Wanting to add a Varmint/Peditor barrel to my Handi Rifle

J

JBinMontana

New member
I currently have my Handi Rifle in 7mm-08 and its a shooter, which I have no complaints on its accuracy.

But I would like to add a varmint/preditor barrel to the line up because of the barrel accessory program.

So I am considering the following calibers

.223 Rem
.204 Ruger
or maybe
.22-250

A member over at GBO has a 24" Bull barrel in .204 Ruger for $125.00 plus S&H
Another member has the another .204 Ruger in the standard 22" barrel for $125.00 shipped.

Or I'm just thinking of getting the .223 Rem 22" standard barrel for $90.00 but I have to send it in to them for the fit.

The 22-250 barrel thru H&R is also only $90.00 with the same mail in fit.

What say you with good advice.
 
Personally, I'd go with a 223 barrel. It wins on many different fronts.
Although I don't own one, the 204 gets good reviews.
I've found so many good loads for my two 223's, I can't decide on which one is best. They are all good, which speaks highly of the 223.
 
I would not buy a used barrel due to the fact that they say the barrels are fitted to the frame. Thats why you have to send then everything but the barrel you got to get a new barrel.

t/c223encore.
 
Yep, the fitting part is what I forgot. Well I will just send it on in after our general firearms hunting season is over.

I do believe that I may just go with the .223 Rem barrel. If I want a .223 Bull barrel, I will have to purchase a new Ultra Hunter from H&R.
 
I have just gone through a barrel fit with a .204.

You may want to know some of the not so glorious NEF problems.

I have a Buff Classic, and I have a 22 inch factory fit 45/70 barrel also. Both work well for that caliber.
I sent my reciever in again to fit a .204 barrel. It was a good fit and accurate, but the Buff Classic stock was not allowing me to get a proper cheek weld when shooting with a scope. So I shopped around and found a reciever and a thumbhole stock. Then I started to fit the barrel to the reciever I bought.
It was a PIA, and I have it finally fit the barrel to the reciever, and the forearm need shimming also. It shoots about an 1"+ group at 100 yds with 39 gr Sierria's. That is certainly MOA of coyote, but I like better with small bullets. Been there an done that.
In my heart of hearts,...I wish I had bought a .204 AR, or bolt gun and been done with it. You have faster lock time than a hammer, and the fit you have to have with the NEF is iffy, if you can do it. It is my understanding that the factory will not fit a barrel to a reciever unless you buy the barrel from them.
When you finally get the barrel you like fitted to your reciever, the reciever will not swap barrels and have the same POI. Most serious NEF shooters know this, and have a seperate reciever for each gun.
My bias is simply from going this process, and having marginal results, when I wanted a 1/2" MOA rifle as all of my other rifles are. Your results may vary.

Just thought you may like to know.

Pack
 
talk to the guys over at GBO. they buy and sell barrels like hot cakes. see what problems they have in switching barrels and how they go about doing it. several of them have multiple barrels for 1 receiver.
 
Changing POI with a barrel swap is no big deal, 10 minutes and you're back on 0. You can fit your own barrels if you buy a used, I've never done it but tons of info at gbo.

I've got 1 in 45-70 rebarelled in .223 and had them add a thumbhole stock at the same time. $200 well spent, and I got one of the last bull barrels. A week or 2 later and they weren't an option.

I've got one in 243 also, still playing with it. It's got issues
smile.gif
 
Gonna just order the Ultra Varmint Thumbhole Stock Rifle with the 24" bull barrel for my next one, scope it up proper for P Dogs, and other Varmints/Preditors.

photo_ultra_varmint_T.jpg
 
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IMO you can't go wrong with the 204

shooting 40gr pills it shoots flatter than the 22-250 and carries more energy down range.
 
Well, live and learn...... who has a brick to throw at me
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Just got my 24" BB and it don't fit.

I can send this into H&R to get them to fit and make sure it locks up and shoots for $30.00
 
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