H&R Handi-Rifle in 22-250 / 24" Bull barrel

[tomtomz]

I have read a lot of posts and decided to join and post my own.  I'm mostly a Mauser GEW-98 shooter, but I do love and own several single-shots and will one day own a very nice Ruger #1 with a Mannlicher styled stock.

I've taken to carrying H&R Handi-Rifles with me, and they are so dirt cheap that I just bought a second one (the free scope sucks, but it is a nice little rifle in RealTree furniture.)

So I have one set up with more scope than rifle that I LOVE to shoot varmints with. It also works great using armor-piercing steel FMJ rounds loaded well under SAAMI max. pressures. We shoot worn-out disks from the cultivator, which are plentiful used and cheap to buy new from the Chinese just for targets, not for cultivating:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/624722512/farm_disc_harrow_disc_blades.html

I reload 22-250 in new WIN brass, and looked at WIN L/R primers to find that they were bulging on some 52gn Speer HPBT loads over 34 gn of H380.

This isn't a hot load, so I finally figured out that my breech was opening on most every shot! I stopped shooting it upon learning that ugly truth.

I have several other 22-250s (I'm a rifle nut) and I started shooting the Mauser and the rounds looked good, no pressure issues, etc.

I took the H&R to my gunsmith, and he darkened the breech with a black Sharpie marker, closed and opened the gun, stating "... it hasn't ever fully closed."

So 500 rounds+ later I sent it back (under warranty to H&R... the address reeked of Remington service) and now I'm wondering what to do with the exact clone I bought just last week.

I tried to find some history of this by searching on "H&R Handi-Rifle problems" and came up short. Could be I don't speak "Search Engine."

Anyway, I'm happy to be here and would love to stay and hear any varminting stories, as well as any other Handi-Rifle problems.

Thanks,

Tom

[bigvarmnt]

Some have had some problems with 22-250s. Lots of others have not. I have one and it has given me a bit of frustration. Brian is going to take care of me, great guy. I tried to find about the lowest pressure powder to see if that would work and it didn't make a difference. Mine is just hard to open after firing. So I think it beat me as I'm not ready to take one apart.
I am challenged by the search feature, and other things also   Tim explained it in a thread I'm going to try to find and write down. After I do it a couple of times successfully it will be great.
Does the exact clone do the exact thing? You may be able to sell it or part some of it out  in the classified section. Maybe sell the one you wore out with 500 rounds   Keep the frame and get another caliber. They are Handi and now you have a bigger problem
And Welcome to the clinic

[tomtomz]

Thanks for the response and the warm welcome.

I have not fired a shot out of the new rifle, so we'll have to save that for the future. I don't want to part it out for now

I have placed an order for a 30-06 stainless barrel to be fitted to the rifle I sent for repair, since I also shoot that cartridge in a GEW 98 Mauser bolt rifle.

It is not too soon to change my order to another caliber barrel, so I'm kicking around other wildcatted 30-06 barrels like 35 Whelen or 280. I already have a 270 WSM, so I think that either staying with the 30-06 or moving up to 35 Whelen might be  the best move.

Mostly I kill varmints, and the 22-250 is hard to beat with a small bullet travelling at Mach 4

[FPH]

Thanks for the response and the warm welcome.

I have not fired a shot out of the new rifle, so we'll have to save that for the future. I don't want to part it out for now

I have placed an order for a 30-06 stainless barrel to be fitted to the rifle I sent for repair, since I also shoot that cartridge in a GEW 98 Mauser bolt rifle.

It is not too soon to change my order to another caliber barrel, so I'm kicking around other wildcatted 30-06 barrels like 35 Whelen or 280. I already have a 270 WSM, so I think that either staying with the 30-06 or moving up to 35 Whelen might be  the best move.

Mostly I kill varmints, and the 22-250 is hard to beat with a small bullet travelling at Mach 4

Kind of pushin the velocity?

[jeepmann1948]

Mach 4 = 4473.76 fps  Using Hogdon's on line reloading data it is doable with 35 gr bullets and very close with 40gr.
 Those light weight  bullets will vaporize a Jack wabbit with lots of RED Mist (need a wide angle lens for the post shot picture)
Good luck with the problem
George

[poncaguy]

I have a Handi 22-250, with the silver 22" bull barrel. It has always been a tack driver. I'm a 22-250 nut, I have the Handi, a Remmy. Tikka and TC Encore 15" pistol in 22-250..............seems like I have another , but I have 50+ rifles and can't remeber them all....ha

[FPH]

Mach 4 = 4473.76 fps  Using Hogdon's on line reloading data it is doable with 35 gr bullets and very close with 40gr.
 Those light weight  bullets will vaporize a Jack wabbit with lots of RED Mist (need a wide angle lens for the post shot picture)
Good luck with the problem
George

I see a new barrel in your future if you push the  ( I get Mach 4 at 4640 fps) barrier.  I don't think Mach 4 is realistic for an accurate load in 22-250 or even a .204.

[FPH]

Sorry 4464 fps.

[tomtomz]

Typically I load for under Mach 4, around 3800 fps.

[FPH]

3600-3800 fps is more realistic for a accurate load.

[FPH]

Anything over 4000fps and I'm looking at a 220 Swift or a .204

[tomtomz]

My rifle came back from Remington service today with the original 22-250 barrel refitted, and it locks up very well, much better than the other new 22-250 rifle which I have never shot.  I also had a stainless 30-06 barrel fitted, and it seems to fit very well and lock up firmly.

How should I proceed with the new "never-been-shot" 22-250 which is very stiff and doesn't lock up as easily
as the rifle (w/ two barrels) which I just described?

Does it matter which thread-locker I use to mount the scope rail to the barrel for either of these rifles?

[bigvarmnt]

I use low strength thread-locker on mine.


Does the barrel lock up OK with the forearm off?


I didn't know they were offering stainless barrels anymore. Let us know how it shoots.
Guess it was time to check their site   Thanks