New Synthetic Handi

[kenneycrockett]

Hi there from New Zealand!
Found out about handi rifles a little while back and have been hanging around this site for a bit learning a little more about them.
Not alot of info/available handi's here however I know a few places I could order one in from.
So to the questions. Looking on the net I notice that there are two different synthetic stocks, one a little more sleeker than the other.

I was keen on getting a 7mm-08 in synthetic but ive been told that they dont make them. So what calibres are available in this stock? What seem to work best in the handi rifle. Im leaning toward a 30-06 or 308 if it is available. What are the pros/cons? Are there any problems with the synthetic stocks that are harder to fix than the wood? accuracy differences etc?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/synth_handi-rifle.jpg

Cheers guys.

[HideHunter]

Welcome Kenny. I ran across a 7mm-08 when I was looking for a .223. and the literature I have lists it under the "additional rifle barrels.

I couldn't be more impressed with mine in .223.

good luck...HH

[quickdtoo]

Welcome Kenney! The 7-08 rifle is indeed only available with a wood stock, but all modern H&R single shot stocks are interchangeable, so if you want a particular stock, just get one and swap it out. The new style is much nicer IMO, they're checkered and the forend is much more substantial. Wood forends are much easier to "tune", but the syn can be done too, you just have to make adjustments to the stock itself instead of working on the removable spacer on the wood stock, see forend fit in the FAQs.

Being in NZ, your options for buying accessories from H&R is limited, but the classifieds here offer lots of options including used barrels and stocks, Brownell's ships international an carries lots of factory H&R parts including stocks, Midway Intl also carries Choate Machine stocks who is the maker of H&R synthetic stocks, but they don't offer the new style yet, that's only available from H&R.

Tim

http://www.intlmidway.com/intl/ebrowse.exe/search?search_keywords=choate+H%26R&Click+to+Begin+Search.x=14&Click+to+Begin+Search.y=8&Click+to+Begin+Search=Search_Button

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/mid=102/schematics/H_R_

[petemi]

Welcome Kenney.

You wouldn't happen to want that 7mm-08 for red deer, would you?

I was not aware you coldn't get the 7-08 on a synthetic, but come to think of it, mine is on wood.  Most of my Handis are on the synthetics.  My .223 was bought on the new checkered synthetic, and I really prefer it over the older style.  I got a new dog just before I left to go to a shoot this weekend, and the .223 was standing by the back door because of a fox/coyote problem and the pup knocked it over and whacked the scope.  I got it back on at the shoot.  It's shooting an inch and a half high at 200 yards, so that's just fine.

I'm not a good enough shooter in my old age to worry about the differences in accuracy between wood and synthetic, but I would think the plastic is less subject to change with temperature and humidity.  They are virtually indestructable, and don't scratch and ding like wood.

Why don't you post in the "Want to Buy" forum here and see if you can find one?  Another possibility is you can buy it in wood and swap the stock out on the "Want to Trade".

Kenney, go up to the FAQs and the H&R catalog link is there.  That'll tell you what's available.

If I can help in any way, let me know.

Pete

[kenneycrockett]

Hiya, yep pete the 7-08 is for red deer and stags. About all there is to hunt in my area other than goats and pigs. I have a marlin xs7 in 7-08 and have been really impressed with the catridge and also have a heap of empty shells now and thinking about getting into reloading. The marlin has been great but ive been looking for something a bit more compact. Is the "new style" that tim refered to the same as the one in the pic that I posted?
We hunt in real thick bush 90% of the time so having something that doesnt get caught up easily is important. I like the idea of the single shot too- not all that common here. I also love tinkering with things, and by the sound of it the handi could be alot of fun. Synthetic stock is needed too because of weather and weight as well. Ill be happy with a 2'' group @ 100 with factory ammo at this stage, that should be acheivable shouldnt it? Any comments on the 30-06? Ive never used one before. Could it be more versitile than the 7-08? In terms of getting a bit more knockdown power or loading down for target shooting/plinking?

Cheers for the info guys

[petemi]

Most of us would choose the 30-06 if they could have but one rifle for its versatility.  The irony of the whole thing is that mine seldom gets used because I have other rifles specific to the particular needs of the day.  The other aspect is that I find a load a rifle likes and stick with it.  For example, my .308 thrives on 168 gr. Ballistic Tip BTs, so that's it, squirrels to black bear.  Every time you change a load, you change POI, meaning scope adjustment, and I just don't fool with it........it's bad enough when your dog knocks your rifle over

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Is the "new style" that tim refered to the same as the one in the pic that I posted?

No, that pic is the old style, here's the new style.

Tim

[revbc]

Kenny,

Welcome aboard.  I have the a 7mm08 with lam thumbhole, and a 308 heavy barrel with the same stocks.  To be frank, I wouldn't relish shooting the 06 with synthetics.  The 308 with 165-168 gr. with the heavier stocks is all the recoil I want.  The 308 began life as a survivor (synthetic stock with no recoil pad) it was a little much for me without any protection, even though if I was just hunting it probably wouldn't have made a difference.  I do have a big ole 45/70 but use wood stocks with mercury recoil suppressor and pad.

The 7mm08 or 308 will do everything you need it sounds like.  Just my thoughts when looking for a lightweight carry gun.

Bobby

[kenneycrockett]

Nice rifle tim, how much does it weigh? is it just a standard handi rifle? I noticed the "superlight" in the file name. cheers

[quickdtoo]

H&R has made 3 chamberings with 20" Superlight contour barrels, 22 hornet, 223 rem and 243 win, this was a 243 win barrel that I had rebored to .264"  and the chamber renecked for 260 rem, it weighs 6lb-7oz as shown.

thanks,

Tim

[kenneycrockett]

Have been looking at the specs on H&R's website. Why is it that everyone says that synthetic stocks are lighter than wood when all the standard handi rifles are listed as 7 pounds are they all the same?. Whats the real deal?

[quickdtoo]

Because they round the weights to whole numbers, see the actual weights of various stocks in the FAQs and Help sticky, synthetic stocks are the lightest of all H&R stocks with the exception of the Varmint stock.

Tim