finally took the plunge...

[watkibe]

The thing I liked about the Handi Rifle concept is that it can give me the opportunity to shoot more different chamberings without buying whole new guns; as a reloader, I like it !
But for over a year my poor little handi 223 ultralight languished with only one barrel. I recently got up the nerve and the cash, called H&R to make sure 357 mag barrels are in stock (he said yes), and sent my frame and fore end to Ilion.
UPS verified delivery at almost exactly the same time that Remington sent me their repair status email, which as a timely and pleasant surprise. Now Im watchin the repair status, waiting until it moves past "received and logged in"...
I am also doing the scope swap calculations. I have a 1.2 by 4.5 Bushnell Banner on my 788 that would go good on the 357 handi, and a 3 by 9 bushnell on my Savage 111 which would go good on the 788, and then...I have been wanting to try one of the new Redfields that Leupold is building on the 111...Dreaming, planning, and thinking about shooting is almost as much fun as shooting itself !
I also am thinking about 357 mag vs 357 max, which I could do, and then going all the way to 35 Remington, which is what I really want. Has anybody reamed a 357 Handi barrel to 35 Rem ? Is it a gunsmith job ?
thanks, guys, ive been gone a while, but Ill be around now again.

[quickdtoo]

Yes and yes, about $100. www.oregunsmithingllc.com

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,208376.msg1099101264.html#msg1099101264

[Spanky]

Or you could check out a gunsmith in your area and support your local economy.
They don't all need to go to Oregon.



Spanky

[Swampman]

The occular lens on that Bushnell is so large it doesn't work as well on the Handi as some others.  I hate that as it's one of my favorite scopes.

[Mac11700]

Or you could check out a gunsmith in your area and support your local economy.
They don't all need to go to Oregon.



Spanky

If his area gunsmiths are like what I have around these parts...he's better off sending somewhere...

Mac

[Mac11700]

The thing I liked about the Handi Rifle concept is that it can give me the opportunity to shoot more different chamberings without buying whole new guns; as a reloader, I like it !
But for over a year my poor little handi 223 ultralight languished with only one barrel. I recently got up the nerve and the cash, called H&R to make sure 357 mag barrels are in stock (he said yes), and sent my frame and fore end to Ilion.
UPS verified delivery at almost exactly the same time that Remington sent me their repair status email, which as a timely and pleasant surprise. Now Im watchin the repair status, waiting until it moves past "received and logged in"...
I am also doing the scope swap calculations. I have a 1.2 by 4.5 Bushnell Banner on my 788 that would go good on the 357 handi, and a 3 by 9 bushnell on my Savage 111 which would go good on the 788, and then...I have been wanting to try one of the new Redfields that Leupold is building on the 111...Dreaming, planning, and thinking about shooting is almost as much fun as shooting itself !
I also am thinking about 357 mag vs 357 max, which I could do, and then going all the way to 35 Remington, which is what I really want. Has anybody reamed a 357 Handi barrel to 35 Rem ? Is it a gunsmith job ?
thanks, guys, ive been gone a while, but Ill be around now again.

Congrats on the new barrel..let us know how it shoots when you get it home.

If the Redfield 2x7 is as good as what everyone is saying about them..that just might be the ticket for you 35 cal..I got peep sights coming with my 500 S&W barrel..but when I get my 444..I think I'll get one of them to have for both with a set of Leupold quick detachable rings.The price is certainly doable..and they got a pretty good warranty on them..

Mac

[Swampman]

For the Handi, you can't beat the Nikon Prostaff 2-7X32.  It allows you to used med. rings.

[watkibe]

Thanks, guys, lots of good input offered. The Handi's hammer does make getting a scope mounted low a challenge.
BTW, I got a call today from Remington (I keep having to do the mental conversion Remington = H&R, lol). They wanted approval and payment on their estimate, which they got. I checked to Repair Progress link they sent me, and it was current, saying the same thing the caller did.
I am favorably impressed so far. I sent it on the 10th and they had it by the 17th. Today, the 24th, they are ready to do it, pending my approval of their estimate. So only 2 weeks so far, and they are supposedly starting on it. I think the "Repair Progress Tracking" feature is a really nice touch. (I sent another gun to Savage on the same day, and except for UPS saying it was delivered, I have no idea where my rifle is within the Savage factory...) Now, if they just send me back a Handi Rifle that shoots straight, I will say "Good Job !"

[watkibe]

I just got an email saying that my gun has shipped, and I can expect to have it by July 9th. This will be basically one month from my door, to theirs, and back to mine.

The e-tracking of repair, and then on shipping, is great. I hate the feeling knowing that your gun is "somewhere" in a big factory and "something" is being (or not) done to it by "somebody...

I have great expectations that when I have new 357 Handi in my hands, it will work as well as their system does.

Hoorah for Remington/H&R1871 !

[gcrank1]

As in," we are not at liberty to discuss what may, or may not, be being done by anyone who may, or may not, be here"?
Hope it is all you have hoped for!

[watkibe]

I sent in my Handi Rifle on the 10th of June and got it back on the 9th of July with a new 357 mag barrel. They kept me informed with email notices at each step of the process, which I really liked. I don't have a scope on it yet so I don't know how well it really shoots; but one shot at a few yards using the sight base and barrel as "sights" hit 6 inches high and perfectly centered in windage.
There were 2 nice surprises. The original barrel is a 223 Ultralight, something I don't think about since it was my only barrel. The new barrel is 2 inches longer, and with a heavier contour, almost seems like a bull barrel; the scope mount doesn't hang out cantilevered in mid-air like the 223. I also asked them to do the "free trigger job" I have read about here, but didn't know if they were still doing it. Well, they are ! The trigger is much improved, not a lot lighter, but much smoother and crisp.
Anyway I am quite pleased, and I think they did a good job. Add to that the good experiences I have had with Lee and Savage on warrantee service in the last month, and I'm in a much better mood altogether !

[Crow Juice]

You know one of the great things about a Handirifle is that it is "handy" . With that thought in mind you have several high powered rifles for hunting and shooting at long range .I think a 357mag barrel is a great way to go . Most of my shooting is 20 to 100 yards  and your 357 would be fine at these ranges . You can carry  tons of ammo and it's cheap compared to rifle  ammo .  Another thing to consider  is you can get 357's anywhere .I have a Marlin 44mag and matching 44mag Blackhawk just for carrying when I'm not sure what to take . You never know when your going to run into Zombies!!!!

[trotterlg]

I reamed a hosed up 357 Max barrel to 35 Remington a few months back, not sure I heard how it shot, but it sure looked nice.  Larry