to invest in a good recoil pad as it does have some bite to it...........but I normally shoot a 243 or smaller. (My 243 is an H&R Ultra and it shoots 1/2" when I have a good day.........lol.)

I am shooting the Hornady Leverevolution ammo and it does shoot great. It is pricey but from what I've seen, most of the 444 Marlin ammo is a bit pricey.

You planning on using it for the Primitive season here in LA? That's what I bought mine for.

Good luck with it and be safe.

caju

paul63 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 24, 2008, 07:27:21 AM »

Cajun,
I bought the .444 for the Primative Season & because where I hunt a 100yd shot is a long shot. We live in Vernon Parish about 5 miles from Ft. Polk. I'm going to use the Hornady Lever Revolution, I found a place that has it for $32 a box. Recoil won't bother me, I shoot a 12ga, 31/2" mag so I used to it.

I'm in Area-3, so our Primative Season starts on 10/11. I've been putting out corn, but turkeys & coons are eating it.

What part of LA are you in?

cajun · « **Reply #22 on:** September 24, 2008, 08:41:14 AM »

Paul:

I live north of Lafayette.

I'm in a lease near Tullos which is area 2. Primitive season opens there on 10/18.

But, I do hunt a bit in the WMA's. Will probably hunt the opener for primitive in Kisatchie near Homer.

The recoil gets kinda bad at the range if you shoot a bit but for hunting that shouldn't be any problem.

Good luck and have a great season.

cajun

hellblazer · « **Reply #23 on:** September 24, 2008, 10:20:46 AM »

i thought new handi's came with an offset hammer extension for use with a scope, but i don't see it. guess e-bay is next.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2008, 12:49:24 PM »

Those that come with scope bases do, if there isn't one in the box, call H&R toll free (866)776-9292 and ask them to send you one, they omit them frequently. It's usually in a plastic envelope stuck to the inside of one of the inner flaps.

Tim

petemi · « **Reply #25 on:** September 24, 2008, 02:25:04 PM »

I just got a new Handi, and the hammer spur was taped to the flap on the box, and I didn't see it and almost trashed it. Check the package.

Quote from: paul63 on September 24, 2008, 07:27:21 AM

Cajun,
I bought the .444 for the Primative Season & because where I hunt a 100yd shot is a long shot. We live in Vernon Parish about 5 miles from Ft. Polk. I'm going to use the Hornady Lever Revolution, I found a place that has it for $32 a box. Recoil won't bother me, I shoot a 12ga, 31/2" mag so I used to it.

I'm in Area-3, so our Primative Season starts on 10/11. I've been putting out corn, but turkeys & coons are eating it.

What part of LA are you in?

I buy .45-70s from Sportsmans guide for ten bucks less and get free shipping with coupons. It might be worth checking out.

GB I'm not trying to run an ad. I can buy factory ammo cheaper there than at home including the shipping.

hellblazer · « **Reply #26 on:** September 25, 2008, 01:51:33 PM »

no hammer spur in the box. got a thumbhole stock from h&r, but they don't supply a bolt, stock one is way to long and the hole is not counter-bored big enough to get a socket on a hex head bolt. what's up with that? should i try an allen head machine bolt? HELP!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** September 25, 2008, 02:00:37 PM »

Have ya read the FAQs yet? It's in there, it takes a 3/8-24x2" button socket head, they aren't easy to find, but H&R can supply you with one or order it from a bolt supply source.

.

Tim

hellblazer · « **Reply #28 on:** September 26, 2008, 12:02:27 AM »

nope. couldn't find faq. thanks for your help, tho. that is just what i thought would work. i would think h&r could supply one with stock.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #29 on:** September 26, 2008, 05:00:17 AM »

Read the MORE HANDI INFO section again or use "Control F" to find it as suggested in the FAQs. H&R might send you one if you asked, the bolts aren't easy to find, so that may be your only option.

Tim