308 handi rifle questions

[Eat Beef]

I've been thinking about grabbing a handi rifle (or other brand of el cheapo heavy barrel breakdown), mainly as a cheap, accurate 308 eater.

What's the word on them? Will I be happy at the range (1/4 MOA) with one?

I've heard that the triggers aren't all that great. Are they that bad? Can they be tuned, and how hard/expensive is it?

How hard does it kick/how loud is it in 308?

I shot a friend's 223, but it was several years ago and I really don't remember much about it, other than I hit what I was aiming at. Anyone know any differences between this gun in 223 and 308 (other than the obvious)?

Lastly, would I be better off just waiting until I can buy/build a nice bolt gun?

Thanks.

 

[browningguy]

To be honest if you want a consistant 1/4 MOA rifle you need to go for an F Class bench gun. There is no factory rifle that will consistantly shoot 1/4 MOA, and very few full custom rifles will do that.

But in my experience the Handi rifles are pretty accurate, I had a .35 Whelen for a while that was usually a 1 MOA gun (when you could stand the recoil for 5 shots). And I have shot a couple of the .223's that were consistant MOA rifles. The .308's should be reasonably accurate also, MOA or thereabouts, and shouldn't be too bad on recoil. Mine had around a 5 lb. trigger pull but was consistant and creep free, that made it a decent shooter.

For just a few dollars more you could get a Savage with Accutrigger which is a fine shooting rifle, although not pretty they have a very good reputation for consistant accuracy. I don't think I would let that stop me from getting a Handi rifle though, it just depends on whether you want single shot or a bolt gun.

 

[Eat Beef]

I got to thinking about that 1/4 MOA comment..........I prolly can't keep 'em that tight.

I guess I really meant sub MOA. I was thinking about a buddy's Rem 700 Varmint Special in 22-250 that I used to shoot a lot. I could make about as many as I wanted to shoot touch at 100. I guess it would shoot .5-.75 MOA on avg. for 5 rounds.

Still ticked that not only would he not sell it to me, but he moved to New Mexico, and rebarreled it to 7 '08.

Anyway, are these things as accurate as a good commercial heavy barrel (I'm thinking Rem 700), with a chance at better?

 

[Brian Williams]

Handi-Rifles are just that, Handy. I had one in 243 and my son has another. They were/are MOA guns. His was just under and mine hovered around MOA.

Get one they get you shooting in a caliber quickly and cheaply. Then as funds or desire builds you can upgrade.

PS do not skimp on a scope.

 

[Brian Williams]

Handi-Rifles are just that, Handy. I had one in 243 and my son has another. They were/are MOA guns. His was just under and mine hovered around MOA.

Get one they get you shooting in a caliber quickly and cheaply. Then as funds or desire builds you can upgrade.

PS do not skimp on a scope.

NEF/H&R will do a trigger job for a small fee. look at hr1871.com

Also get a rubber O ring the diameter of the forearm screw and put it between the forearm and the barrel