I think I need a new rifle..

[stillborn]

I was hunting this morning and due to my rifle having technical dificulties... I had to use my uncles 30-06.  Well the stars and planets must have been aligned perfectly because there were all kinds of deer there.  After watching the deer for a bit, a nice 8 pointer came out and gave me a great shot that I couldnt pass up.  The buck took off and made it about 15 yards. 

Until this I have only used a .30-30 and the results were never this impressive.  Now im thinking about a new handi in 30-06, 280 or 25-06.  In a handi rifle, is one of these more accurate than the other?

[ironglow]

Last buck I shot with a 30/30 didn't take a step, but did a complete back flip, .. and took a dirt nap..    variables abound..

[stillborn]

My kills with a 30-30 were definately kills.  I just always had to walk a little more to get to them.  And I never had as much soup in the chest cavity before.  Where do you shoot the deer to get the backflip response... I have only gone for the broadside heart and lungs shots.  What bullet/ load do you use?

[spikehorn]

I just got a new handi and still think I need a new handi. I love this addiction!

[Slufoot]

Hey stillborn, you can't go wrong with the 30-06!

Congrats on the 8 pointer!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[bikerbeans]

SB,

Accuracy is always an unknown with a new handi as there are so many variables that affect how the gun/round perform.  Since the '06 did the trick for you I think I would stick with that one.  The 30-06 is going to heave a heavier bullet than either the 25-06 or 280 and mass is a good thing when shooting a deer. 

My experience with deer and bang/flops is you only get a deer to fall in it's tracks with a head or spin/neck shot; a hit that turns off the deer's electrical system.  A heart/lung shot is not likely to result in a deer going down immediately unless you are using an M1A1 Abrams main gun.

BB

[ironglow]

Stillborn..congrats on the 8 point..
  The one that did a complete back flip was a conventional side on heart/lung shot at about 40 yards..I still can't explain the back flip. Most of my deer kills have been made with 12 ga or a .44 mag rifle (both H&R). Just two were not 'bang-flop'. First one was with the .44 mag and I just plain tried to stretch the range to far and didn't hit a vital..took some trailing. The 12 ga was over confidence..I caught the buck peeking out from some pines and shot him mid chest and He fell straight down.. kicking. I figured him to be kicking his last, so I was in no hurry to reload..my mistake..he was kicking to regain his feet..and he did..
  Hey, if you are using an NEF..you might be able to get an '06 barrel right here in the classifieds...

[geezer56]

Get used to the needing a new rifle.  I have all of the calibers mentioned here, 280, 25-06, 30-06, and 30-30.  I've killed deer with them all, and don't realy see much difference.  The only bang-flop deer for me have been with the Whelen or 45-70.

[ironglow]

  Yes..I can sympathize with anyone who feels he 'needs' a new rifle..I get that hankerin every now and then...especially with my Handis.
  Gets to be a fever..
  Actually in the 30/30 vs 30/06 thing; the 150gr 30/06 has about the same MV/ME at 200 yards as the 30/30 has at the muzzle. Where I live, in hilly, mountainous and wooded area, most shots are 100 yds or less...stretch that range a bit and the 06 will start to show it's spurs. That's what I meant by variables.
    Always fun to get a new rifle though !

[stillborn]

Well the rifle I was using today was a remington 700.  I do have two h&rs though... A 45classic carbine and older shotgun.  But I always want a new gun and I really dig these handi rifles.  Were you using buckshot or slugs on that deer?  I think it would be pretty sweet to hunt with buckshot.

[ironglow]

Well the rifle I was using today was a remington 700.  I do have two h&rs though... A 45classic carbine and older shotgun.  But I always want a new gun and I really dig these handi rifles.  Were you using buckshot or slugs on that deer?  I think it would be pretty sweet to hunt with buckshot.

   I used slugs, slugs have been the rule for much of my state (NY), until recently (about 3 years ago) they opened the southern tier of counties (bordering Pennsylvania) to rifle. Actually, 12 ga shotgun slugs are devastating , esp 100 yards and under, and a number of the fellows have not switched to rifle yet. I changed over right away however, because I am a "rifle preferred" man.
     The Handis are great and one can become a "Handiholic" as many here can attest. For the bolt gun man the new Savage Axis is quite buy for guys on a budget. Savage is gaining a reputation for fine accuracy, and at an MSRP of $329, the Axis is competitive.
  http://www.savagearms.com/

[stillborn]

I like both single shots and bolts.  And that edge looks like a sweet little rifle.  I just dont like the plastic detachable mag, I could see that posing a problem in the future.  I really only like internal box mags for bolt actions.  Just a weirdo I guess. 

[ironglow]

I like both single shots and bolts.  And that edge looks like a sweet little rifle.  I just dont like the plastic detachable mag, I could see that posing a problem in the future.  I really only like internal box mags for bolt actions.  Just a weirdo I guess.  

