- Location
- AB foothills
And I know you wont like this question, but really, what is the difference?
Handi rifles discontinued???
- Thread starter Buster95
- Start date
And I know you wont like this question, but really, what is the difference?
I can see where this conversation is heading, so I will end with this;
The Handi has a loyal and dedicated historical following... the fact that these simple rifles are inexpensive fools many into believing that they are "cheap" rifles... they are not. They are an extremely solid and well made rifle... but the manufacturers have recognized the target market and kept the price low, rather than increase the cost beyond its niche with hand fitting & finishing... this left plenty of room for tweaking to a more polished final product... this is where my interest came in... My friends and I all started on Handi's... and I started my three children and many of their friends and my nieces and nephews on Handi's... so, despite your limited perspective (private range and all)... over the lifetime of the Handi, "hordes" have indeed been introduced to shooting through the Handi vehicle, right across North America, but likely moreso in the USA... this is not only due to price, but also the simplicity and safety of a single break action rifle. What I discovered along the way is that they are extremely tough, very nice to carry, easy to accurize, and lend an appreciation for the simpler, more grounded aspects of hunting, where the focus is less about equipment, technology and "gaining advantage" and more about appreciating the process, levelling (to some degree) the playing field and shifting the focus from "success at all cost (a kill). These are things I appreciate... it has never been a money thing for me... I have many dozens of expensive rifles... nor has it been a single shot thing, as among my rifles are many Ruger No.1's... I just purely enjoy the platform... I love strolling through the woods with a Handi draped open over my forearm, with a round in the exposed chamber... or carried single handed at the hip... knowing full well, that when pressed to service, it will do its job.
As for your next question; how are Handi's "not" like the current mass produced low-end (entry) bolt action rifles... I would say they are not a complicated platform intentionally "dumbed down" to attract buyers with tighter purse strings... they are a simple, unique platform built as they always have been (leaving aside the whole Rem thing)... and striving for nothing more than to provided "solid simplicity"... not "sloppy economy."
It's a shame there is little to no factory support in Canada and accessories are hard to find.
There is an elegancy about these rifles in their simplicity of function and utilitarian design which has been proving itself in the hands of North American hunters for decades.
There is an elegancy about these rifles in their simplicity of function and utilitarian design which has been proving itself in the hands of North American hunters for decades.
The very first guns my brother and I found under the Xmas tree were a pair of .357/20ga Handis
We shot mostly .38 in em and they eventually got scoped. After falling into disuse they were sold to another father for his kids.
I don't regret not still having mine - that era is long past, but I cherish the memory and think its a bit sad to see them fade away.
A pistol calibre Handy carbine is the perfect first centre fire for a youngster.
I'd take mine back over any of the low end bolt rifles out there today. It was a quality piece.
We shot mostly .38 in em and they eventually got scoped. After falling into disuse they were sold to another father for his kids.
I don't regret not still having mine - that era is long past, but I cherish the memory and think its a bit sad to see them fade away.
A pistol calibre Handy carbine is the perfect first centre fire for a youngster.
I'd take mine back over any of the low end bolt rifles out there today. It was a quality piece.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
- Location
- AB foothills
I knew you were a big fan, figured your response would pretty much be that.
I have been around enough firearms to know exactly what they are and my opinion differs from yours, sorry.
And if I told you about the last Handi rifle that I shot was like, I would hurt your feelings more so I will stop here.
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My "feelings" are not hurt... but when someone opines on a subject with which I have experience and the expressed opinion does not coincide with my own, I feel obliged to provide a rebuttal...
Feel free to share your bad experience... I have had a couple bad experiences with Handi's myself (they were rectified)... but no more than I have had with M700's, M70's, M77's, A-bolt's, W'Bee's and Sako's and a few others... including my beloved No.1's...
The cheapskate bolt action + scope packages made by various mainstream manufacturers that MSRP for less than $400 and shoot 1MOA out of the box was the death knell for the handi-rifles.
Those break open rifles in heavier calibers kicked like mules.
Had a NEF handi-rifle in 500 S+W Mag for a week last year and it's the only gun I've fired other than a 10 gauge single shot shotgun that almost knocked me on my arse.
