Multi-barrel accuracy on same frame

[Steamin]

I've posted on here a few times about getting different barrels and I currently have the .308 handi.
My question is - if I have more than one barrel, let's say a 20ga. heavy slug-.223 ultra and then the .50 huntsman along with the .308 will this affect the accuracy of the barrels when I change or will it remain the same.
I quess what I'm trying to get at is will I have to rezero every time the barrels are changed. I can understand readjustments but not to the point that I have to go through the hole process each and every time I switch out.
I'm not demanding .5  MOA  out of the barrels but I would like a stable and reliable platform.

I ask this not only for myself but for others as well.

I've got a good friend that thinks I'm nuts for going this route, he builds his own rigs and they are extremely accurate. He thinks that I need to stick to the tried and true Rem. 700 or (he gags when he says it) jokingly a Savage.

Thanks
Steamin

[Spanky]

I used to switch barrels on my frames but I couldn't get any of them to reliably hold zero after switching.
It's one barrel for one frame now. I get them shooting well then I leave them alone.
Most folks on here will probably tell you the same thing.


Spanky

[petemi]

Like Spanky, I do the same.

[AtlLaw]

will I have to rezero every time the barrels are changed. I can understand readjustments but not to the point that I have to go through the hole process each and every time I switch out.

Since I believe one should check his zero ANY TIME something is done to the weapon, including transportation when it is out of my hands, I would say yes.  The only difference being on most of my rifles I would NOT expect the zero to have changed.  In switching barrels on the Handi I would, but wouldn't be supprised if it didn't.     Does that make sense?   

I too have come to the conclusion that any Handi barrel deserves it's own receiver!     Buy a barrel, need a receiver, then buy extra receivers IN CASE you buy another barrel...   When will it all end... 

[petemi]

Richard, who are you B.S.ing   You KNOW it never ends.  We should all be nice to people, post DANGERsigns around here.  In fact, we all should be quarantined.

Happy New Year

Pete

[coop2564]

I had quit using my handi rifle barrel because of them shifting POI and only having avg accuracy at best. Living in the city it was just to much trouble to have to run to the range and resight when ML season ended and I put the rifle barrel back on and it always shifted slightly too a lot 2 to 8". Some use a torque wench to make sure they get the forend back to the same pressure. But if your planning on switching barrels a lot you better have a place to shoot to check em each time u switch. I just devoted my receiver which has a ML and a 20 ga shotgun barrel as well as my 308 to my 308 and bedded the forearm to that barrel. My accurracy has been great so far. So for me I could not change barrels without resighting the rifle barrels, the ML was never off the same amount that the rifle barrel shifted with it I usaully didnt have to resight. Seems to me the higher velocity rifles are touchier to forend vibrations than the slower rifle and ML setups. But that's just my opinion. Good luck!

[Badnews Bob]

Mine never change enuff to not be hunting accurate at any time with any barrel. I would say it has never changed more than 1/2 to a 1 inch no more and usually less. And it should not. If it dose there is something wrong with the lockup of your barrel to receiver. I even change from one receiver to another without much of a change. Even when it dose change, it changes POI slightly. A 1 inch shift in POI with a rifle that will shoot 2" or better groups is still well within the 8" kill zone of any whitetail. I have never missed a deer with my handie rifles.   

BTW I don't expect bench rest accuracy with them either, 2" or less works for me. A two inch group at 100 yards will take a squirrels head off, What more do you want.

[gstewart44]

I have a strange receiver/barrel occurrence.   I bought my .243 handi barrel and receiver in 1992 then sent it in to be fitted for a 45/70 barrel.    Initially the .243 was sighted in and held about 1 3/4" at 100 yds.   I switched to the 45/70 barrel and sighted it in.   Iron sights - one ragged hole at 50 yards.    I switch back to the 243 and have to sight in all over again.  Zero was way off. 

Put the 45/70 barrel back on and it is right on.   I have swapped barrels back and forth over the past 15 years and the 243 always needs a rezero.  the 45/70 is always spot on.  Just a kind hearted barrel I guess.   But I will be looking for a new receiver for the 243.   No more switching.   The 45/70 is just telling me it belongs on this receiver.   That's ok by me.   

[quickdtoo]

The 243 barrel is more sensitive to forend fit, changing the screw torque is the number one cause for changes in accuracy and POI, if you can duplicate the setting each time, it should be real close to the same POI. While I don't swap barrels any more, I used to, and always used a torque screwdriver to set the screw the same each time.  I had a 223 bull, 243 bull and 25-06 barrel fitted to one frame at one time, swapped em back and forth at the range and they always hit the same POI after the swap. Ideally, if you want to swap multiple barrels, dedicate a forend to the barrel and use a good torque screwdriver or wrench to install the forend screw, bedding helps, but I've never felt the need. 

