I kicked this around for a long time..(ask Quick
)..so I didn't come to choose my Trio on a whim. There are so many different combinations of rifles/shotguns/rim fires available to use with the Handi it is unreal. Picking any 3 to cover all the bases for a rifleman depends a-lot on what and where a person hunts/shoots..
On the heavy caliber end..I had a choice to make between having a 26" 444 and a 45-70..oh sure I could have gone with most other calibers but in doing so I would have to give up one of my 26" barrels to do that. I love both calibers,and feel each in a 26" tube could do anything I called on them to do,but I know realistically a 22" barreled one would do the same.This is why I opted to get a factory 22" barrel by trading my 280 barrel. The extra 200fps isn't going to do me any better than the standard velocity and since I would have other rifles filling in for the longer distance,I thought I could do more with a smaller caliber. Any brush hunting or hog hunting I get the opportunity to do will either be at long range 300 + yards,or spitting distance. Since I will be using a different rifle for my long range (30-06) I will have mine stoked with some 405 grain Cast Performance bullets at max velocity for the gun.No hog,even one the size of Hogzilla will worry me with that load.
Medium caliber end..I chose to have a 26" 30-06 done by Wayne York. Those that know the 30-06 know how versatile it really is with all bullet weights. I am opting to use it for my medium to long range work..anything from the occasional coyote up,but primarily for my longer ranges I have for my deer hunting opportunities. I could have easily had a 30-40 Krag AI,but even with it's max loadings in a 22" barrel it won't out perform what the o6' will do in the 26" barrel. SAMMI rated loads will give between 100-200 fps more with a good 26" barrel & load,but I have intentions of getting the best combination of velocity and accuracy and since it is under loaded for the rifles max pressure..well..my velocity is going to be much higher.
My smaller caliber isn't really a smaller caliber..it is still going to use a 308 bullet but at much more sedate speeds.The venerable 30-30 Handi is what I cut my teeth on with in these rifles. Accuracy can be outstanding,and ease of getting factory and home brew loads is exceptional. For a varmint rifle it does lack yardage,but can be used if properly loaded and shot,for a long range rifle...well..it isn't but yardages can be stretched further with proper loading and with the right components. Many an animal has fallen to it since it first came about..but..since I don't have to worry about using lever gun ammo in a single shot...you guys know where this is headed..
These 3 rifles are a perfect trio to me..I can and will use cast bullets with all 3..I can and will make up some very inexpensive plinking loads with all 3 but I will also have the optimum load for each. Having just 2 of the same calibers means I can use the same bullets for 2,which simplifies things somewhat as well. I can even go rabbit/squirrel hunting with a very mild cast bullet load for the 30-30..I know..I did it for a few summers growing up when it was all I had to use..and since rabbits/squirrels are the smallest critter that will be in my sites..this can work really well..It may not seem practical since a rim fire or shotgun could work better..but from past experiance this suits me perfectly...Oh..in case some
want to read what others say on the matter..check this out...
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3030varmint.htm I know when the time comes for bigger game..what better cartridges to have at my disposal than my other 2 choices..
Sure some may go faster..and some may seem more exotic.. but these 3 when used to their fullest capabilities offer more bang for the buck than anything else going right now. They lack in certain ways for specific duties,but the more than make up for it in everything else they bring to the table.Not to mention they are some if not the most consistantly accurate cartridges offered in these neat little rifles..
Like I said..these are my perfect trio..and this is has been my why..Now..go find yours
Mac
