HR Handi Rifle in 35 Whelen

[OriginalOscar]

Being left handed limit options on rifles. Been looking for something a little bigger than the 270. Found a HR Handi Rifle in 35 Whelen.

Any input on how they shoot, reliability, etc would be appreciated.

Have not purchased yet.

 

[noharleyyet]

My grandson has a .243 that we need to re-scope so no first hand info yet.

...quick search: http://www.gunnews.com/nef-handi-rifle-review-270-winchester-caliber/

 

[Rooster52]

I have several H&R Handi Rifles.Some shoot good and some not so good.My 223 and 22-250 shoot exceptionally well but the large 30 cal stuff is just so so. My 45-70 is a great black bear gun.

 

[elkantlers]

There are several Leftys for sale on UGE

http://www.utahgunexchange.com/ads/savage-111-30-06-left-handed-trophy-hunter/

http://www.utahgunexchange.com/ads/browning-xbolt-7mm-rem-mag-left-handed-2/

Here are a couple of 308 handi rifles

http://www.utahgunexchange.com/ads/308-winchester-bull-barrel-hr-handi-rifle-w-scope/ $325

http://www.utahgunexchange.com/ads/hr-handi-rifle-308/ $225

 

[Ben Lamb]

Being left handed limit options on rifles. Been looking for something a little bigger than the 270. Found a HR Handi Rifle in 35 Whelen.

Any input on how they shoot, reliability, etc would be appreciated.

Have not purchased yet.

They are a reliable, passably accurate rifle that won't win any beauty contests but by all accounts make a serviceable weapon. I wonder about the recoil with a 35 whelen in that stock design. Once you go medium bore though, you'll not go back to the poodle shooters.

 

[OriginalOscar]

I have several H&R Handi Rifles.Some shoot good and some not so good.My 223 and 22-250 shoot exceptionally well but the large 30 cal stuff is just so so. My 45-70 is a great black bear gun.

When you say so-so could you hit a plate at 250 yards?

 

[Rooster52]

Not consistantly.

When you say so-so could you hit a plate at 250 yards?

Not Consistantly.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

By mya experience they are as accurate as a typical bolt gun. That is to say 1 to 2 inches at a hundred yards. That may not be ok for some but for the money its hard to beat. Don't forget about there barrel program either.

 

[Rooster52]

My 243,30-06 and 270 are no where near as accurate as my Browning or Savage rifles.They have what I call huntable accuracy ,2-3 inch groups at100 yards. My bolt rifles will do that at 250-300 yards.

 

[T Bone]

My kids started on a .308 Heavy Barrel. It was very accurate. The problem came when trying to extract a shell by hand with adrenaline charged shaky hands.

Triggers were a bit heavy and gritty, but smoothed out after a few hundred dry fires.

We went to bolt guns.

I don't know if it's true, but I heard somewhere that NEF/HR is shutting down production, so accessory barrels/parts may be thin in future years.

IMO, pass on the NEF, get a Ruger American Lefty for near the same price.

That's a lot of rifle for the $.

 

[1_pointer]

My kids started on a .308 Heavy Barrel. It was very accurate. The problem came when trying to extract a shell by hand with adrenaline charged shaky hands.

Triggers were a bit heavy and gritty, but smoothed out after a few hundred dry fires.

We went to bolt guns.

I don't know if it's true, but I heard somewhere that NEF/HR is shutting down production, so accessory barrels/parts may be thin in future years.

IMO, pass on the NEF, get a Ruger American Lefty for near the same price.

That's a lot of rifle for the $.

This! The Ruger American is getting very good reviews. Though another option is to get a Ruger Hawkeye in 375 Ruger. A bit more than the 35 Whelen, but that and your 270 would cover just about every big game scenario on the planet. Here's what I think is a good looking gun for a very fair price.
http://www.cdnnsports.com/375rug-hkm77lrsbbz-20-sts-bk.html#.VMzelP7F-bM

If you really want a 35 Whelen I'd suggest building one on the same action that your 270 is. Buy an rifle very similar or identical to your 270 and your a rebore or rebarrel away from a 35 Whelen. Either option can be done for about $300.

I have a son that's a lefty and the options are very limited for anything other than the most mainstream cartridges. And when you do find them, they are more expensive as well. He hunts with a Handi in 357 Mag for now, but I don't really consider it a gun for serious hunts. He will be getting a bolt action in a few years.

 

[HighDesertSage]

This! The Ruger American is getting very good reviews. Though another option is to get a Ruger Hawkeye in 375 Ruger. A bit more than the 35 Whelen, but that and your 270 would cover just about every big game scenario on the planet. Here's what I think is a good looking gun for a very fair price.
http://www.cdnnsports.com/375rug-hkm77lrsbbz-20-sts-bk.html#.VMzelP7F-bM

If you really want a 35 Whelen I'd suggest building one on the same action that your 270 is. Buy an rifle very similar or identical to your 270 and your a rebore or rebarrel away from a 35 Whelen. Either option can be done for about $300.

I have a son that's a lefty and the options are very limited for anything other than the most mainstream cartridges. And when you do find them, they are more expensive as well. He hunts with a Handi in 357 Mag for now, but I don't really consider it a gun for serious hunts. He will be getting a bolt action in a few years.

+2 for the Ruger American