H&R Handi Rifle ?s

[CatDaddy]

Is anyone familiar with the Handi rifle?

After each shot from my .308 the action works extremely hard to break open. Will this fix itself with wear and time or does the rifle need work?

Also, for you guy who are good with numbers and know their shells good....they tell me the rate of wist on the .223 barrel I just ordered is 1:12". I dont reload...yet. What is a good ammo to shoot through that rate of twist? It is a 22" bull barrel.

Thank guys, Cat.

[Bertke Mt. Cur]

Catdaddy,
I had one in .223 with the bull barrel and loved it. It shot 45-50gr the best, Hornady V-Max or cheap Winchester USA rounds.
Shouldn't have sold it. I'm going to buy one just like it or in .22-250 pretty soon.

[CatDaddy]

You will have a hard time getting one in 22-250. They dont offer it. I have heard of some buying the .223 and having it rechambered. What kind of groups did you get at 100yds.

[CatDaddy]

Anybody else heard of these handis? Any other info you guys can give me?

[Minker]

i've had 3 of the original handi rifle single shots that h &r made . a .22hornet, 30/30 and a .22jet magnum . never had any problems like your talking about . even new i wouldnt think it would be that hard to open after a shot . what do the cases look like after removal, any bulges, cracks, is the primer bulged out or pierced ? are the cartridges hard to extract from the chamber ? mark

[CatDaddy]

No, the casing comes out okay when rifle breaks open. It is just really stiff to break open.

[Minker]

i'd give it a good soaking in action cleaner and de-greaser , then use some teflon lubricant and see if that helps. it may just take awhile to break in . i bought a new double barrel shotgun a couple years ago that took awhile and a thorough cleaning and de-greasing helped alot , then lubed it with teflon . mark

[Bertke Mt. Cur]

CatDaddy,
They do make Handi Rifles in .22-250. They didn't for a while - something about pressure problems, but they started making them a couple of years ago. I almost bought one at Kenton last year - I know they make them because I was holding it in my hand!

[CatDaddy]

I knew that they used to make them but they stopped because they could not get the ejectors to work with the .22-250. I have been talking to H&R about them and they are talking about making them again. What I shold have said before is you cant get a new one.