I know what you mean. My 223 Ultra varmint just felt so good in my hands, so solid and it looked good too. I have since added another frame and five more barrels.
No one makes custom barrels for the Handi (H&R) rifle. However - You do have options.
1. You can have a rebore done - where you have a smaller caliber barrel rebored to .25 caliber and rechambered to 25-35. Take a .224" barrel such as a 223 and have it rebored and rifled to .257" and then chamber it to 25-35 - cost about $300 give or take + the .224" barrel as a donor.
2. You can have a stub done. That is where you take an existing barrel have it cut off just ahead of the chamber bulge and fit another barrel into the stub. The new barrel would be in .257" and then chambered to 25-35. This would also be in the $300 range if you furnish both the barrel and barrel for a stub. The donor barrel (which can be just about any thing, including a shot gun barrel) + a barrel in .257" and the gunsmith costs of fitting a barrel to the stub and chamber to 25-35.
I think the 25-35 would be a candidate for a stub project, because it is not a high pressure round. The H&R rifles are some what stronger than a T/C Contender, but not as strong as a T/C Elite. Your rifle is of older manufacture so the factory will not fit new high pressure barrels to you frame. I think you can get shot gun barrels for it, so you can have one fitted to your frame and the send it off to be stubbed. You can also purchase a barrel from some one and use it as a donor barrel. Search barrel stubbing and re boring in this forum and you will get lots of hits. You can look through the FAQ and get some insight also.
You just can not get a barrel that mates up to your frame, even from a custom shop. I think with the expense of building a barrel + having to hand fit it to your frame is just more than most people are willing to pay. Oh yes there are people willing to pay, just look at the stubbing projects and reboring projects that have been done here. But there is just not enough of them to sustain a maker to fool with them. On the brighter side, center fire Handi rifles are offered in a variety of choices in rifles from 22 Hornet up through 45-70 and 500 S&W. You just may not be able to get exactly what you want. For instance; you can purchase a whole 25-06 rifle, if you are in love with the 1/4" bores for about the cost or cheaper than having a barrel stub project or a re-bore built. You just will not be able to have a 25-06 fitted to your frame, you will need to purchase a newer manufacture frame or a whole rifle. You can get a 243 Win, but again, you will need to buy a complete rifle or a newer frame.
Good Luck and Good Shooting
