For the Love of the Homely Utility Rifle...

[35 Whelen]

I confess to having an attraction to rifles whose purpose is to do many things. You know, that one rifle that is not perfect for any one job, yet will do in a pinch almost anything asked of it?

Sometimes it's my Mauser based Scout rifle in .308 with the little 2.5X Burris EER scope. It's killed far more big game than any of my dedicated "hunting" rifles, and has spent time in a pickup bouncing down ranch roads, in the deer blind and in the mountains as a back up on elk hunts. Other times it's my Savage Model 24 .22LR/.410 which great for slipping through the creek bottoms looking for squirrels, puttering through the pastures in search of cottontails, shooting turtles in my stock tank and even turkey hunting during spring season.

But I've always felt the need to keep a rifle in the house for feral dogs, hogs that roam too close and coyotes and bobcats that find my free-range chickens tempting. In about 1972 my dear old Dad gave me an H&R Topper that came with a 20 ga. barrel and a .22 Hornet barrel. A few months ago I finally realized a years long dream of acquiring a 30-30 barrel for the little rifle. This was followed by the installation of a Williams WGRS sight, little load development and then sighting in, after which she took her place in her new home, the laundry room gun rack.



Early Saturday morning I was awakened to my wife telling me there was a coyote in the front yard. By the time I got to the other end of the house to the rifle, she had made down the driveway north of the chicken coop, but it wasn't far enough...



35W

 

[FL-NC]

Nice yote, and good shootin'.

 

[RPRNY]

Great piece. As an H&R Handi fan and a 30-30 aficionado, I like this story. Very hard to beat the 30-30 in a lever gun, or Handi, as a utility rifle.

 

[Geno]

Well done, and nice little carbine!

Geno

 

[22250Rem]

Congrats..... Another "homely utility rifle" gets the job done and takes care of business. Plus; the residents of that chicken coop should also have a new found appreciation of utility rifles (LOL). Those things do come in handy and it helps to have them close by and ready because sometimes your opportunity is only for a very brief moment or two.

 

[hdwhit]

My father has one as a 12 gauge shotgun. I don't know if he had any spare barrels or what happened to them, but there's nothing wrong with that timeless design.

I just wish he had gotten it in 20 gauge rather than 12 because the 12 gauge hurts to shoot and I developed some 20 gauge reloads (which he still has, but has nothing to shoot them in) that were very easy on the shoulder.

 

[entropy]

I bought a Handi-Rifle Survivor in .223 some years back for a coyote popper. Had to sell it to buy a vehicle, but ended up replacing it with a Svage Axis in .223. It has become my deer stand rifle as well as coyote popper.

Nice Handi-RIfle, and nice shot on the 'yote.

 

[herrwalther]

I once went shooting with a buddy's Handi rifle in 5.56 and was pretty impressed with the little thing. I would probably want something a little bigger down here in the south for wild varmints if I got one though.

The Mosin setup I had planned (but never finished) would have made a good utility rifle around the property. Though my Marlin 336 in 35Rem fills the role of dedicated hunting rifle and utility rather well.

 

[Armored farmer]

Nice job on the chicken thief.



I have at least a dozen centerfire rifles at my disposal, including 4 ARs.
What do I grab??...my Handi-Rifle

 

[35 Whelen]

They don't call them "Handi" for no reason. An AR with all its appendages and whatnot protruding in every direction really doesn’t fit that description very well.

35W

 

[Legionnaire]

Armored farmer, those must be some tough fungi!

 

[Archie]

Good work, Whelen. I like your thinking and indeed have a rifle that functionally performs as does your Handi-gun.

Mine is a 1894 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 Swede (or as I like to think of it, ".256 Northerner") which was 'sporterized' (one-third of the stock removed and a Williams receiver sight mounted). I added a long eye-relief scope (influenced by the 'Scout Rifle' concept, I can load it with strippers) mounted forward. I must confess it looks like it was dragged down a bad road for far too long. I offered to let a friend shoot it, and he politely declined until AFTER he saw me shoot it without mishap.

Still. Good thinking on your part and good work on the four legged chicken marauder!

 

[35 Whelen]

Good work, Whelen. I like your thinking and indeed have a rifle that functionally performs as does your Handi-gun.

Mine is a 1894 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 Swede (or as I like to think of it, ".256 Northerner") which was 'sporterized' (one-third of the stock removed and a Williams receiver sight mounted). I added a long eye-relief scope (influenced by the 'Scout Rifle' concept, I can load it with strippers) mounted forward. I must confess it looks like it was dragged down a bad road for far too long. I offered to let a friend shoot it, and he politely declined until AFTER he saw me shoot it without mishap.

Still. Good thinking on your part and good work on the four legged chicken marauder!

That sounds like an awesome rifle. Another thing for which I have a soft spot are riflesh that look like they shouldn't shoot good, but do!

35W

 

[Archie]

That sounds like an awesome rifle. Another thing for which I have a soft spot are riflesh that look like they shouldn't shoot good, but do!

Yeah. What street (drag) racers used to call a 'sleeper'. Lots of fun in it's own way.

 

[Armored farmer]

Armored farmer, those must be some tough fungi!

They surrendered without incident.

We had seen a coyote while turkey hunting that morning. I went back to the woods after lunch thinking I might get a shot at him. I found these morels instead.

 

[Mn Fats]

I've always loved a utilitarian break action. I wish there were more new offerings but also understand why there isn't. The group of us who like them is getting smaller. Good shooting 35w.

 

[RPRNY]

My current favorite Handi, in 35 Krag:

And Mjolnor, the 280 grs destroyer it loves to shoot:

 

[ThomasT]

I have a Handi-Rifle in 223 and really regret not buying one in 30-30 when I had the chance. The first time I took my Handi to the range I was so impressed with how accurate it was before I knew it I had fired 30 rounds at the target non stop. So much for barrel break in. All 30 rounds were in a circle just over one inch in size. I have several other H&R shotguns. I like single shots. I like how simple and lightweight they are. Too bad they have been killed off.

 

[Legionnaire]

Wish I had one in .357 Magnum.

 

[someguy2800]

The break action single shots are alive and well! Just not from H&R unfortunately. Henry just released a new single shot that looks really nice but only comes in a few chamberings. Cabelas has them listed for preorder at $370 so expect to see them for around $325 elsewhere. CVA also has the Hunter for around $250 and the scout for about $350. For a switch barrel gun there is the Thompson Center Contender and Encore, and also the CVA Apex.

 

[Legionnaire]

That new Henry looks really good! But not available in .357 ... sadly.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/single-shot-rifle/

 

[shuvelrider]

I have the H&R Shakira M-155 chambered in .44 mag, that is a wonderful gun to shoot---------and accurate. Henry did a nice job on their version of the handi-rifle, hopefully a .357 version will be produced.

 

[ThomasT]

I actually called Henry and asked if they planned on offering a 357 version and they said no. So if you guys want one I would suggest sending emails and phone calls asking for one. I mean after all they added a 41 mag and 327 mag when no one else would. Give 'em a chance and let them know they would sell. And if they make them then do your part and buy one.

 

[someguy2800]

I would buy one to rechamber to 357 maximum

 

[someguy2800]

I just sent them a message on there website that I would like one in 357 mag and 30-30, and also would like an option for a stock with a comb height for a scope.