Tim

[LONGTOM]

I too am starting to go with the one barrel one frame setup.
In fact I bought three Handis this weekend just for the frames.
The barrels are in the classifieds now for sale.


LONGTOM

[Steamin]

I won't be constantly switching barrels, just for the application that I'm needing at the time and checking the sights is a matter of S.O.P., I just didn't want to have to go through a lengthy ordeal every time I switch (hours of involvement is what I meant).

The responces are greatly appreciated, and by the way H&R was busy today -- couldn't even get through to check if the frame was okay for the two barrels I'm wanting.

Steamin

[quickdtoo]

The responces are greatly appreciated, and by the way H&R was busy today -- couldn't even get through to check if the frame was okay for the two barrels I'm wanting.

Steamin

No surprise there, they're always busy on Mondays, and being two holiday weeks in a row isn't gonna help much. Normally mid week is the best time to call, but you may still be on hold for 10-20 minutes.  You may also want to check on availability of the barrels you want, I know the 44mag has been out of stock for a while.

Tim

[jpshaw]

Mine are pretty much like "Badnews" in that they do change but you could probably hunt whitetails with it after doing so.  That being said, this year I put my .30/30 barrel on, sighted and tweaked it to my liking and don't plan on removing it til season is over.  Then I will probably put the .357 on it for play.

[FW Conch]

 Thats a very sensible plan you have there JP (IMHO). By the time next deer season rolls around you,ll want

 to go over everything real good & sight it in anyway !    Good Shooting  Good Luck   Jim

[Oldshooter]

OK you guys are sure raining on my parade! go figure ! I just signed on here to see if i could get some help with the accuracy problems I'm having with a new 270 and 243, and now I see that my plan to add barrels( cheaply) to my collection may be a pipe dream. Was thinking that since the scope is mounted to the barrel that there would be no change to speak of, oh well back to the drawing board!
I have seen the handi-rifle 101 sticky so there may be some help there. I will keep my eyes and ears open for more tips on this accuracy thing. hope to hear more from you guys in the future.

Randy   

[AtlLaw]

OK you guys are sure raining on my parade! go figure !

Heck No!     We addin a few more bands to that parade!     Heck, I'ma lookin fur more barrels and actions just to have them to play with!  Great fun!   

[Jimbo47]

I found out today that it doesn't work all that good to switch frames or barrels.

I've always been of the belief that once you sight in, you best leave it alone, but I was able to acquire a new older frame that was made prior to 99, and I didn't want to mount any of my high pressure barrels on it, so I took the .357 mag. off of one of my newer SB2 frames and placed the barrel on the older SB2 frame, and it fit perfectly.

I shot it today and it hit about eight inches low and about two inches right.

This was a different frame but it locked up tight, and actually felt like it fit better than the one I took it off of, but the scope had to be rezeroed.

Not that I was surprised it being off, but I didn't think it would be off quite that much.

It is now dedicated to the new (older frame), and it will be quite happy there I'm sure!

[FW Conch]

Welcome aboard Randy !  Your here because "YOU HAVE THE CALLING" !  There's no turning back now !

You ended up in the right place, all the answers that exist are around here somewhere. Don't be

discouraged, there are many here to help you on your journey !  Good Luck      Jim

[JonD.]

I have a Handi with two barrels so far one of which is a Hunstman muzzleloader barrel and the other is a .270(I had a .35 whelen but traded it), and I soon will purchase a 12 ga. turkey barrel I take them off and swap barrels and I have had no problems losing zero from either one. Let  me say that both have dedicated forearms and I set the torque exactly the same each time. I also remove the barrels for cleaning and don't lose zero. Dunno if the forearm is the key or not, but I have no problems.

Look at it this way, if you do swap barrels regularly and if it does or does not change the zero, then either way, this gives you another excuse to go out and shoot and check it!!!

[Troyboy]

Getting different barrels for my frames is what drew me to the Handi.Where else can you get another caliber for 100$? It's no big thing to change barrels and tq the screw the same each time.

[gendoc]

i agree with troyboy,
i switch my .308 and 45/70 barrels all the time.
with proper forend fitting, (o-ring and pressure pad) & minor inletting
along with good glass,rings and mounts on each barrel.
they both are very accurate. way more than i am. and they both stay set perfect.....
oop's cant forget the torque driver!!!

