RANGE REPORT: H&R .357 Mag Handi-Rifle & a QUESTION?

[1894c]

I shot the H&R .357 Mag Handi-Rifle today...my buddy and I set up a target attached to a box at 75 yards (measured with tape measure)...the attached photo is typical of what this gun can do (used 158 grain, Blazer .357 Mag ammo, aluminum cases) --I had two issues.

1). The Williams receiver sight needs to be changed I had it set lower that it would go and it was still shooting 6" high at 75 yards...didn't try to adjust windage...any suggestions?

2). QUESTION: I've owned H&R single-shot shotguns before and when you broke open the shotgun the shotgun shell would be ejected, flying out of the chamber. Well this Handi-Rifle does not do this...when I broke open this Handi-Rifle the shell only backed out a 1/4", which allowed me to remove the shell---IS THIS NORMAL FOR A HANDI-RIFLE OR DO I NEED TO GET THIS REPAIRED? ... :)

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[Nath]

Sounds like you have a non ejector model (if they did one in rifle models !) And you need a higher front sight.
You could of worked how much higher by measuring the rears height and then move it up an easy to remember value and note the impact change and so on.
Think Lyman do a chart!!!

N.

[Nath]

Oh.....and it looks like it can shoot!

[jhrosier]

At some point in the recent past, H&R started using extractors instead of ejectors on all of the Handi Rifles.
As I recall, the ejector feature was not reliable with rimless cases anyhow.

Jack

[Rusty]

At some point in the recent past, H&R started using extractors instead of ejectors on all of the Handi Rifles.
As I recall, the ejector feature was not reliable with rimless cases anyhow.

Jack

This is correct. The change was made several years ago.

If the Williams peep is not spot on with the front sight, there are different sized front sights that can be had from the factory.
Check here http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/hr-centerfire-rifles/ for everything you need to know about Handi Rifles.

[AJMD429]

If you're off about 6" at 75 yards, it is EASY to estimate the change in sight you need.

75 yards is 2700 inches.
you want to move things 6" at 2700 inches.
that's the same as moving them 0.6" at 270 inches, or 0.06" at 27 inches, right...?

so if your barrel were 27 inches long and sights at each end, you'd need a front sight 0.06" taller.

your front-to-rear-sight distance is probably more like 18", or 2/3 of 27", so 2/3 of 0.06" is 0.04"

Therefore, to get on-target (at the lowest rear sight position) you need a front sight 0.04" taller than your present one.

Now if you want the most 'adjustability' for your sights, you may want to shoot a group with the rear sight in a more 'middle' position, to give you the ability to raise OR lower point of impact with different loads in the future.

If you can't get to the range, you can probably measure the rear sight ramp and determine how much vertical adjustment there is possible (just measure the different height at the front edge of where your sight is now vs. where it would be if in the highest position), and divide that by two to see how much taller your rear sight would be in mid-position. Add that to the 0.04" determined above, and get a front sight that much taller than your current one.

Hope that helps.

[harry]

If you're off about 6" at 75 yards, it is EASY to estimate the change in sight you need.

75 yards is 2700 inches.
you want to move things 6" at 2700 inches.
that's the same as moving them 0.6" at 270 inches, or 0.06" at 27 inches, right...?

so if your barrel were 27 inches long and sights at each end, you'd need a front sight 0.06" taller.

your front-to-rear-sight distance is probably more like 18", or 2/3 of 27", so 2/3 of 0.06" is 0.04"

Therefore, to get on-target (at the lowest rear sight position) you need a front sight 0.04" taller than your present one.

Now if you want the most 'adjustability' for your sights, you may want to shoot a group with the rear sight in a more 'middle' position, to give you the ability to raise OR lower point of impact with different loads in the future.

If you can't get to the range, you can probably measure the rear sight ramp and determine how much vertical adjustment there is possible (just measure the different height at the front edge of where your sight is now vs. where it would be if in the highest position), and divide that by two to see how much taller your rear sight would be in mid-position. Add that to the 0.04" determined above, and get a front sight that much taller than your current one.

Hope that helps.

1894c
You might want to write that down

[Bob Hatfield]

For what it is worth I have never seen that Blazer 158 grain 357 faster than 1050 fps in a 6-1/2 inch revolver. It feels like a hard shooting 38 to me. So that 1255 fps or whatever is says on the box is not what the round is doing. With that said a full power round might just bring down the POI.

Bob

[TedH]

You will always need a taller front sight with that WGRS sight.
Very cool little rifle though.

[piller]

Sounds as if you have a nice little rifle on your hands. Once you get a taller front sight, then you should be right where you want it. the group looks fairly tight, and that is from a new barrel that hasn't been broken in yet.

[1894c]

Sounds as if you have a nice little rifle on your hands. Once you get a taller front sight, then you should be right where you want it. the group looks fairly tight, and that is from a new barrel that hasn't been broken in yet.

ACTUALLY...the H&R Handi Rifle is used and may have been made in the 80's, although it doesn't look like it wqas shot much... :)