   I don't blame you for that, my Savage 11G in .223 Rem is internal magazine (load rounds through the open bolt). I haven't looked closely at the Edge, so the plastic mag surprises me. Actually, some of the combat rifles have plastic mags don't they ? If so. they must be proven. Still, preference is preference and I wouldn't question that.
  Actually, since I am a hunter as opposed to a target shooter, I normally load only 3 rounds in my centerfire rifles (including my Marlin 336) and my rimfire rifles 5 round capacity seem adequate. I cannot recall a time when it actually took more than 2 rounds (3 allowing for one miss) to down any game I was after.
   Again, congrats on the 8-point and now you can start shopping..

[petemi]

Looking back at the five years or so I've owned Handis, I have let them down, but they've never done that to me....they're kinda like my dog.  One of my biggest problems today is that I have two spare SB2 frames and stock sets to go with them  You all know what that means.  I'm thinking .500, .444, Hornet, .280??  It's hard to sleep at night.

Pete

[spikehorn]

There are worse things that could keep you awake at night Pete

[stillborn]

Like a daughter?

[petemi]

Or a son and grandsons.

Pete

[gendoc]

Or a son and grandsons.

Pete

you got that right pete !!!!!!!!!!!

[gcrank1]

Age old questions regarding the pysiological effects of a killing shot......Ive 'autopsied' all my deer kills with great interest on the terminal effects per bullet and caliber used. Conclusion; if you put it where the critter lives it will die and regardless of caliber or velocity (given that it is a deer class cartridge, of course), in about the same amount of time or go the same distance. A running deer can cover 100yd. in the few seconds (that seem much longer to you) it takes for it to run out of blood from the shedded heart shot you just made. 25yd. is not unusual at all, and I expect that except with a spinal column or brain shot.
FWIW, I have seen the 'hunter' who could not find his dead deer 50yd. away. "I shot at it and it ran away", he said. Sad, for him......OK for me, I trailed it and tagged it.

[LONGTOM]

I think I need a new rifle..


That topic line says it all.
What more reason could you need for you to get another gun! 
That would be good enough for me!
In fact, I think I need another gun right now, no wait, come to think of it, I just picked up one today. 



LONGTOM

[stillborn]

Good times Tom... what did you get?

[BBF]

There are worse things that could keep you awake at night Pete

 You ain't just whistling Dixie!!              I probably worded that wrong

[LONGTOM]

Good times Tom... what did you get?

Not another Hamdi this time, sorry.
It was a like new LLAMA compact stainless semi auto in 40 S&W with less than 100 rounds fired through it for $219.00 out the door.
I have a full size LLAMA, blue in 45 acp and was looking for a companion for it in something a little smaller than a full sized 45 but didn't really want a 9mm.
I just couldn't pass it up for that price.



LONGTOM

[bubbinator]

I have 2 Handi-Rifles/NEFs.  1st is a .308 20"  Heavy barrel satin nickle w/ black wood stock ( a model commissioned by a wholesale gun dealer). I got it froma AL country gunshop/gunsmith with a 8X 56MM Russian scope.  The optics were less than NcStar or horror movie East europe scope quality, but the thick, pointed single post w/ thin cross hair reticle was excellent in low light ( see the reticle in a Leupold catalog/www.cheaperthandirt.com.  I killed a truck load of deer with it.  It now carries a US made 3X9X40. It is very accurate for a Handi-Rifle, factory load is Hornady Lite Magnum 150 gr.that is +/- 1.5" any day since I got it 12+ trs ago.  My other NEF/Handi Rifle is a .17HMR, blue, synthetic stock HB. It carries a 3x9x40 BSA scope.  With all the hype about how accurate the 17 HMR was, this gun never shot a 2" group ever, 3"+ was routine.  If I hadn't thrown the box away, I'd have sent it back a long time ago. Replaced it with a Savage HB/Thumbhole stock bolt gun-sub MOA groups with anything you shoot in it! Shop around, Handi-Rifles/NEFs are cheap and great values.

[quickdtoo]

My other NEF/Handi Rifle is a .17HMR, blue, synthetic stock HB. It carries a 3x9x40 BSA scope.  With all the hype about how accurate the 17 HMR was, this gun never shot a 2" group ever, 3"+ was routine.  If I hadn't thrown the box away, I'd have sent it back a long time ago.

That's how I got my 17Hmr Sportster(not a Handi, Handis are centerfires  ) for $125 with a chinese Tasco on it, previous owner got the same kind of accuracy out of it as you got on yours before he sold it to me, I put a known good scope on it, touched up the crown with a ball bearing and  removed the grease he had on the latch and latch shelf , it shoots under 1" for me with Rem ammo, being knowledgeable about Handis has its financial advantages! 

Tim

[bikerbeans]

I buy rifles because the local candy store has a sign on the wall that says "Buy a Firearm every Month, It's the Law".  Not a state law, it's the gunshop owner's law and he's he a lot better shot than I am, so I comply.

BB