The working theory of hunting rifles is that the animal being shot at is supposed to sustain more damage that the shooter firing the gun.
Those break open rifles in heavier calibers kicked like mules.
Had a NEF handi-rifle in 500 S+W Mag for a week last year and it's the only gun I've fired other than a 10 gauge single shot shotgun that almost knocked me on my arse.
The working theory of hunting rifles is that the animal being shot at is supposed to sustain more damage that the shooter firing the gun.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Ruger No1, Sharps? May as well throw a Hagn in there for comparison too.
You remember that Sesame St. Song, "Which One Is Not Like The Others?"
The references were those with "one in the pipe..." and the rest between your fingers...
- Location
- AB foothills
Notice how I said last one, that means not the only one...
Like I said, best to stop here. Glad you like them!
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Yeah, I just found it funny you'd compare them to falling blocks and not other hinge barrels.
Very well... Handicapped like a TC or Merkel K-1, or Heym 44B, or Blaser K-95 Prestige or, or, or...
Single shots ARE handicapped... and that is the point for many... at any rate, I have far more falling blocks and bolt actions and lever actions for that matter than Handi rifles... but I still love those little suckers...
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
bigborefan
Regular
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes, ON
The cheapskate bolt action + scope packages made by various mainstream manufacturers that MSRP for less than $400 and shoot 1MOA out of the box was the death knell for the handi-rifles.
Those break open rifles in heavier calibers kicked like mules.
Had a NEF handi-rifle in 500 S+W Mag for a week last year and it's the only gun I've fired other than a 10 gauge single shot shotgun that almost knocked me on my arse.
The working theory of hunting rifles is that the animal being shot at is supposed to sustain more damage that the shooter firing the gun.
Boo-hoo, I think I'm gonna cry!
Actually, I've owned several and wish I had another. Have owned two in .45-70 and shot one of my largest bears with it... a 465gr hardcast leaving the muzzle at 1900 fps/3727 ft-lbs/126 momentum, which equals the momentum of a .378 Weatherby firing a 300gr at 2950 fps! Range was 70 yards and bear was flattened on the spot!
Bob
www.bigbores.ca
bigborefan
Regular
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes, ON
The cheapskate bolt action + scope packages made by various mainstream manufacturers that MSRP for less than $400 and shoot 1MOA out of the box was the death knell for the handi-rifles.
Those break open rifles in heavier calibers kicked like mules.
Had a NEF handi-rifle in 500 S+W Mag for a week last year and it's the only gun I've fired other than a 10 gauge single shot shotgun that almost knocked me on my arse.
The working theory of hunting rifles is that the animal being shot at is supposed to sustain more damage that the shooter firing the gun.
Boo-hoo, I think I'm gonna cry!
Actually, I've owned several and wish I had another. Have owned two in .45-70 and shot one of my largest bears with it... a 465gr hardcast leaving the muzzle at 1900 fps/3727 ft-lbs/126 momentum, which equals the momentum of a .378 Weatherby firing a 300gr at 2950 fps! Range was 70 yards and bear was flattened on the spot!
Bob
www.bigbores.ca
Boo-hoo, I think I'm gonna cry!
Actually, I've owned several and wish I had another. Have owned two in .45-70 and shot one of my largest bears with it... a 465gr hardcast leaving the muzzle at 1900 fps/3727 ft-lbs/126 momentum, which equals the momentum of a .378 Weatherby firing a 300gr at 2950 fps! Range was 70 yards and bear was flattened on the spot!
Bob
www.bigbores.ca
I have a "gold trigger" (Miroku) BLR 81 takedown in 450 Marlin which is just as portable as the handi-rifle and the Pachmayr recoil pad makes things alot easier on the old shoulder bones.
A much better rifle in every repect - shooter comfort, killing power, fire power (lever action is very slick and fast), looks, faster to assemble when taken down in the pack sack, no lawyer safety to get me killed in bear country - you name it.
Every time I go back to Alaska to visit friends and relatives and go on hiking trips that's the gun you'll find in my packsack.