[Oldshooter]

OK thats the spirit, this is the kinda info a poor man needs to get its the American way. make it work for you, I hope to be as fortunate in the future!

Randy

[gendoc]

oldshooter,
buying 2nd hand barrels is a gamble, that it will fit perfect.
some fit great. i have purchased 2 so far that fit snug and locked up tight with no signs of pressure release.  but, i have heard some stories of ones that did not!!!!
the price difference of a new to used barrel is somewhat close
plus fitting fees and shipping to h&r/nef. but then your barrel SHOULD be perfect for your receiver.
if you hunt like me, buy a new barrel when hunting season is over and WAIT for its return.
i bought a 223 barrel for my hornet's receiver new and it is great......
had to WAIT awhile for the return, but it was worth it.
i just hope remington has there act together.
good luck with your projects...

[Oldshooter]

Oh I assure you I will probably not get used ones, unless new ones cannot be found. My project now is to get the two new ones I bought (with receivers) to cut paper at a respectable level. I have seen some good tips here and respect the shooters who have the experience to help. Bottom line is if they shot .5 inch groups out of the box I would have nothing to do until next fall. 

Randy

[dhnut1973]

I have .357, .223 and 7mm-08 barrels for 1 frame. I mark each barrel with a different colored dot from a paint marker. Then I tightened the forearm screw and marked both the screw and the forearm with coresponding colored dot. Seems to work good. Just change barrel, put forearm on and tighten screw until the dots match up. I use an o-ring between the barrel and forearm and it holds zero.

[kernman]

I bought a rifled, 20 gauge slug barrel this summer. I plan to eventually put a scope on it.

Meanwhile I have a 12 gauge on it, with buckshot, for home defense.

Like you say, its not a big deal with rezero after you change barrels, with rifles. But with the price of sabots being so high, its prohibitive.

I might just have to dedicate my existing frame to the 20 gauge barrel.

[cwlongshot]

oldshooter,
buying 2ND hand barrels is a gamble, that it will fit perfect.
some fit great. i have purchased 2 so far that fit snug and locked up tight with no signs of pressure release.  but, i have heard some stories of ones that did not!!!!
the price difference of a new to used barrel is somewhat close
plus fitting fees and shipping to h&r/nef. but then your barrel SHOULD be perfect for your receiver.
if you hunt like me, buy a new barrel when hunting season is over and WAIT for its return.
i bought a 223 barrel for my hornet's receiver new and it is great......
had to WAIT awhile for the return, but it was worth it.
i just hope Remington has there act together.
good luck with your projects...

 I gotta say that is one big advantage to having multiple frames... your bound to have at least one that will fit right!!

 Of all my barrels only my Maxi is using a shim. That's only because I didn't feel safe with the modern loads in that old receiver. So I delegated it to shotgun duty explicitly. That barrel is a old orig 357Maxi. Its from a 158 frame. It shoots just fine on its new receiver. 

CW

[mcgiiver]

It is my opinion that any change in point of impact by switching barrels is due to unequal tightening of the foreend screw or simply the inherent inaccuracy of the Handi set up.  When you think about it, changing properly fitted barrels is no different than opening and closing the gun for loading.

I see no point at all in dedicating a frame to a particular barrel unless you have money to waste. If you are going to dedicate a frame to a barrel you might as well, buy a separate rifle with a fixed barrel for each caliber.

[cwlongshot]

It is my opinion that any change in point of impact by switching barrels is due to unequal tightening of the foreend screw or simply the inherent inaccuracy of the Handi set up.  When you think about it, changing properly fitted barrels is no different than opening and closing the gun for loading.

I see no point at all in dedicating a frame to a particular barrel unless you have money to waste. If you are going to dedicate a frame to a barrel you might as well, buy a separate rifle with a fixed barrel for each caliber.

 As Samantha Stevens on BEWITCHED used to saw... WELLLLL......

 I know what you mean and you are at least partially correct. Allot of the problems are related to the forend, but not all.
 Barrel lockup with the frame needs to be consistant as well. The latch must be clean and dry.
 The barrel isn't a given that it will just fit any receiver. Unfortunately, handis don't work like that.

 "A waste of money buying a complete gun"... That's relative. The complete NEF/H&R gun is less than a T/C barrel alone. Having a complete extra firearm IMHO is never a waste of money.

CW

[dpe.ahoy]

With the extra charges they have put on the fitting of new barrels at the factory, the difference in price isn't worth the wait to get the frame there and back.  Time is money!    DP