New to me handi-rifles

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Barbaroja

Barbaroja

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Hey guys, took a drive down south this morning after seeing an ad on armslist for a H&R handi-rifle in 444 marlin. Good price for a cool gun, turned out they had another On the shelf a 308 with the survivor stock. Ended up leaving with both:D. Not sure I like the survivor stock much, may sell it and buy a set with a more classic look.


I’ll get some better photos tomorrow But here is my trio, from the top down is the 444 (came with a nice blued bushnell sportsman 4-12x40, the 308 below with a 1.5-4.5 cheapo scope, then on the bottom is my NEF 20ga.
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If anyone is familiar with these could you answer me this, both rifle barrels each fit the frames of the other and lock up nice an tight, assuming they are both sb2 frames is it safe to shoot them with the other barrel. Example can I put the 444 on the frame of the 308 and vise versa?

anybody got any recommendations for good 444 loads? I’m not trying to break my shoulder just kill deer and hogs. I was thinking I’d run it like a really hot 44 mag.
 
H&R's policy was to send the receivers back to them so that each barrel could be hand fitted to it. While sometimes you find barrels that do not require hand fitting to the receiver, it is a good idea to have it checked out to make sure everything is correct.
 
I think the 308 would be more problematic than the .444, with the former's rimless headspace and higher chamber pressure to consider. But speaking for myself, I'd be very leery about swapping barrels, period. While both of your actions are the later SB2 iterations (with the inspection port on the right side to confirm locking lug engagement), I don't claim to know exactly what to look for there. The concern is whether the lockup is solid enough to prevent the action from opening under pressure, right next to you face! Not me.

Nice guns though.
 
Nice score! I love handi-rifles. If you ever see a .17 hmr, grab it. It's the most accurate rifle I own. I'm on the hunt for a .223 in synthetic stock right now. I have similar 20 gauge as you.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
The concern is whether the lockup is solid enough to prevent the action from opening under pressure, right next to you face!
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I had that happen with my H&R Handi Rifle chambered in .223 when I fired a 5.56 round in it. The action popping open definitely gets your attention.

Note: Always make sure that the breech face is dry and oil free. I have seen oil on the breech face cause the action to pop open too.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
I think the 308 would be more problematic than the .444, with the former's rimless headspace and higher chamber pressure to consider. But speaking for myself, I'd be very leery about swapping barrels, period. While both of your actions are the later SB2 iterations (with the inspection port on the right side to confirm locking lug engagement), I don't claim to know exactly what to look for there. The concern is whether the lockup is solid enough to prevent the action from opening under pressure, right next to you face! Not me.

Nice guns though.
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Your pretty much mirroring my sentiments on the subject. My face is rough enough without an explosion. The lockup feels tight and smooth like they were made for each other, but with no way to confirm that it’s safe, I won’t be taking any risks. Besides If I blew my beard off I would have to change my screen name here.
 
A good way to check lock-up on the H&R/NEF platform is to close the action with the gun held upside down and see how much movement of the release level occurs. Lots of movement equals full engagement of the lug, little movement equals limited (unsatisfactory / potentially dangerous) engagement of the lug. A black sharpie can also be used to check engagement by "painting" the lug with marker and seeing how much gets scratched/removed in operation. On one of my guns, a couple minutes with a fine file cleaned-up the lug's burrs and roughness that were preventing full engagement.
 
FL-NC said:
I would fire them before I did anything else. They are fun and accurate rifles, but some are known to get cases stuck in the chamber and not eject without a cleaning rod.
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I’m going to shoot the 308 today, going to have to wait on dies and brass to try the 444.
I just slugged the 444 at .430 and I didn’t notice when buying it but I believe it has micro groove rifling, hopefully it doesn’t cause any problems with cast Bullets. It Seems people have mixed results with cast in micro groove but that will have to be tested. If i can’t get satisfactory accuracy with cast I’ll likely be selling the rifle as I just won’t shoot it much if I have to use jacketed rounds.
 
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.455_Hunter said:
A good way to check lock-up on the H&R/NEF platform is to close the action with the gun held upside down and see how much movement of the release level occurs. Lots of movement equals full engagement of the lug, little movement equals limited (unsatisfactory / potentially dangerous) engagement of the lug. A black sharpie can also be used to check engagement by "painting" the lug with marker and seeing how much gets scratched/removed in operation. On one of my guns, a couple minutes with a fine file cleaned-up the lug's burrs and roughness that were preventing full engagement.
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Thanks! This is the kinda of information I’m looking for. A lot of the links on older forum posts with information on fitting h&r barrels are now dead links. I wouldn’t think headspacing is an issue with a single shot. Isn’t that set by the barrel itself meeting the receiver? That said I don’t take safety lightly and am not one to wade into dangerous waters on a hunch. I am no gunsmith, and I don’t pretend to be. Beyond polishing stuff and changing springs, that’s when I call in the heavies. But if I can safely fit the barrels myself I would like love to as that opens up a world of used barrels available
 
Barbaroja said:
Anyone else loading 444?
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Barbaroja said:
I wouldn’t think headspacing is an issue with a single shot. Isn’t that set by the barrel itself meeting the receiver?
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I would treat the .444 like a .45-70 sibling... particularly using cast bullets. IMR4198 or AA5744 would be your friend, here, for lighter recoiling loads, even with heavier bullets... recoil being a subjective thing, particularly in a light rifle like the Handi.

