What do you think about Handi in 30-06?

[48mauser]

The local Bass Pro Shops has the Handi in 30-06 for $199.00. How do these shoot? Do you guys have a favorite deer round for it and how is the accuracy and recoil? I have one in 223 with a bull barrel and is it ever a pleasure to shoot. For the price these seem like a great value. Thanks all, Paul P.

[darat100]

I don't know what you might be hunting besides whitetails, but i love me 25-06.  Everyone who has one in the handi seems to get the same accuracy I do (or better). 

however, I have never heard anyone have anything bad to say about the 30-06.

good luck

[Dillohide]

Handi in 30-06 is great! I've been using 30-06 on white tails a long time with a bolt action Winchester model 70 and the Handi I got a few weeks ago is just as accurate. The Win Mod 70 recently has started to become more valuable so thought I'd give it a rest. The Handi didn't like the Hornady 165 BT SP hand load my Winchestrer likes but it did like Remington 150 grain Core-Lokt Spire Point factory ammo. So much so that I developed a hand load using the Remington 150 gr SP, Varget powder and Winchester Large Rifle primers that is very accurate. I've shot maybe 50 rounds and it's printing a 3 shot group the size of a quarter at 100 yards. Only thing extra I did was add the 9/16 OD O-ring to the barrel lug and tightened the forend piece down real good. I also got mine at Bass Pro. One thing I did notice that is very common with hunting rifles, it likes to throw the first shot from a "cleaned" barrel 4 inches high and 2 inches right ... the fouling shot. The next 3 shots are the size of a quarter 1 1/2 inches high, dead center at 100 yards. That first shot from a cleaned barrel is fine for bench work but not for hunting. So, if you get one and it does that, get it set where you want it and don't use anything on the inside of the barrel but a dry patch until after hunting season. A lot of barrels shoot better a little fouled. After hunting season clean it with solvent, dry patches, oil patch and another dry patch.

Recoil is not bad, very managable. Of course it is a 30-06 so does have some kick. The standard barrel with wood stock from Bass Pro is a well balanced rifle perfect for hunting.

25-06, 270 and 280 are also all excellent ... and they should be ... they all came from the 30-06 which in my book is the best all round caliber.

[myarmor]

.... I have never heard anyone have anything bad to say about the 30-06.

good luck

From all Handi owners I have talked too, I have to say the same. I don't recall any that have disliked their 30-06 in a Handi. And it's another reason you don't see -06's often in the Classifieds as well. They shoot well, and are a very versitle cartridge...all in a versitle rifle. I also have one and have been very satisfied with it, taking a Whitetail doe last year shooting off hand from a distance I probably shouldn't have tried.. but sealed the deal.
 Sourdough is one member that comes to mind that has been a long time -06 Handi owner and shooter, and has used it a lot up there in the wild deep.
As for loads, factroy?- Mine has done well with many cheaper brands, like Federal Power-Shocks, Fusions, and Winchester Super-X Silver Tips.  Core-Lokts, I never got much out of, but Federal has always been good in my Handi's. As for the recoil, My -06 is an UltraComp, with a fitted muzzle break on it. However I shoot it without it many times, and I don't find it to be more a nice shoulder push. The 30-06 is a very good cartridge, and has to be in the top choices out there if versitility and availability are a factor. It just does a lot of things right.

[lonewolf5348]

I pick up my Handi up 2 years  ago at the bass pro shop in N Myrtle Beach,best $179.00 bucks ever spent.I handload IMR3031 44.4 grains and use a 165 Hornady SP bullet and from the bench this gun will shoot 3 shots in clover leaf groups at the 100 yard target. I have notice this gun is a 3 shot gun for good groups then for some reason the 4 shot will move maybe an 1" from the cluster.When I first starting shooting the 06 out of the box no spacer under the barrel lug after the 3 shot the string would start to climb,now after using a spacer and full free floated the barrel my 4 shots start to drop an inch.

[tanoose]

I can honestly say that my Dads handi 30/06 is more accurate then my remington 700 30/06 you will just love it. And i will secound that the 25/06 handi is also a super rifle. The handi 25/06 and 45/70  are two of my favorites Later Tanoose

[48mauser]

Thanks for the replies, has anyone shot the 180 grain Coreloks? I guess I'll be heading over to Bass Pro Shop. How difficult is scope mounting on the Handi and are mounts readaly available? Thanks Paul P.

[quickdtoo]

I would try the 150gr Fusion, these were shot by Mac for the postal match!!

Tim

[greenjeans]

I use the Winchester 150 grain Powerpoints in mine and have taken my last 4 deer with it. Scope rail  comes already mounted and any good rings will work. Need mediums or highs to clear the hammer, depending on which rings used. I use Leupold high rings and never had a problem. You'll like it.

[Dillohide]

"How difficult is scope mounting on the Handi and are mounts readaly available?"

It comes with the scope base already mounted and no open sights. I'd use loctite or something similar on the base screws. You can get good steel Weaver high rings at Wal-Mart for $10.00. Most 40 mm scopes will work fine with the high rings.

I've never shot 180 grain bullets in either of my 30-06's since I only hunt Texas White Tail with them but the cartridge was origionally designed for 180 grain bullets so should be very accurate. Give them a try.

[tanoose]

My Dad used the remington 180 PSP core-lokt  and the 150's shot great also. The one brand of factory his handi didn't group well with were the Hornady 165's.

[quickdtoo]

Concerning rings, I find most scopes, but not all, can be mounted in medium rings, it depends on the hammer position in reference to the ocular bell and or power ring, scopes like the Leupold VX1 have generous eye relief so the scope can be mounted further forward eliminating interference with the hammer when the scope is positioned so hammer swing is not an issue. Objective bell interference is not likely even with 50mm scope due to the high base in relation to the barrel. Here's a pic of a 50mm WTC 18 mounted in medium Burris Sig Zees, for example. The hammer extension is definately needed, but works fine. All the rifles pics below have medium Burris Sig Zee rings.

You might also take a look at the Hammer Modifications link in the FAQ and Help sticky.

Tim

[dw06]

I would try the 150gr Fusion, these were shot by Mac for the postal match!!

Tim

Yeap 150gr fusion or 150gr nosler accubonds,in handloads I've shot the best groups with accubonds that I've ever shot in 06

[tanoose]

Quick i think my friend is using low rings with 40mm scopes on his handis, i beleive   he just filed down the hammer enough to do so

[quickdtoo]

Quick i think my friend is using low rings with 40mm scopes on his handis, i beleive he just filed down the hammer enough to do so

That's what the hammer modifcation link in the FAQ and Help sticky addresses. The objective size doesn't make too much difference. The pic below is a VX1 4-12x40 mounted in extra low Weaver rings.



Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,86991.0.html

[tanoose]

Great thanks Quick.

[Airsporter]

BigMortie's favorite   Use greenbox

[buckwalka]

Yes the 30-06 is a good one indeed.On the old NEF site BIG MORTIE used it for all his blasting.Many squirrel fell to his 30-06 from what I remember.Even deer,turkeys,rabbit and a few gofur.I wouldn't give it a second thought.Get it and start blasting away just like BIG MORTIE