OT - Single shot carbine/rifle musings

[awp101]

The .357 leveraction thread got me to pondering a dilemma I had a couple of months ago and never really worked out for myself.

I enjoy single shots, they're great fun to me. I'd like one in .357 and .44M. I have a Handi-Rifle in .22H, an unused G2 Contender carbine frame and a spare Martini Cadet as base weapons.

I like the lock up of the TC, it's like a bank vault but I can get both barrels and have them fitted to the Handi-Rifle for the cost of one TC barrel but the TC is a plug and play proposition. The Cadet would be a major build to do the way I want but only in .357 since the barrel shank gets a little thin when going to .44 (or so I've been told and IIRC DeHaas does not recommend that conversion). In reality, I'd probably trade the spare Cadet for one already converted but that's a whole 'nuther kettle of fish.

Need doesn't have a thing to do with this, pure want. I already have a Marlin 1894C in .357 and a Win 94AE in .44 so I already have both calibers covered in carbine form.

I'd like some input from those who've already done this dance, given it thought or just feel like chiming in with their opinion (see, no one gets left behind! ).

Thanks!

[Rusty]

Over on Graybeards outdoor forums the hot set up is to get the factory .357 barrel and then have it reamed out to a .357 Maximum. Some say they would sell everything else they have and still keep that one.

I have a Handi in .30-30 and one in .223. I'm about to get one in .22 LR and get a spare Magnum barrel for that one as well.

The biggest problem with them is that they're addicting.


FWIW there was a test done some time back pitting a T/C Hornet against a Handi Hornet and the Handi came out the winner offering a better rifle for less money.

[GANJIRO]

Probably not the answer you're looking for but I own both a Winchester 94AE Trapper, and a single shot stainless steel Rossi rifle both in 357 Magnum, and as much as I love my leverguns I prefer to shoot my single shot 357 mag, can't explain it but just love single shots. I also sold my Mini-14 and bought a stainless steel Handi-Rifle in .223 with no regrets, single shots are just plain fun to shoot. A Cadet in 357 mag sounds like great fun.

BEFORE (23" barrel, painted stock)


AFTER (16.25" barrel oiled stock, Williams Peep Sight)

[JustaJeepGuy]

...get the factory .357 barrel and then have it reamed out to a .357 Maximum

This is something I would like to do. Will the action really handle the Maximum? It's pretty hot, but the case head is small; I've not seen any write-ups on this conversion.

[Doc Hudson]

Don't forget our old friend AK Church and his six barreled Handi-Rifle. He has one in .357 Magnum and it is one dandy little rifle.

You ought to see if you can scrounge up his article on the Handi-Rifle set. It might well provide food for thought.

Here are links to the AK Church Handi-Rifle Saga:
http://www.milesfortis.us/church/akc02.htm
http://www.milesfortis.us/church/akc08.htm
http://www.milesfortis.us/church/akc03.htm

[AndyM]

Let's see - you have an unused G2 frame and you like the lock-up - sounds to me you know the correct path you should take...

I have the org. Contender - in rifle form - in 223. This single shot hase taken its fiar share of goundhogs over the years. I sold off my pistol barrels and only kept the Contender in rifle form.

good luck and have fun with it...

[Hobie]

If a gun will handle the .223 Rem it will handle the .357 Max. Same pressures and case head size. The .357 Maximum is a great cartridge.

Having the same desires, I went with the Contender. I'd been wanting to do that since seeing an ad for Contender Carbine barrels in some shooting mag back in 1977 or so. They are MUCH lighter than the Handi-rifle and, as you noted, plug-n-play.

There is some cost advantage to the Handi-rifle. What has kept me from getting one, although I still love my H&R Topper shotgun, is the plastic trigger guard. It just doesn't seem right on a rifle.

I've always wanted a Martini but they have to be managed in the hunting fields completely differently than a firearm with a safety. Some don't mind, I think I might.

Doc, thanks for those links to AK's Handi story. Neat!

[Doc Hudson]

It always struck me as odd that a hammerless striker fired military rifle would have no safety.

Then again, more than 50 years later, the French adopted a bolt-action rifle with no safety.

[Hobie]

It always struck me as odd that a hammerless striker fired military rifle would have no safety.

Then again, more than 50 years later, the French adopted a bolt-action rifle with no safety.

Those French... I don't think there's a safety on the MAS 49 (or 49/56) either.

[nemhed]

What would the recoil be like from a 44 mag handi rifle for my slightly undersized 13 y.o. son? I'm thinking about one of these for him for next years deer season. He used my .357 Marlin this year with great success.

[Hobie]

Having been a wimpy little 13 year-old, I'd let him stay with the .357 Mag. Heck I carried a .357 Mag today!

[Bruce Scott]

When carrying a Martini (Cadet) in the field I chamber a cartridge but leave the action open. On seating the round in the chamber the breechblock rises over the lower part of the rim holding it in place. When you want to shoot simply raise the finger lever. Pretty much SOP for Martini hunters, I believe.

Sportco added a trigger block safety to their sporterised Cadets - and removed the cocking indicator

[nemhed]

Hobie, he already thinks the 357 is his, I'm just trying to get it back

[BAGTIC]

"This is something I would like to do. Will the action really handle the Maximum? It's pretty hot, but the case head is small; I've not seen any write-ups on this conversion."

The H&R was at one time factory chambered in .357 Maximum. I have one. The action is factory chambered for much more powerful cartridges.

[JReed]

I have a Handi in .308 my next barrel for it will be .357 and it will get reamed out to Max.

Nemhed the Handis are light guns. But I used to be a wimpy 13 year old and loved shooting my dads 270 Win light weight. I was maybe 130lbs at the time. Get it and see what he thinks if he dont like it guess what you now have a new 44

[Rusty]

The Handi is chambered for a number of powerful rounds. One that seems to giving some people problems right now is the .500 S&W.