It's not the headspacing... it's the breech lockup, and the single locking bolt.


My first true firearm was a 2nd hand H&R Topper in 20ga. Fun little shotgun... that kicked like a mule. It was stolen a few years after I got it, but I replaced it a few years later with an as NIB H&R .410 bore... which is just as fun, without the punishing recoil.
 
.455_Hunter said:
A good way to check lock-up on the H&R/NEF platform is to close the action with the gun held upside down and see how much movement of the release level occurs. Lots of movement equals full engagement of the lug, little movement equals limited (unsatisfactory / potentially dangerous) engagement of the lug. A black sharpie can also be used to check engagement by "painting" the lug with marker and seeing how much gets scratched/removed in operation. On one of my guns, a couple minutes with a fine file cleaned-up the lug's burrs and roughness that were preventing full engagement.
Click to expand...

I would add that when checking function upside-down, release lever should hang free, lift up as the action closes and then drop back down to nearly the same position if the lug is fully engaging. You have issues if it doesn't drop back down very far (or at all).
 
Charlie98 said:
I would treat the .444 like a .45-70 sibling... particularly using cast bullets. IMR4198 or AA5744 would be your friend, here, for lighter recoiling loads, even with heavier bullets... recoil being a subjective thing, particularly in a light rifle like the Handi.

It's not the headspacing... it's the breech lockup, and the single locking bolt.


My first true firearm was a 2nd hand H&R Topper in 20ga. Fun little shotgun... that kicked like a mule. It was stolen a few years after I got it, but I replaced it a few years later with an as NIB H&R .410 bore... which is just as fun, without the punishing recoil.
Click to expand...
Precisely my plan for the 444. I’ve gotta check the twist rate still before I get a new mold but heavy and slow is my plan. For now I plan on shooting a 265gn kieth bullet from a h&g #503 clone I got from MP molds. that bullet has a great track record for killing game at handgun speeds and my plan is to push it like a 44 mag and let the bullet so it’s job. Should do well for deer/hog/bear. I don’t think the handi rifle would be any fun with a full powered load.
 
As to punishing recoil, I just shot the 308 and in its current configuration I don’t plan on shooting anymore full power 308 though it. That survivor stock has a hard plastic butt plate and you feel it when it goes off. I’d rather shoot my 700 in 7mm Rem mag all day before that again. So it’s going to be getting cast bullet loads around 2000fps AND it will be getting a new stock. Might throw this one in the pond :rofl:.This is my first experience with a thumbhole stock and I now know that they do not play well with arthritic hands:fire:, my thumb joint is going to feel this for a few days lol.
 
.308 is fun with cast, too! That's all I shoot in my .308 Savage 99 lever-action. Again, IMR4198... this time under a 170grn cast. But I agree... not digging on the thumbhole stock.
 
Charlie98 said:
.308 is fun with cast, too! That's all I shoot in my .308 Savage 99 lever-action. Again, IMR4198... this time under a 170grn cast. But I agree... not digging on the thumbhole stock.
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Yea fortunately stocks are still pretty easy to find. Midway has some as well as Boyd’s
 
.45Coltguy said:
You'll get those Handi rifles figured out soon enough. Gotta say, sure do like that NEF 20ga. Slick looking shotgun.
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Thanks, funny you say that. I was just thinking about selling it but when I took this picture to post I was struck with the thought “ damn that’s a nice looking shotgun” so I’m keeping it lol
 
The survivor stock setup could easily be sold to offset the cost of a new stock set, and anything is more comfortable than the plastic stock butt plate. That said, I'd be interested in the survivor stock, and might even trade you for a decent wood set.

Try the 308 with a better butt pad before giving up on it as a full powered rifle. If it's still too punishing find a good cast bullet and have fun with reduced loads!

Others have addressed it, but if the lockup is solid there isn't an issue swapping barrels. Saying it needs to be done by h&r is like saying only your car dealership can change the brake pads on your car. It takes some intelligence and knowledge to fit a barrel, but it ain't rocket science.
 
444 brass for .62 each?! Woof! Its regular .90 i think. Take advantage of that price! 444 works as a brass 410 shell as well...

Ive got an NEF SB2 chambered in 22 hornet. Its a fun little gun and accurate too. But man is it heavy with that big ol barrel and tiny 22 caliber hole.
 
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