New member and Stainless 45/70 Ultra Hunter and questions

[Maddog69]

Hello,
 
There is a wealth of information on this site.  In addition to pouring through the FAQ and 101 Basics, I have read up to page 98 of this forum and intend to read the other 500 odd pages.  I just purchased a new 45-70 Ultra Hunter in Stainless from Gun Broker and have a lot of questions but I will try to keep my first post relatively short.
 
For starters, I am going to send my Ultra to a gunsmith that works on H&Rs in Oklahoma (I live in Tulsa) to have the following work done since I am all thumbs when it comes to tools (trigger job, forend bedding and bedding the scope base in addition to larger screws).  I see that he also recrowns and rethroats barrels and or polishes the chamber.  My question is, do H&R barrels nomally benefit from recrowning, rethroating or polishing the chamber?  This question is not only specific to 45-70 but I also plan on adding 7mm-08 and .223 barrels.  I have not shot the gun as I haven't received it yet but I wanted to set it up right from the begining.  Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
 
Robert

[Dinny]

I say shoot them first and then see what you need.    You might be pleasantly surprised.




Thanks, Dinny

[Maddog69]

Good advice.  Thanks
 
Robert

[quickdtoo]

Yup, what Dinny said, mine shoots great! I did have some misfires due to a deep rim cut and too much headspace, but after that was fixed.....

Tim

[spikehorn]

Shoot it first. Mine likes the Rem green box 405gr JSP. I did swap out the thumb hole stock for a cinimmon laminate momte carlo stock, cause the thumb hole didn't seem comfortable for still hunting.

[mechanic]

I've had to tinker a bit with all my H&R's, the 45-70's being the exception.  Thats not to say I haven't or won't tinker with them, but I didn't have to.  Both were moa out of the box, or very close to it.
 
Trigger work is always a good thing.  Just a bit of polish and lube will work wonders...
 
Welcome to the addiction
 
Ben

[cowboyup453]

I agree. Shoot first ask questions later.

[Maddog69]

Thanks for the replies.  If I buy a .223 bull barrel and 7mm-08 barrel from the factory and have them fitted.  Where can I buy additional forends to match my brown factory thumbhole stock.  I would certainly need another forend for the 7mm-08 and possibly another for the .223 bull barrel.
 
Robert

[Dinny]

The same place you get the barrels.   The FAQs should list the parts numbers or Brian56 would have them too.




Thanks, Dinny

[petemi]

Welcome Robert.  It's good you're a reader. Lots of good info here.  Yes, don't put the cart before the horse.  Shoot it first, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.  My first Handi, a .45-70 was bought used, already scoped and sighted in.  I haven't a clue what was done to it if anything before I got it.  It came to me as a tack driver and led me down the path to 16 more Handis, some new, some home fitted barrels and frames, and some factory fit.  Now all complete rifles.  The only one I've had trouble with is a 7mm-08 used barrel.  It shoots perfectly, but pops open.  Not the rifles fault.  The guy I bought it from took too much off the latch shelf.  A machinist friend is building it back up and fitting it now as I write this.  It'll be fine.

We have two 7mm-08s and a .223.  The second '08 is Patty's "new" Whitetails Unlimited which I just scoped for her this morning.  I had put a temporary scope on it, sighted it in and it was very close to MOA.  I think it will be sub-MOA with the new scope and Zee rings.  The 223, bought new, climbed out of the box a shooter.  I boresighted it and put it on paper at 30 yards, and didn't have a chance to go on from there.  That afternoon, I dusted a crow at over 200 yards, and it's been dead nuts on since.

Enjoy.  Good luck with your "FIRST" Handi.

Pete

[gcrank1]

My SS UH has a very decent trigger and lock up. I too am not a thumbhole stock fan so mine has the cin. lams/MC on, to my satisfaction. Unless you planned to shoot Ruger No.1 loads I dont know as if changing the scope base screws is needed, lots of us are doing fine with the std. size, especially if you were to degrease and epoxy it down (surely you can glue stuff together). We can help talk you through all of this. Maybe get some high quality USA made screws; someone here will suggest which ones and where. Shoot it and see if it meets your accuracy requirements. If it 'needs' forearm 'bedding' try the auto parts store O-Ring trick.
Oh, and did I say shoot it?
Are you reloading this caliber? If not, spend that money you were going to pay the 'smith and get the stuff.....you wont regret it!

[Maddog69]

Thanks guys, all good advice.  I almost pulled the trigger on a .357 Max tonight, boy this stuff can be addicting!
 
Robert

[Dinny]

Thanks guys, all good advice.  I almost pulled the trigger on a .357 Max tonight, boy this stuff can be addicting!
 Robert

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, it's a great deal on a great shooter!!




Thanks, Dinny