Here's a short thread on the Max. conversion http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/ ... 635.0.html

from Graybeards outdoor forums.

I'm thinking of getting another couple of Handis myself. I'm looking at a .22 LR and a .22 Mag. For the price of the rimfires it's almost not worth the shipping costs to have another barrel put on them.

NEF will fit extra barrels on your frame as long as certain rules are followed. If you buy a new one It won't be a problem. It's just stuff like they won't put a rifle barrel on a shotgun frame and they won't fit a barrel that has someone else's name on it, as in no H&R. Rimfires only go on rimfires and centerfires only go on centerfires because the firing pin is different.

IMHO the Handi is the best bang for your buck on the market today.

[Old Savage]

Ganji's rifle is very interesting surprised we haven't seen something like that commercially.

[Doc Hudson]

"This is something I would like to do. Will the action really handle the Maximum? It's pretty hot, but the case head is small; I've not seen any write-ups on this conversion."

The H&R was at one time factory chambered in .357 Maximum. I have one. The action is factory chambered for much more powerful cartridges.

If the Handi-Rifle will handle .308 Win, .30-'06 Spfld, and .270 Win, a .357 Maximum won't hurt it.

[awp101]

Thanks everyone!

I'll address a couple of points here for further discussion.

Weight isn't that big of a concern for me. I don't carry them afield for hours at a time and I prefer a heavier carbine anyway.

Cost IS a big concern for me. Like I said, I can get two barrels and have them fitted for about the same cost as one TC barrel. Last time I hit fleabay, GB, etc for TC stuff, I found used barrels were going for almost the same price as new ones. The advantage of the TC (IMO) is a wider range of "unusual" calibers than the Handi.

The Max conversion sounds interesting and I would imagine you can still fire .357 Mag? I know nothing about the Max (yet ) but it sounds like the Mag becomes the Special in comparision.

I'll hit the AK Church links after getting home. Goofball firewall lets me get here but no other "fun" site, including knife sites.

Ji, I like it...

[Old Ironsights]

You didn't say if your COntender is the Pistol or Rifle variant.

My 2p:

If your TC is the Pistol variant then do that one. IMO the flexability is worth the extra $$$.

I would LOVE to have a TC Pistol, with detatchable shoulder stock, in .45 Colt.

[Hobie]

Thanks everyone!

I'll address a couple of points here for further discussion.

Weight isn't that big of a concern for me. I don't carry them afield for hours at a time and I prefer a heavier carbine anyway.

Cost IS a big concern for me. Like I said, I can get two barrels and have them fitted for about the same cost as one TC barrel. Last time I hit fleabay, GB, etc for TC stuff, I found used barrels were going for almost the same price as new ones. The advantage of the TC (IMO) is a wider range of "unusual" calibers than the Handi.

The Max conversion sounds interesting and I would imagine you can still fire .357 Mag? I know nothing about the Max (yet ) but it sounds like the Mag becomes the Special in comparision.

I'll hit the AK Church links after getting home. Goofball firewall lets me get here but no other "fun" site, including knife sites.

Ji, I like it...

Follow the link in my first response and you can learn something about the .357 Maximum in the single-shot...

[JustaJeepGuy]

Thanks to all who responded to my question. I didn't know the .357 Max was ever a factory chambering in the Handi. I need to follow the link in Hobie's response, too.

[awp101]

You didn't say if your COntender is the Pistol or Rifle variant.

I have one of each.

Hobie I finally got to read your link, good info! Thanks! Same for the AK Church links whoever posted them...

[donw]

i had the handi rifle in .44 mag and it had LOTS of recoil! i was amazed at how much! in fact it was so disconcerting (to me, anyway), i got rid of it.

have you ever tried to operate the "safety" of a moisin nagant? or a carcano carbine? good luck!

i do like single shot rifles, though. i have an NEF sportster with 3 barrels that i like and they are very accurate. i also have several BA rifles i converted to single shot by way of magazine blocks/adapters.

the idea of the single shot rifle is probably the most accurate as when the machining process is done correctly and the bore, rifling and chamber are all done properly, it's one solid, in line barrel. then the lockup/headspacing becomes an issue. it has to be done in a very precise fashion or it can become an accuracy robber.

[awp101]

i had the handi rifle in .44 mag and it had LOTS of recoil! i was amazed at how much! in fact it was so disconcerting (to me, anyway), i got rid of it.

As bad as touching off a 20ga Field Load out of one? I did that to The Boy by mistake when he was about 8-9...

[Buck Elliott]

OR ---- you could ream the thing to .356 Winchester and be done with it...

If brass gets to be a problem, you can form them from .444 Marlin cases.

[Bluehawk]

Recoil: Handi's do give you some recoil its partly the stock design and partly the weight .
What they will handle: Handis with the new ( I beleive its called the GR2 frame ) will handle anything short of big magnums . They have been factory made in 35 Whelen and I have shot them they hod up fine .
I have one frame tha has barrels in 223;30-30;30-06; 45-70; and 12ga 3.5 . I change barrels a lot and shoot them all alot the frame is in fine shape . this past weeknd I shot 12 rounds of 45-70 then switched to the 30-30 barrel fired 24 rounds then switched to the 06 barrel fired 6 rounds ( 06 barrel is now set for up comming deer season )
I did actually fire the 12 guage with a 3.5 shell once O N C E !!!!! I am NOt recoil sesntive BUT thats a real killer I wont fire it again with those loads

[Bluehawk]

Sorry edits Frame is the SB2 not gr2 DO NOT try to convert the older 158 frame to 357 max