I've been wanting a handi for a long time now and never got around to getting one until now. Figured I would buy a caliber I could deer hunt with in ohio and also thought it would be a good gun for the lady to hunt with (she is not amused with the recoil of a 12 ga slug). Anybody have any tips or anything I should look for. Ammo selection? The gun was used purchased from gun broker from a reputable gunshop so I may have taken a slight risk. I'll post what I paid a little later but what would everything think a decent price to pay for one of these would be? It's the 18.5 inch with iron sights.
Purchased a H&R handi rifle in 44mag.
- Thread starter SVTOhio
- Start date
- Status
Deaf Smith
Member
Full loads will still kick quite a bit. For her practice I'd handload 240s at 1000 fps.
Then over time work the load up to max.
Any good 240 gr slug will do well on deer.
Deaf
Then over time work the load up to max.
Any good 240 gr slug will do well on deer.
Deaf
MachIVshooter
Member
Well, ordinarily I'd tell you to neck size cases if you want good accuracy out of a Handi, but that's not really possible with a straight walled pistol case.
Not that they're horrible or anything, but I shrunk my groups considerably with my .22 Hornet, from 1-3/4" at 100 to hovering around MOA.
Not that they're horrible or anything, but I shrunk my groups considerably with my .22 Hornet, from 1-3/4" at 100 to hovering around MOA.
I paid a bit more, but it's something I have wanted for a while and in the light of the new of h&r closing my back order has no hope of being filled.
zerobarrier
Contributing Member
I have one in 300blk. If you put a scope on it get the hammer spur, it makes cocking it much easier. I also changed the butt stock to the survival stock, but the handi grip one looks nice too. http://www.midwayusa.com/find?newcategorydimensionid=19238 I just like the pistol type grip.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
No way, the .44Mag is a soft shooter in a rifle.
loose noose
Member
Recently sold one from the shop for $200.00 + tax, in fact it came with 2 barrels a 44Mag, and a 20ga, took it in on a trade. They just don't sell for much in these parts of the country.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I have a Ruger M77/44 with the 18.5" barrel, 8 1/2 lbs and even with 240 grain factory loads it has quite a kick, in the last week I have taken out about 10 hogs in thick brush, the main reason I bought this gun, the hogs bed down and then come out after dark, so I decided to go in after them (I carry a .44 mag revolver too). I tried open sights, but my old eyes don't work good anymore so put low power Leupold on it. I had one Handi Rifle in .22-250, it was not a shooter with even good scopes on it and it would break open sometimes when it fired, so I traded it. I got a friend that got an identical rifle and his is a tack driver...I can almost bet that .44 mag will be lots of recoil in it especially for a woman, some women can handle recoil, some cant. I would stay away from heavy loads like Buffalo Bore in the H&R, the M77/44 was designed for bulletts up to 300 grain, cant wait for the recoil in that....meanwhile so many hogs, so little time.
Starter52
Member
I think you made a good choice getting the .44 magnum.
rugerman07
Member
I have a 223 Handi I bought new in 2008. I paid $270.00 OTD. It's a neat little rifle. Accurate as heck.
WestKentucky
Member
I wanted one for a long time. Wanted a contender more. Ended up either a contender in pistol configuration with a 16" 44 mag barrel. I am not recoil shy, but that 44 HURTS with heavy loads. I'm waiting to save cash up for a carbine stock. When your rifle shows up, I would suggest introducing your wife to it with specials, or lighter loaded magnums.
Ibmikey
Member
My Handi is in 300 AAC Blackout with a 16" barrel and flash hider. A Nikon AR 3x scope rides on top (yes the hammer offset is necessary as mentioned before) and it is death on Texas hogs while being a really fun rifle. I swiped mine from my best buddy after he put a camo stock set with standard pull, yup just grabbed it and said "this is mine" and then my dog and I stayed for a month. 
Hillbillyz
Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2009
- Messages
- 259
I bought a .44 Handi for my children to deer hunt with when they were 12. Plenty accurate and recoil was not a problem.
gotboostvr
Member
I bought a 44mag Rossi 92 for ohio deer hunting, it's a great cartridge for deer where I hunt. Recoil is brisk from full top end loads, but much less than from a slug gun.
Still hits like a freight train.
If I thought it was too much recoil, I'd ditch the steel butt plate and add a recoil pad, but as is I can manage it perfectly fine. someone more recoil sensitive may appreciate the foam pad however.
Mine likes a 240gr XTP over a stout dose of IMR4227, Bambi didn't.
Still hits like a freight train.
If I thought it was too much recoil, I'd ditch the steel butt plate and add a recoil pad, but as is I can manage it perfectly fine. someone more recoil sensitive may appreciate the foam pad however.
Mine likes a 240gr XTP over a stout dose of IMR4227, Bambi didn't.
Well I picked up the rifle from my FFL this morning. Rifle looked great and locked up tight. I would give it about 95% condition. All the local Sportmans shop had was some horandy 240gr so I picked up a box of twenty and stepped out the back door to try it out. The gun seemed to handle very good, the sights where lacking but that will be fixed later with a Williams peep that should be in any moment from midway. From the bench I could keep it in about an inch from 25yards and within 2-3" from 50 yards. The recoils was a little stiff after ten or so rounds, nothing I can't handle but I might have to try my hand at downloading a little bit for the women to shoot. Anybody have any advise on some light shooting loads that would still be adequate for whitetails?
1. get a slip on recoil pad
2. get some cowboy loads for getting her used to shooting it
3. shoot a lot
4. load up a 240 gr soft point to the minimum energy and fps requirements of your state.
2. get some cowboy loads for getting her used to shooting it
3. shoot a lot
4. load up a 240 gr soft point to the minimum energy and fps requirements of your state.
I was reading some on some articles that were claiming a lot less felt recoil shooting 180 gr bullets. And having great results on deer with them.
Most cowboy loads are in the 200-240 gr range. Jacketed sp's are pretty common in that weight.
- Status
